Cantabrians regain happiness
Most Cantabrians have regained a happy equilibrium since the 2011 earthquakes but feel left out of recovery decision-making, the 10th Canterbury Wellbeing Survey has found.
Of 2500 residents from Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri surveyed in June, 82 per cent rated their quality of life as extremely good (24 per cent) or good (58 per cent).
Those reporting renewed happiness attributed it to being healthy, financially secure, having strong family and personal relationships, a house, a job, and access to parks and beaches.
Just 30 per cent of residents were confident in the recovery work done by local and central government, while 38 per cent were not confident.
Even fewer – 26 per cent – were happy with opportunities for public influence on earthquake recovery decisions.
Compared to the last survey in September 2016, fewer people – 32 per cent – were very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with their ability to influence decisions.
Participants said the most positive impacts from the earthquakes were increased family time, access to new facilities and a renewed appreciation for life. Of eight community-based initiatives, the Margaret Mahy Family Playground in central Christchurch was the most popular and well known.
Perceived negative effects of the earthquakes had dropped to the lowest levels since the first wellbeing survey in September 2012.
Construction work damaged environments
Those reporting renewed happiness attributed it to being healthy, financially secure, having strong family and personal relationships, a house, a job, and access to parks and beaches.
and had a negative impact on the lives of 14 per cent of respondents, a higher proportion than the previous survey.
Anxiety from aftershocks and the loss of indoor sports and active recreation facilities were the other two most prevalent earthquake-related issues having a negative impact on Cantabrians.
Nearly three quarters of those surveyed (71 per cent) had experienced stress that had a negative impact on them in the past 12 months, but that was less than in any previous survey.
Just under half of greater Christchurch residents rated their health as excellent or very good, while 18 per cent rated it as fair or poor.
Greater Christchurch Psychosocial Group chair Evon Currie said ongoing stress continued to affect a pocket of residents.
‘‘One in six people surveyed said the quakes and their ongoing impacts are still affecting their health and wellbeing.’’
Currie said a significant group were still struggling.
Those with unresolved insurance or Earthquake Commission claims (4 per cent of participants) were less likely to be happy with their quality of life (66 per cent) and were more likely to experience stress most or all of the time (30 per cent).
More Ma¯ori participants reported positive impacts from the earthquake such as a greater appreciation for life, spending more time with family, increased resilience and helping friends and family.
People on low incomes, who rented their home or had a health condition or disability, were more likely to be stressed, have lower quality of life and wellbeing, and rated their health lower, the survey found.