Civic Engagement
Influencing central and local government
Central and local government agencies have a major role in enhancing the social, economic, environmental, and cultural aspects of wellbeing within communities. Civic engagement is associated with citizens’ confidence in their ability to influence local and national decision making, including their trust in the political process [3].
This indicator presents the proportion of those 18 years and over agreeing or strongly agreeing they are able to have enough say in what central and local government agencies do, as reported in the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Canterbury Wellbeing Surveys.
The figure shows that about one quarter of greater Christchurch respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had enough say in the actions of central and local government agencies. This proportion has been stable over the three time-points.
The figure shows that in 2020, almost 34 percent of Pacific/Indian/Asian respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to have enough say in the actions of central and local government agencies. The proportion for European (25.8%) and Māori (21.8%) respondents is statistically significantly lower than that for Pacific/Asian/Indian respondents in 2020.
The figure shows that a statistically significantly lower proportion of younger respondents (aged under 65 years) with a long-term health condition or disability agreed or strongly agreed they are able to have enough say in the actions of central and local government agencies in 2018 and 2020 compared to those without a long-term health condition or disability. The proportion of older respondents (65 years and above) with a long-term health condition or disability agreeing or strongly agreeing was not significantly different from those without a health condition or disability.
Data Sources
Source: Canterbury District Health Board.
Survey/data set: Canterbury Wellbeing Survey to 2020. Access publicly available data from the Community and Public Health (Canterbury DHB) website www.cph.co.nz/your-health/wellbeing-survey/
Source data frequency: Annually.