10.1 Wellbeing Te oranga
10.1. Wellbeing | Te oranga
Wellbeing measures are one way to understand how people experience their daily lives and the conditions that support or undermine their quality of life. Indicators such as life satisfaction and feelings of purpose provide insight into the social, economic, and personal factors that shape overall wellbeing. These measures help governments and public agencies identify emerging pressures, monitor changes over time, and assess whether policy settings are effectively supporting the population.
Overall wellbeing declined in the period following the pandemic (Figure 133). The data are drawn from the Wellbeing Survey, which has been conducted by Stats NZ biannually since 2014 as part of the General Social Survey and as a standalone survey since 2021. The mean rating for overall life satisfaction fell after the pandemic, while the mean rating for whether people feel things they do in life are worthwhile declined during the pandemic and throughout the post-COVID-19 period.
Figure 133: New Zealanders' subjective wellbeing
Life satisfaction and life worthwhile ratings
(0=lowest, 10=highest), in 2018, 2021 and 2023
Source: Stats NZ, Wellbeing Survey
Notes:
1. For 'overall life satisfaction', the question asked was: I'm going to ask you a very general question about your life as a whole these days. This includes all areas of your life ... where zero is 'completely dissatisfied', and ten is 'completely satisfied', how do you feel about your life as a whole?
2. For 'life worthwhile', the question asked was: where zero is 'not at all worthwhile', and ten is 'completely worthwhile', overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
The Wellbeing Survey showed a noticeable shift in reported financial pressure between 2018 and 2023 (Figure 134). Financial pressure eased for many households during the pandemic, but these gains did not last – financial pressure was greater in 2023 than it was in 2018.
Figure 134: New Zealanders' financial pressure
Self-reported financial pressure by response category,
in 2018, 2021 and 2023
Source: Stats NZ, Wellbeing Survey
Notes: The question asked was: How well does your [and your partner's combined] total income meet your everyday needs, for things like accommodation, food, clothing, and other necessities?
Self-rated health shifted across the three survey periods (Figure 135). The proportion of people rating their health as 'excellent' or 'very good' declined in 2021 and fell further in 2023.
Figure 135: New Zealanders' health status
Perceived health status by response category, in 2018, 2021 and 2023
Source: Stats NZ, Wellbeing Survey
Notes: The question asked was: In general, would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?
Loneliness was more commonly reported during and since the pandemic (Figure 136). The share of respondents who reported feeling lonely a little, some, or most/all of the time increased markedly from 2018 to 2021 and remained at that level in 2023.
Figure 136: New Zealanders experienced loneliness during pandemic
Self-reported loneliness by response category, in 2018, 2021 and 2023
Source: Stats NZ, Wellbeing Survey
Notes: The question asked was: People who have contact with family and friends can still feel lonely sometimes, while those who have little contact may not feel lonely at all ... in the last four weeks, how much of the time have you felt lonely?
Across OECD countries, changes in life evaluation scores between 2017 and 2022 were mixed. New Zealand experienced a slight drop in life evaluation score, although it remained above the OECD average (Figure 137).
Figure 137: Life evaluation scores across the OECD
Life evaluation (3-year average), in 2017 and 2022
Source: University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, World Happiness Report, https://www.worldhappiness.report/
Notes: The questions asked was: Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?