Absolutely Fabulous - Life in New Zealand, Over the Last 10 Years: Nielsen Media Research

Auckland, December 20, 2004: The past decade has been a fabulous period of improvement in the quality of life for people of all ethnic backgrounds living in New Zealand, according to a major new research report released today by Nielsen Media Research

The new report, entitled Living in New Zealand: 10 Fabulous Years is drawn from Nielsen Media’s Panorama database, compiled from interviews with 12,000 New Zealanders each period.

Nielsen Media Data from 1994, 1999 and 2004 provides a unique and authoritative analysis of the changes in New Zealand over the past decade.

The Nielsen Media report found that New Zealand has become a better place to live and work, with growth and improvements in every key area between 1994 and 2004. These include:

- Rapid population growth, fed by a high influx of migrants, particularly into Auckland. Approximately one in every four people in Auckland today was not living there in 1994.
- The emergence of Auckland as an epicentre of ethnic diversity. Locally born people of European descent now account for less than half of the Auckland population.
- Improving racial harmony, despite the high influx of people from different ethnic backgrounds
- Solid growth in incomes and a significant drop in the number of people who claim they find it difficult to make ends meet (down from almost one in three in 1994, to one in four in 2004)
- The significant increase in perceptions of opportunities for women
- A better life for Maoris, with a reduction between Maoris and New Zealanders of European descent in areas such as incomes and job opportunities
- A new pride in Maori culture, reflected in the number of New Zealanders who have changed their view about their ethnicity and now claim a Maori background

Nick Jones, Executive Director of Nielsen Media Research said the report revealed an increasingly successful and confident nation eager to build its connections with the rest of world.

“From a solid domestic position, New Zealand has confidently opened its doors to the rest of the world and from 2001 has welcomed a substantially higher intake of migrants.

“Many thousands of these new arrivals are highly skilled business managers, business owners and professionals from Europe, Asia and the Pacific region.

“This is the best possible measure of New Zealand’s success over the past decade and the nation’s ability to offer opportunities and a lifestyle that is equal to any country in the world,” Mr Jones said.

Selected charts and tables from Living in New Zealand: 10 Fabulous Years

(% of all people who agree with statement) 1994 1999 2004
Racial problems are getting worse 64.6 62.5 60.1
Everything in NZ is changing too fast 33.1 32.9 29.6
I don't know who to trust 50.3 48.9 42.7
Women in NZ get a fair go 46.6 52.2 59.9

About Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is the leading provider of television audience measurement and related services, worldwide. In the United States, Nielsen’s National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects, and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 55 markets. Nielsen Media Research is active in 38 countries worldwide, offering television and radio audience measurement, print readership and customised media research services. Nielsen Media Research also provides competitive advertising intelligence information through Nielsen Monitor-Plus both in the U.S. and in 30 markets worldwide. Through a network of affiliates, coverage is extended to more than 70 countries, representing 85% of the world’s advertising spending. In addition, Nielsen collects Internet usage and advertising information through Nielsen//NetRatings. More information is available at www.nielsenmedia.com.

Nielsen Media Research is part of the VNU Media Measurement & Information Group, a global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. The Group serves the information and marketing needs of television and radio broadcasters, advertisers, agencies, media planners, music companies, publishers, motion-picture studios, distributors and exhibitors, and the Internet industry. VNU is active in more than 100 countries, spread across all continents. VNU employs more than 38,000 people and has annual revenues of more than EUR 4.3 billion. For more, visit www.vnu.com.

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