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 (33.6%, 2018; 37.1%, 2019; 42%, 2020), compared to Waimakariri District and Selwyn District respondents, although this difference was only statistically significant for Selwyn District in 2019 and for Waimakariri District in 2020.

The figure shows that the proportion of respondents from the Pacific/Asian/Indian ethnic group indicating confidence in local and central government agencies’ decision-making was statistically significantly higher than for Māori respondents and European respondents in 2018 (43.7%; 27.3%; and 34.1%, respectively) and 2020 (57.1%; 41.9%; and 42.6%, respectively), and statistically significantly higher than for European respondents in 2019 (47.8% and 37.8%, 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 2018 and 2019, there were no statistically significant differences between the age groups. However, in 2020 the proportion of respondents aged 25 to 34 years and 35 to 49 years who indicated their confidence in agencies (48.6% and 46.1%, respectively) was statistically significantly higher than the 50 to 64 years age group (37.1%).

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 2020.

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. In 2018 and 2019, there were no statistically significant differences by income, whereas 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.

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 (45.5% and 34% in 2020, respectively).