Social Capital

The figure shows, across the time series, that lower proportions of Christchurch City respondents indicate having confidence in central and local government agencies’ decision-making processes, compared to Waimakariri District and Selwyn District respondents (31.5%, 43.9%, and 34.4% in 2022, respectively). The difference was statistically significant for Selwyn District in 2019 and 2020, and for Waimakariri District in 2020 and 2022.

The figure shows that the proportion of Pacific/Asian/Indian respondents indicating confidence in local and central government agencies’ decision-making was statistically significantly higher than for Māori respondents and European respondents at several points across the time series shown. However, the differences are not statistically significant in 2022 (39.4%; 27.6%; and 33.7%, respectively). Māori respondents had the lowest proportion reporting confidence in central and local government agencies’ decision making across the time series, however, the differences between the Māori and European ethnic groups were not statistically significant.

The figure shows the proportion of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that central and local government agencies make decisions in the best interests of their city or district, for each age group. In 2022, there were no statistically significant differences between the age groups (except for the 18–24 years vs. 65–74 years group). In 2022, the proportion of respondents aged 18 to 24 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 49 years, 50 to 64 years, 65 to 74 years, and 75 years and over who indicated their confidence in agencies were (27.8%, 31.5%, 32.2%, 35.9%, 38.2%, and 35.4%, respectively).

The figure shows no statistically significant difference between the proportions of male respondents and female respondents who agree or strongly agree that central and local government agencies make decisions in the best interests of their city or district between 2018 and 2022.

The figure shows the differences by income in the proportion of respondents who indicated their confidence in agencies to make decisions in the best interests of their city or district, from 2018 to 2022. In 2020 the proportion of respondents with annual household incomes $60,001–$100,000 and over $100,000 indicating their confidence in agencies were statistically significantly higher than for those with annual household incomes of $30,001–$60,000, however, in 2022, there were no statistically significant differences between the household income groups.

The figure shows that a higher proportion of respondents without a long-term health condition or disability indicated their confidence in agencies, compared to respondents with a long-term health condition or disability (aged under 65 years and 65 years and over). However, only the difference between respondents without a long-term health condition or disability and respondents aged under 65 years with a long-term health condition or disability was statistically significant in 2022 (35.1% and 26.7%, respectively).