Chief Executive's preface
Each year, the Social Report draws together information from
across the social sector to chart New Zealanders’ progress in areas
like employment, health, education, and income. Producing a Social
Report each year enables us to monitor social changes and trends, and
respond to problems and opportunities as they emerge.
We are continually seeking to improve the value of the Social
Report to the thousands of organisations and individuals who use it.
Last year we included, for the first time, significant information on
regional social wellbeing. This year we’ve updated the regional data,
made it available on this website and we are publishing it in companion
books to The Social Report 2006.
We regularly review what we’re measuring and how we measure
it, to ensure that the Social Report continues to be relevant and uses
the most up-to-date data. This year, the Social Report draws together
data from the early 1980s to provide a picture of how the social
conditions of New Zealanders today compare with conditions before the
economic reforms of the 1980s and 1990s.
The high quality of The Social Report 2006 is due to
the hard work of many Ministry of Social Development staff, and the
support and advice we get from across the government and community
sectors. Since the first Social Report was published in 2001, it has
made a valuable contribution to informed discussion about national and
regional social policy and social development. I hope that The
Social Report 2006 will be of great interest and use to many
readers.
Peter Hughes
Chief Executive
Ministry of Social Development
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