Introduction

The social report uses a set of statistical indicators to provide a picture of progress towards better social outcomes for New Zealanders. The regional indicators report is an integral part of the social report; it uses similar data for people in regional council areas and territorial authority areas to show how outcomes vary across the country. It provides in one place a range of information on social wellbeing outcomes that can be used to inform and support local decision-making. Because data limitations are greater at the subnational level, it is not possible to provide a picture as full as can be shown at a national level.

Data is provided for the 10 domains in The Social Report 2010: Health, Knowledge and Skills, Paid Work, Economic Standard of Living, Civil and Political Rights, Cultural Identity, Leisure and Recreation, Safety, Social Connectedness and Life Satisfaction. The regional indicators website monitors outcomes across 25 indicators at a regional council area level and 18 indicators at a territorial authority area level.

We have updated half of the 20 regional indicators carried over from the 2009 report. These 20 indicators are presented as maps and tables. We have also included five new tables for indicators that are either new or have not been available previously at the regional level, using data from the 2008 New Zealand General Social Survey. At the territorial authority area level, where the five-yearly population census is the data source for many of the indicators, three out of 18 indicators have been updated. Population estimates have also been updated.

Information is not always available for every region council or territorial authority area. In some instances regions are combined, for example Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough. Data sources and indicators can vary between the main social report and the regional indicators report, reflecting data availability.

For information on data sources and changes in this year’s regional report, see the technical details for regional council areas and territorial authority areas.