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.

Breakdown by Territorial Authority

The figure shows that one quarter of Christchurch City respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had enough say in the actions of central and local government agencies. The proportion of respondents in the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts who agreed or strongly agreed that they had enough say in the actions of central and local government agencies tends to be higher than among Christchurch City respondents, however the differences are not statistically significant in 2020.

Breakdown by ethnicity

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.

Breakdown by age

The figure shows an overall picture of increasing satisfaction with influence on central and local government agencies with increasing age. In 2020, the difference between those aged 18 to 24 years and those aged 75+ years (20.6% and 32.7%, respectively) was statistically significant.

Breakdown by gender

The figure shows that a similar proportion of female and male respondents agreed or strongly agreed they are able to have enough say in what central and local government agencies do in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (in 2020, females 25.5%; males 27.1%).

Breakdown by income

There are no statistically significant differences at any timepoint in the proportion of respondents in each income group who agreed or strongly agreed they are able to have enough say in what central and local government agencies do.

Breakdown by disability

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.

View technical notes and data tables for this indicator.

Updated: 07/04/2022