Surveying the wellbeing of Cantabrians

The Canterbury Wellbeing Survey is an opportunity for residents of greater Christchurch (Christchurch City and Selwyn and Waimakariri districts) to say how they’re going.

Public input from the Survey gives the Canterbury DHB and other agencies an idea of emerging trends in community wellbeing. The survey is conducted annually.

Data from the Canterbury Wellbeing Survey is also used extensively in the Canterbury Wellbeing Index.

• Find out more about the Canterbury Wellbeing Index.

Key findings from the 2019 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey

Over 2,600 greater Christchurch residents took part in the Canterbury Wellbeing Survey in May and June 2019.

The twelfth Canterbury Wellbeing Survey of people in greater Christchurch shows that most people continue to rate their quality of life highly.

• Read or download the 2019 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey Report (5.88MB, 142 pages).

Overall quality of life in greater Christchurch is at the highest level since the first Canterbury Wellbeing Survey in 2012 – 86 percent of respondents rating their quality of life as good or extremely good in 2019. Overall there is very little variation across the region, with 86 percent of Christchurch City residents, 89 percent of Selwyn District residents and 87 percent of Waimakariri District residents, rating their quality of life positively.

Emotional wellbeing has improved overall since first measured in 2013 and has been stable between 2018 and 2019 – as measured by the WHO-5 scale.

The proportion reporting experiencing stress at least sometimes has declined overall since 2012, reducing from 80 percent in 2012 to 68 percent in 2019. This proportion has also remained stable between 2018 and 2019.

Differences in wellbeing remain in greater Christchurch

Disparities are evident, with a number of groups within our community experiencing lower wellbeing as measured by several of the Survey questions. These groups include those on low incomes and those with a disability or long-term health condition.

There are also important differences in wellbeing outcomes by age.  The Survey found that 18 to 24 year-olds feel lonely or isolated significantly more than older age groups. Nearly 15 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds report feeling lonely or isolated always or most of the time. This figure is significantly higher than the 6 percent for all survey respondents. The 65 to 74 year age group has the lowest proportion reporting loneliness, at less than 2 percent. The 18 to 24 year age group also has the highest proportion (16 percent) who would find it hard or very hard to talk to someone if they were feeling down.

Past Canterbury Wellbeing Survey reports

2018 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey

• 2018 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey Report (6.11MB PDF, 170 pages).

2017 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey

• Canterbury Wellbeing Survey 2017 Report (7.62MB PDF, 197 pages)

2016 Canterbury Wellbeing Surveys

• Canterbury Wellbeing Survey September 2016 Report (7.9MB, 166 pages)
• Canterbury Wellbeing Survey April 2016 Report (7.2MB, 166 pages)

2015 Canterbury Wellbeing Surveys

• CERA Wellbeing Survey September 2015 Report (3.5Mb PDF, 174 pages)
• CERA Wellbeing Survey April 2015 Report (3Mb PDF, 179 pages)

2014 Canterbury Wellbeing Surveys

• CERA Wellbeing Survey September 2014 Report (2.4Mb PDF, 174 pages)
• CERA Wellbeing Survey April 2014 Report (2.5Mb PDF, 152 pages)

2013 Canterbury Wellbeing Surveys

• CERA Wellbeing Survey September 2013 Report (2.5Mb PDF, 143 pages)
• CERA Wellbeing Survey April 2013 Report (2.6Mb PDF, 137 pages)

2012 Canterbury Wellbeing Survey

• CERA Wellbeing Survey 2012 Report (4.2Mb PDF, 106 pages)
• CERA Wellbeing Survey 2012 Report: Summary (260Kb PDF)