People's trust in Parliament and the media has fallen since 2021, according to a Stats NZ survey. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
New Zealanders' trust in institutions including the health system, Parliament, media, police and courts has fallen since 2021, according to newly released data.
Stats NZ's 2023 General Social Survey measures people's wellbeing.
Its wellbeing and housing statistics manager Sarah Drake said results showed people remained satisfied with their lives as a whole last year, but some key measures of trust declined as did people's sense of safety.
"As a result of recent global events such as Covid-19, our society has faced a number of challenges. Institutional trust, trust in other people, sense of belonging, and a sense of safety are all important measures of people feeling part of society," Drake said.
Survey respondents were asked to rate institutional trust on a 0 to 10 scale, where 0 is no trust and 10 is complete trust.
Most reported having higher trust in police compared with other institutions, with a mean rating of 7.4 out of 10 in 2023, down from 7.7 in 2021.
People had the least trust in the media, at 4.3, down from 4.7 in 2021.
Trust in Parliament decreased the most in 2023 compared with other institutions, down to 4.9 from 5.7 in 2021.
Along with trust in institutions, people were asked to rate their trust in most people in New Zealand and this also decreased in 2023, down to 6.5 from 6.7 in 2021.
The results also show people's sense of safety fell and they were more worried about crime.
Survey respondents were asked how safe they felt waiting for public transport at night and walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark.
Only two in five people (42 percent) felt that it was safe or very safe to use or wait for public transport at night, down from 49 percent in 2021.
Just over half, 55 percent of people, felt that it was safe or very safe to walk alone in their neighbourhood after dark, down from 59 percent in 2021.
Meanwhile, people rated worrying about crime as having a greater effect on their quality of life in 2023 than in 2021.
The regions showing the most significant changes in fear and worry were Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Manawatū-Whanganui.
Survey respondents also reported a lower sense of belonging to New Zealand in 2023, at 8.2 out of 10, down from 8.6 in 2021.
Stats NZ said the next General Social Survey will not be conducted in 2025/2026, while it explores options for collecting wellbeing data in the future.
Stats NZ it aimed to collect data in 2026/2027, either through the General Social Survey or another form.
The data collection for 2023 began in May 2023 and finished in April 2024.