Quality Of Life Report 2007

Manukau is set to become the country’s second largest city within the next few years, with a new report, just released, showing that economic and population growth are two key factors for the city to address.

Manukau is leading the country in economic growth and the city’s population has expanded by 16.2 per cent between the 2001 and 2006 censuses. Between 2006 and 2026, the city’s population is expected to grow by a further 53.9 per cent.

The 2007 Quality of Life report, released by the Metropolitan Sector Group today, provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality of life in 12 New Zealand cities, as part of a multi-council initiative.

The impact of economic growth is seen in the number of non-residential building consents issued, while job numbers being filled has risen and average weekly earnings increased.

According to the results, Manukau also has strong communities and a high overall quality of life.

Highlights from the report included:

• During 2003-2006, more than 800 non-residential building consents were issued, for building work worth about $1.12 billion. Only Auckland City had more non-residential building work during the period.
• More than 25,000 new jobs were filled during 2001-2006 – an increase in filled job numbers of over 27% during the period.
• The number of economically viable new businesses increased by 30.3% over the period 2002-2006 – only Rodney and Tauranga experienced faster rates of growth.
• Average weekly earnings in the city increased by 15.1% from December 2003 to December 2006 (second only to Dunedin).
• 72.1% of residents were satisfied with work-life balance.
• Manukau’s median household income in 2006 was $62,300 – the fifth-highest of the 12 cities, and only 17.7% of households earned under $30,000 – the second-lowest rate of low-income households among the cities.
• Manukau’s average annual growth in GDP was 6.6% from 2001 to 2006 (March years) – well ahead of any other city, and almost double the national average of 3.5%.
• Growth in labour productivity of 1.5% a year from 2001 to 2006 was also the highest of any city.
• Per capita GDP growth increased by 5.1% a year during 2001-2006 – second only to Porirua.
• Manukau has the largest Maori population (47,346), the greatest proportion of Pacific Island people (26.3%), and the second-highest proportion of Asian people (20.3%) after Auckland City.
• Manukau and Porirua have the youngest populations, with more than one in four (26.2%) 15 years and under, compared to the rest of New Zealand where 22.3% of the population is under 15 years of age.

Figures from the 2006 census showed unemployment remained higher than the national average, and the New Zealand Deprivation Index shows that a relatively high proportion of the city’s population live in areas of high deprivation (deciles 8-10, most deprived). The city also had relatively low rates of home ownership and high rates of household crowding.

“There are still challenges facing Manukau, as there are for any city – we are a young city with some growing pains. But, this report shows we’re making great progress,” Mayor Len Brown says.

“For Manukau to lead the country in economic growth is excellent, as are many of the other results. This reflects not just the council’s efforts, but also those of the many organisations and businesses in our city who are working together to achieve the community’s vision of their city in the future – Tomorrow’s Manukau Manukau.

The Quality of Life project started with six councils in 1999 and has since expanded to 12 territorial local authorities, including: Rodney; North Shore; Waitakere; Auckland; Manukau; Hamilton; Tauranga; Porirua; Hutt; Wellington; Christchurch; and Dunedin.

The project aims to give decision-makers information to help them improve the quality of life in major New Zealand urban areas.

ENDS