New Zealanders say crime, inefficiency most negatively affecting their lives

New Zealanders say that crime and inefficiencies in local government are the main issues having a negative impact on where they live.

A nationwide ShapeNZ pre-local body election survey on issues New Zealanders think local councils should consider shows crime is the biggest concern (80%).

Inefficiencies in local government are concerning 77% of people nationwide.

Commissioned by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development to guide candidates in local body elections, the weighted survey was conducted between August 24 and September 14, 2010, covering 2,480 people. It has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.9%.

The Business Council-commissioned research shows:

Issues for councils:

New Zealanders also rank these issues as having a negative impact on the places where they live:

• high volumes of waste going to landfill 74%
• ageing infrastructure (like sewage, stormwater, roads, bridges) 68%
• finding long term capital funding needed to build infrastructure 65%.
• mobility for people (ease of travel) 62%
• traffic congestion concerns 59% (but highest at 76% of Aucklanders)
• social and other deprivation 59%
• air pollution 58%
• coastline at risk from development 57%
• ageing population 54%
• mobility for freight 41%
• predictions of high population growth 39%
• an increasingly multicultural population 33%


By main city

By city, Dunedin is most worried by crime and security (81%), Wellington by traffic congestion (77%), ageing infrastructure (73%) and ways to fund its replacement (70%). Wellington residents most say their lives are negatively affected by inefficient local government (80%) and high volumes of waste to landfill (80%).

Dunedin residents rank social deprivation highest (68%). Wellington residents rank the negative effects of multicultural population growth lowest (24%).

Issue NZ Auckland Wellington Christchurch Dunedin
Mobility (personal travel) 72 62 53 54 58
Mobility (freight) 42 43 32 34 46
Traffic congestion 59 76 77 64 43
Air pollution 58 63 61 70 66
Ageing infrastructure 68 71 73 65 68
Social deprivation 59 62 53 63 68
High population predictions 30 50 43 35 34
Ageing population 54 52 57 56 68
Increasing multi cultural pop 32 32 24 32 25
Crime, safety, security 80 79 60 78 81
Coastline at risk from development 57 56 62 52 60
Inefficient local government 77 77 80 68 75
High volumes of waste to landfill 74 72 80 68 75
Finding infrastructure capital 65 64 70 57 70


Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson says the ShapeNZ research shows incoming councils which issues to manage in order to improve economic, social and environmental performance.

The Business Council uses the research’s results today in support of a major report it is presenting to the new officials and candidates for the Auckland Council, which will govern the country’s first mega city. The report, “Creating a Sustainable Super City – How to Accelerate Auckland” draws on national and international experience. It advises the new council on ways in which it can turn the new city into an economic powerhouse – while improving its quality of living and the environment.