Measuring generosity in communities
Gisborne is a place known for its sunshine hours and great surf beaches. However I have a different memory of the town after a recent visit. It was raining and I was umbrella-less so...
Gisborne is a place known for its sunshine hours and great surf beaches. However I have a different memory of the town after a recent visit. It was raining and I was umbrella-less so...
While the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) readies the release of 2016 Census information, the tiny Pacific Island territory of Tokelau have been there and done that! With the help of Statistics New Zealand,...
What do London, Melbourne, Sydney and Toronto have in common? Dense and expensive housing. Following the footsteps of these big cities we have a love/hate relationship with, the New Zealand Government recently launched consultation...
A recent paper published by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) summarised the key challenges facing planners in the next 30 to 50 years, but how can we adequately prepare for these challenges at a...
I used to work with a team of customer service staff who dreaded Māori Language week each year because customers would often react angrily to a Māori salutation. Thankfully that was many years ago...
My previous blog took a look at rising rental activity across New Zealand. Higher levels of renting seemed to roughly correspond with less affordable home ownership levels. But why does it really matter if...
Home affordability is a big deal in many parts of New Zealand. On a weekly basis, there a predictable bruhaha in the media about Auckland alone. The following infographic depicts levels of affordability for...
Is it a digital take on no. 8 wire and baling twine? Last week Whanganui, the district that has so often been overlooked, was celebrated on the international stage for its innovative and inclusive...
Imagine having more than 40,000 tourists, or 10 times the size of your population, visiting your local area this summer. What will that be like? I live in Tasman, New Zealand, cosied up in...
I was enjoying a glass of wine with no. 2 son this week when, as a fledgling winemaker/philosopher, he mentioned the struggles of his generation – the “lonely” generation. The fact that the no.2...
Southern Hemisphere rugby reigns supreme as the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) loom with all four teams from south of the equator. Why is this relevant in a population blog you might...
While births and deaths have an influence on local population characteristics, migration is by far the most powerful force in population change. A while ago I wrote a blog investigating internal migration, noting that...
New Zealand has arguably been in a trend of ageing for close to a century. All you have to do is look at the steady decline of birth rates and the increase in life...
In the 2013 census 37.5% of the Wellington population over the age of 15 had a tertiary degree. Compare that result against Queenstown in distant second place with 22%. Auckland lies third with 21.9%.*...
How do universities affect our population, housing and industries? University is a very special time of life for most… and some of us keep going back! Universities are also special for the city they...
The definition of happiness and well-being differs greatly from one person to another. This doesn’t just apply to individuals but also to local governments and their communities. How can you effectively measure and plan for the...
The 2013 census population for Māori in New Zealand was 668,715. How can we better understand this indigenous community? What are the demographic characteristics of this population and how has it changed over time?...
Recently a discussion between Christchurch City councillors was debated at length in the media. Now the councillors and Mayor may have just been spitballing… but the headline read Canterbury with a population of 2...
Just before Christmas, the Far North District Council became the latest New Zealand local authority to join with .id. The Far North is a special place blessed with glorious beaches, bays and fishing along...
17th Century author Abraham Cowley wrote: May I a small house and large garden have, and a few friends, and many books, both true. Cowley’s sentiment would still resonate with many New Zealanders today,...