Measuring community wellbeingTe ine i te hauora o te hapori
Every year NCC's Community Strategies Team asks Napier citizens a series of questions to assess their current quality of life. The findings from this survey help us formulate policies and initiatives to enhance the social wellbeing of our community.
The Napier Social Monitor is an annual survey of community perceptions and wellbeing. It provides important information for Council about the quality of life of Napier residents.
The Napier Social Monitor collects information about:
Quality of life
Community mental wellbeing and health
Social connections and neighbourhoods
Diversity and inclusion
Safety
Accessibility
Emergency management
Climate change perceptions
2023 Social Monitor Survey
The 2023 Social Monitor was completed in September 2023 and sought the views of a representative sample of 455 Napier residents.
Cost of living pressures and post-Cyclone impacts are continuing to have an impact on our community and their quality of life.
Despite this, the mental wellbeing index has returned to 2022 levels, following a spike (indicating greater levels of distress) in the May 2023 Post-Cyclone survey.
Social connections in the community remain high and eight out of ten people say their neighbourhood is a good place to live.
Safety perceptions are mixed – while overall levels have improved since the Post-Cyclone survey, they remain lower than in 2022.
There has been no change in concern about the impacts of climate change, although floods, high rainfalls, and extreme weather events are identified by people as negative outcomes of climate change.
Emergency preparedness levels are static and although high levels of people have food stored and an alternative cooking source, lower levels have water stored and an emergency plan in place.
Levels of accessibility around Napier show a downward trends and this is primarily associated with views around public transport and the roading network.
2023 Post-Cyclone Community Wellbeing Survey
A Post-Cyclone Community Wellbeing Survey was completed 3-4 months’ following Cyclone Gabrielle to gain an understanding of the ongoing impacts of the Cyclone on the Ahuriri/Napier community.
Eight out of ten respondents were negatively affected by the Cyclone. Impacts included damage to property and/or valuables, health impacts, work loss or disruption, travel delays, and affected family members.
Mental health and wellbeing concerns were reported by two out of three people (66%).
Overall sentiment about life in Napier was lower than in 2022, with 60% rating their life as good or very good (down from 70%).
Feelings of safety declined, with 38% reporting they feel safe, down from 62% in 2022.
Social connections were high post-Cyclone (78% average agreement score, up from 74% in 2022).
Levels of personal and community resilience were high - linked to strong social connections and the community coming together in the aftermath of the Cyclone to help each other out (77%).
Emergency preparedness increased as a result of the Cyclone, with 72% of people saying they have subsequently arranged essential items such as food, water, cash, gas/fuel, a radio, and alternative cooking methods and lighting sources.
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the Napier City Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, Napier City Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. Napier City Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.