The Social Report 2002 Update is the second stage in the programme of social monitoring initiated by The Social Report 2001. It aims to provide up-to-date information on the overall social health and well-being of our society.
The report captures information about a wide range of areas that are important to New Zealanders. These include the health of the population, access to knowledge and skills, safety and security, participation in paid work, civil, political and human rights, culture and identity, the economic standard of living, social connectedness, and the quality of the environment.
A range of social indicators are used to provide information on the current social health and well-being of the nation, historical trends in these outcomes, variation across the population, and international comparisons. The approach is the same as that taken in The Social Report 2001. No attempt has been made to revise or review the indicators used in the report for 2002. Instead, the aim has been to update those indicators used in The Social Report 2001 for which more recent information is now available.
In mid 2003 the Ministry of Social Development will publish The Social Report 2003. This report will build on the results of widespread consultation by the Ministry on The Social Report 2001, and will look to improve the indicators used and better align the desired social outcomes of the report with the views expressed by New Zealanders during the consultation process.
Purpose
This report has three main purposes:
- to provide and monitor over time measures of well-being and quality of life that complement existing economic indicators
- to allow us to assess how New Zealand compares with other countries on various measures of well-being
- to help identify key issues and areas where action is needed, which can in turn help with planning and decision-making.