A scorecard of critical environmental, social, cultural and economic indicators for the Waikato region has revealed positives around road safety and perceptions of safety.

The Waikato Progress Indicators | Tupuranga Waikato is an online dashboard of 32 critical indicators of the overall wellbeing of the region and trends over more than a decade.

The 2025 update of what is known as the “pulse of the Waikato region” was presented by principal strategic advisor, Dr Beat Huser to the Waikato Regional Council Strategy and Policy Committee yesterday.

This year, the update showed 8 improving trends, 13 worsening trends and 9 trends with no significant change.

The five largest positive measured trends over the 2007 to 2024 period include:

• Increased road safety
• Higher average incomes
• Growth in regional GDP
• Decreased regional greenhouse gas emissions
• Improved perceptions of safety.

The five largest negative trends over this period include:

• Lower frequency of physical activity
• Poorer perceptions of community engagement
• More waste to landfill
• Higher water use
• Lower levels of cultural respect.

Dr Huser said that of the indicators measured, the regional council is responsible for environmental measures as well as for road safety and public transport.

“While the council is not responsible for many of the indicators, they all are connected and contribute to or influence in some way council’s core business and the region’s outcomes,” said Dr Huser.

Comparisons with average New Zealand data show the Waikato region is above the national average on a range of economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing indicators, including more te reo Māori speakers, higher level of social connectedness and more community pride.

About the indicators

The Waikato Progress Indicators | Tupuranga Waikato is a monitoring framework for assessing progress towards regional wellbeing. The first WPI report was published in December 2013, setting a benchmark to evaluate future changes and trends. The framework and indicators are aligned with the council’s Strategic Direction 2023-2025 and its purpose of: Working together for a Waikato region that has a healthy environment, vibrant communities and strong economy.

Read the report: www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/tr202515

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