District’s voter turnout will increase
Harcourts residential sales consultant John Petry, Morrinsville, said the predicted increase in older people settling in the district didn’t come as a surprise.
‘‘I think you will see that in all rural towns there will be a similar situation.’’
He thought Morrinsville’s easier country lifestyle was a major attraction for those looking to retire. In his experience, about 15 people a year came into the town looking to retire there.
‘‘It’s got easier parking in a smaller town, easier driving, as opposed to Hamilton or Tauranga, but still close to the hospital system and health specialists in Hamilton.’’
The increase in older people may be connected to a projected increase in voter turnout for local government elections.
Data showed an increase to 45 per cent for Matamata-Piako.
Waikato Regional Council’s voter turnout would be 40 per cent, Hamilton city’s 38 per cent and Waikato district, 32 per cent.
The report said voter turnout was a measure of how well people connected and invested in their community.
When it came to jobs, research showed there would be more people leaving the workforce than entering from Matamata-Piako and Waikato districts.
It also showed that across the three areas, Maori population tended to do the most volunteer or unpaid caring work (34.9 per cent) with the next highest Pacific people (31.5 per cent), people of European decent (26.9 per cent) and Asian people (14.9 per cent).
When it came to education, 21 per cent of 25-to-34 year olds in Matamata-Piako had no formal qualifications while the number was 20 per cent in Waikato district and 12 per cent in Hamilton.
Just 39 per cent of 25-to-34 year olds in Matamata-Piako had a NZQA level 4 or higher qualification, while the number was 43 per cent in Waikato district and 55 per cent in Hamilton city.
The report also gathered statistics of the environment which showed 85 per cent of protected areas in Matamata-Piako were ‘‘acutely threatened’’ which meant less than 10 per cent of native vegetation remained.
About one-third of protected areas in Hamilton city and Waikato district were deemed to be acutely threatened.
The report also looked at the Waikato, Waipa and Piako rivers. It said water quality was poorer in the lower Waikato River where there was more intensive land use.