The Star: November 29, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday November 29 2018 9
Loneliness a problem in young – survey
QUALITY OF life in greater
Christchurch is the best it has
been since the February 22, 2011,
earthquake, according to the
latest Wellbeing Survey.
But it has revealed the extent
of loneliness in young people for
the first time.
The Canterbury District
Health Board released its survey
from May, done every six
months, to measure earthquake
recovery across the region.
It was the
first time a
question on
loneliness had
been included.
Nearly 15
per cent of 18
to 24-year-olds
Evon Currie
feel lonely most
of the time or
always, compared with three per
cent over 65.
“I’m interested in digging
deeper into the issue of loneliness
to determine whether
Government agencies and our
communities need to be playing
more of a role in encouraging
connections and a sense of belonging,
especially for our young
people,” Greater Christchurch
Psychosocial Governance Group
chairwoman Evon Currie said.
ISOLATION: The Wellbeing Survey has revealed the level
of loneliness in those 18 to 24 is significantly higher than
other age groups.
However, she said overall wellbeing
in greater Christchurch
has continued its upward trend
post-quake.
“Overall, the well-being of our
community is in the best shape it
has been since the earthquakes.
Eight in 10 greater Christchurch
residents rate their quality of life
positively, stress levels continue
to fall.”
More than two-thirds still
say they have been negatively
impacted by stress in the last 12
months.
“The proportion reporting
stress at this frequency has
reduced from 80 per cent in
September 2012 to 68 per cent in
May,” the survey said.
Groups experiencing the
lowest well-being across the
board include Māori, those on
low incomes, and those with
a disability or chronic health
condition.
“Being able to live the type
of life you value shouldn’t be
the preserve of the wealthy or
healthy. We need to do more to
ensure that no one is left behind.
That should be the ultimate
measure of a successful community,”
Ms Currie said.
Four in five find it easy to be
themselves in New Zealand.
“This proportion differs significantly
by ethnicity, with those of
European ethnicity being more
likely to find it easy (84 per cent)
and those of Māori (76 per cent)
or Pacific/Asian/Indian (51 per
cent) ethnicity being less likely to
find it easy,” the survey said.
It found 13 per cent of residents
have more than 11 standard
drinks a week and 29 per
cent have more than six.
On the other side of the scale,
44 per cent of residents rate their
health as excellent or very good,
while 18 per cent rate it as fair or
poor.
More than nine in 10 said they
feel very or fairly safe in their
home after dark and the city
during the day, while just five per
cent feel unsafe.
“However, when walking alone
in their neighbourhood after
dark 68 per cent feel safe and 26
per cent feel unsafe,’’ it said.
KEY FACTS
•Nearly 15 per cent of 18 to
24-year-olds feel lonely or
isolated always or most of
the time, compared with
less than three per cent of
those over 65.
•More than eight in 10
greater Christchurch
residents (81 per cent) rate
their quality of life positively.
•67 per cent are satisfied
that their household income
meets their everyday needs
•69 per cent are satisfied
with community facilities.
Five per cent are dissatisfied.
•73 per cent are satisfied
with access to transport,
while eight per cent
are dissatisfied. This is a
decrease in satisfaction from
June 2017 (decreasing from
80 per cent to 73 per cent).
•79 per cent are satisfied
with the overall quality of
the home in which they
live. Ten per cent expressed
dissatisfaction. This is an
increase in satisfaction from
June 2017 (increasing from
74 per cent to 79 per cent).
•80 per cent are satisfied
with their access to the
natural environment, while
five per cent expressed
dissatisfaction.
Regenerate Christchurch is responsible for developing the
regeneration plan for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor and has
considered thousands of ideas from the community, as well as
surveys, technical reports and studies.
We are now pleased to invite written comments on the
following documents from 14 November 2018:
• The Draft Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan, with the primary purpose
of enabling short, medium and long-term uses of approximately 600ha of land within the
Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, including the area previously known as the residential red zone.
• The Proposed Partial Revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and the
Proposed Partial Revocation of the Land Use Recovery Plan, which would, in combination
(if approved) result in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan being the sole
Regeneration/Recovery Plan applying to the regeneration area.
What happens
to the contents
of your yellow bin?
Come along to the EcoSort
OPEN DAY!
Saturday 8 December
9am–12noon
A formal public notice inviting written comments appeared in The Press, Star Media and at gazette.govt.nz on 14
November 2018.
View the documents
Online: engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz
View a hard copy: Regenerate Christchurch (Level 1, Building 2, 181 High Street, Christchurch 8011),
or a Waimakariri District, Christchurch City or Selwyn District Council office, service centre or
library during normal business hours. (Supporting technical information is only available online.)
Provide comments
Online: engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz
Email: info@regeneratechristchurch.nz
Post: Freepost—Regenerate Christchurch, PO Box 32, Christchurch 8140.
You may comment on all 3 documents or on any of them. Please use separate
written comment forms for each document if responding via email or post. Written
comment forms are available at engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz or from the
physical locations above.
Please provide written comments between 14 November and 5pm 19 December, 2018 (or postmarked before
20 December). Late written comments will not be accepted. This is the final opportunity to provide feedback.
Please provide your name (first and last), address, and email address (if you have one) with your written
comments. Written comments without these details will not be considered. Your written comments and your
name will be publicly available on Regenerate Christchurch’s website once the written comments period has
closed.
21 Parkhouse Road, Sockburn
(next to the EcoDrop)
Limited parking on site or park
in Michelle Rd
• Learn more about the EcoDrop
recycling centres and EcoShop
• Discover what happens to your
recycling once it’s been collected
• Get up close to a recycling
collection truck
• Educational for the whole family
• Giveaways and prizes!
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GREEN
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For more information,
call 941 8999 or visit ccc.govt.nz