Report on Community Issues survey about Community Needs

Term 4 2011

Q 1 We deliberately focussed our attention on locals for this survey and managed to interview 331 of whom 98% were local. We appreciated the input of interviews from the Uniting Church which boosted our total to over 300.

Q2 Our respondents were spread evenly over the full range of years spent in Motueka with a similar percentage in the new arrivals (29%) compared with the over 20 years group (31%).

Q3 & 4 It was not surprising that females in the older age groups (over 31)featured in our sample with 122 compared with 70 males from the same age groups.

Q5 People were identified as the best thing about Motueka with many mentioning sense of community, diversity of people, different cultures and especially friendliness. Environment and climate also featured along with services especially shopping.

Q6 Weaknesses (or things that need improving) identified were more job opportunities, more facilities for youth, affordable housing, parks, cycle and walkways and roads and footpaths.

Q7A surprising 53% had no involvement in voluntary groups, while 22% were in support services and just 20% were in sports groups.

Q8 According to our survey children and the elderly are best cared for while the least cared for groups were regarded as unemployed, seasonal workers, disadvantaged families and youth. There were a lot of people unsure about the care afforded to new migrants, unemployed and disadvantaged families.

Q9 82% were convinced that Motueka was a caring community and yet 53% were not engaged in any voluntary groups. Q10 71% regarded Motueka as a safe community.

Q11 An indoor pool, a heavy traffic by-pass and improved shopping such as a mall were seen as the leading things which could improve Motueka's community.

Q12 Only 17% did not know their neighbours and 59% spoke to them regularly, 43% socialise occasionally, 54% borrow or loan items and 65% were happy to help if needed. Less than 25% had discussed civil emergency procedures or were active in neighbourhood watch programmes.

This report was written by Will Garland and Tim Podlucky.

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