22 September 2004

Manukau a great place to live and work – residents’ survey results

82% of Manukau residents think Manukau City is good place to live, according to the latest 2004 Citizens’ Perception Survey. There are also high satisfaction levels with the city as a place to work and do business, internet use is growing, and there has been greater use of Council facilities such as libraries and swimming pools over the past year.

The annual survey examines residents’ perceptions of everyday life in the city, and of satisfaction levels with Manukau City Council’s services. The survey company spoke to 515 residents spread throughout the city with interviews conducted across the city and every age group above the age of 15.

Key results:

66% rate Manukau as a good or excellent place to work 70% rate the city a good or excellent place to do business 67% rate the city a good or excellent place to set up or operate a business

In contrast to the negative image commonly portrayed in the national media, crime overall in Manukau is falling and the survey shows most residents feel safe in their local community:

89% feel safe in their homes and 90% in their neighbourhood during the day 75% feel safe in their homes at night, and 63% in their neighbourhood

Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says, “The pleasing overall outcome of the survey is the increasing satisfaction of residents with the public services and facilities provided by the Council. We work hard to provide these services and the survey results suggest we are getting it right.”

“It is not just residents expressing satisfaction, with business community also giving the city a thumbs-up.

“Economic growth is essential to the city’s sustainable development and well-being. Having the business sector rate Manukau highly as a good place to set up and operate a business shows that we are continuing to head in the right direction.” Residents were also asked about issues of concern, and to nominate three main issues facing the city. The results:

Issues related to crime, safety and policing were mentioned by 24%, traffic congestion 23%, public transport 20 education initiatives 13%, health service and promotion 12%, appearance of the city 12%.

“This year the findings have identified crime, safety, policing traffic congestion and public transport as issues, although in each case they were of concern to a minority. However these are all issues we have already focused on and will continue to do so,” said Sir Barry. At the other end of the spectrum, the level of rates and Council spending was mentioned by 8% and graffiti 7%. Other results:

Town centres: 88% satisfied with how easy their town centre is to get to Regional Transport: 46% find it easy to get around the region, 42% say it’s difficult Manukau transport: 68% find it easy to get around the city Internet use: 50% use the internet daily, with 72% of the adult population using the net. Swimming pool use: 30% have used a Council swimming pool over the past year (down from 41% last year) Library use: 76% have visited a library in the past year (up from 65%)

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>