Environment

Access to transport

Transport systems and infrastructure (including public transport) influence health and wellbeing by enabling access to other important resources, such as employment, education, and social and health care services. Transport infrastructure that is safe and easy to navigate increases the likelihood of residents using environmentally sustainable modes of transport, such as walking and cycling [3]. Levels of physical activity are influenced by the walkability and cycle-ability of the local environment [3].

This indicator presents the proportion of those 18 years and over, satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport to daily activities, using Canterbury Wellbeing Survey data from 2017 to 2020.

The figure shows that the proportion of respondents who indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport to daily activities, increased significantly from 72.4 percent in 2018 to 80 percent in 2019 and has remained stable in 2020 (78.6%).

The figure shows that satisfaction with ease of access to suitable transport decreased over the 2017 to 2018 time period then increased over the 2018 to 2019 time period: in Christchurch City (74.0% to 82.2%; +8.2 percentage points); Selwyn District (68.5% to 69.9%; +1.4 percentage points); and Waimakariri District (63.9% to 73.5%; +9.6 percentage points). The increase in satisfaction reported by Christchurch City and Waimakariri District respondents from 2018 to 2019 is statistically significant. The proportion of respondents who indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport to daily activities did not change significantly between 2019 and 2020 for any of the three Territorial Authorities.

The figure shows that the proportion of European, Māori, and Pacific/Asian/Indian respondents who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport, converged across greater Christchurch from 2017 to 2018. This pattern of convergence was followed by an overall increase in satisfaction from 2018 to 2019, which remained stable in 2020. The differences between ethnic groups were not statistically different from 2018 to 2020.

The figure shows that the proportion of respondents who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport decreased for all age groups from 2017 to 2018. The largest decrease was in the 18 to 24 years age group, for which the proportion decreased by 15 percentage points (80.2% in 2017 and 65.0% in 2018). Satisfaction with ease of access to suitable transport has increased since 2018 among all age groups, significantly so among those aged 50-64 years, and 65-74 years. In 2020, the level of satisfaction was statistically similar between age groups with the exception of the proportion for the 65 to 74 years age group being statistically significantly higher than for the 18 to 24 years age group (83.3% and 72.6% respectively).

The figure shows no statistically significant differences in the proportion of female and male respondents who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport from 2017 to 2020. After a significant decrease for both males and females between 2017 and 2018, satisfaction with ease of access to suitable transport returned to previous levels in 2019 and remained stable in 2020.

The figure shows no statistically significant differences in the proportion of respondents who indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to transport, in greater Christchurch, by annual household income in 2020 (75.1% for <$30,000 to 82.2% for $100,000+). However, there is a general pattern of increasing satisfaction with increasing income. In 2017 and 2019 satisfaction with ease of access to transport was statistically significantly different between the lowest and highest income groups.

The figure shows a statistically significantly lower proportion of respondents with a long-term health condition or disability (irrespective of age group) indicating that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their ease of access to suitable transport in greater Christchurch from 2017 to 2020 than those with no long-term health condition or disability. There were no statistically significant differences between respondents with a long-term health condition or disability who were aged under 65 years and those aged 65 years and over, at any timepoint.

Data Sources

Source: Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury - formerly the Canterbury District Health Board.
Survey/data set: Canterbury Wellbeing Survey to 2020. Access publicly available data from Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health website www.cph.co.nz/your-health/wellbeing-survey/
Source data frequency: Annually.

View technical notes and data tables for this indicator.

Updated: 08/05/2023