Kiwis satisfied with life in New Zealand

The vast majority of Kiwis are happy with life in New Zealand, according to new survey results. Photo / Supplied

The vast majority of New Zealanders are happy with their lives, according to a new survey.

The first New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS), conducted by Statistics New Zealand, found that 86 per cent of those questioned were content with most aspects of their lives, including their health, environment, and social contact with family and friends.

The survey canvassed traditional measures such as income, employment, and education, along with fields where little information has been available, such as volunteering, emergency preparedness, and housing problems.

"The focus of the survey is a broad view of how New Zealanders are doing across many areas of life," said Statistics New Zealand spokesman Conal Smith.

Key findings included:

* Around one in seven people said they did not have enough money to meet their every day needs;

* A quarter of people felt they did not have enough contact with non-resident family, and one-fifth reported not having enough contact with non-resident friends;

* Half reported one or more problems relating to their house, street, or neighbourhood;

* One in 10 people had been discriminated against in the past 12 months, most commonly on grounds of nationality, race or ethnic group;

* Unemployed people were much more likely than employed people to be dissatisfied with life;

* One-third of people undertook voluntary work and about two-thirds had done unpaid work outside the household in the last four weeks.

The overall satisfaction rating of 86 per cent compared broadly with Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

- NZPA