The Christchurch City Council’s latest Quality of Life Survey shows a decrease in residents’ concern about climate change, while other city-wide issues such as transport and council decision-making continue to draw attention.
The biennial survey questioned 6,994 New Zealanders about their perceptions of life in major urban areas, including Christchurch. The results were released nationally. The 2024 survey, conducted last year, was delayed slightly to account for new Census data.
In Christchurch, 29% of respondents said they were worried or very worried about climate change, down from 41% in 2022. The trend was similar in other cities across New Zealand.
The survey also recorded ongoing dissatisfaction with public transport, with 40% of respondents seeing it as a viable alternative to driving. Many residents still preferred private vehicles for daily travel.
Confidence in council decision-making remained low, with only 30% of Christchurch residents expressing trust in the council’s choices.
Overall, 77% of respondents said Christchurch was a great place to live, pointing to the central city’s revival, recreational facilities, and things to do. Concerns about crime and roading developments were among the reasons given by those who felt the city had become a worse place to live.
The Quality of Life Survey is used by the council to assess public opinion on city living. Christchurch’s results this year were based on responses from 524 residents.
