2014 Wanganui District Council 0251659264 Community Views Survey April 2014 Prepared for: Wanganui District Council Prepared by: Versus Research EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Versus Research was commissioned by Wanganui District Council (Council) to conduct Council’s annual Community Views Survey (CVS). This survey identifies the perceptions that residents of Wanganui District (residents) have on a wide range of measures, including the services and facilities provided by Council. Versus Research also conducted Council’s CVS in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Interviewing for the CVS 2014 was carried out via telephone1, consistent with previous years, between the 1st and the 16th of April. The final sample size was n=411 which gives a maximum margin of error of +/- 4.83 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence interval. The findings are primarily analysed by suburb and where relevant, by socio-economic groups. The results are compared to the CVS conducted in 2013 (n=400), 2012 (n=400), 2011 (n=418), and 2010 (n=418). The CVS this year, as with previous years, asked residents about their: Participation in recreational and cultural activities. Preparedness for an emergency. Perceptions towards Wanganui Airport. Feelings of safety in the CBD and at home. Opinions on the quality of life in Wanganui and intentions to move from Wanganui. Satisfaction with a range of Council facilities and services. Community wellbeing and sense of belonging. Opinions on Council’s governance on a range of measures. Awareness of, and perceptions towards, the Rural Community Board (rural residents only). The most popular recreational activities identified by Wanganui residents were similar to 2013: visiting a beach (82%), using the Whanganui Riverbank Walkway (78%), using or visiting a Premier Park (78%), and using or visiting a neighbourhood park (76%). This year, significant increases in usage were noted for: visiting a beach (82%, c.f. 2012 76%), using the Whanganui Riverbank Walkway (78% c.f. 2013, 71%), using or visiting a Premier Park (78%, c.f. 2013 70%), using or visiting a neighbourhood park (76% c.f. 2013, 69%), using other walkways around the city (70% c.f. 2013, 60%), using or visiting sports grounds (64%, c.f. 2013 55%), and playing sport on an informal or casual basis (51%, c.f. 2013 46%). There has been a decrease in the number of residents who used or attended an event at Cooks Gardens (40%, c.f. 2013 48%) as well as a decrease in the proportion of residents who did not engage in any recreational activities (4%), although this is not significant. The top five cultural activities also remained the same as last year: using the libraries (60%), visiting the Whanganui Regional Museum (41%), visiting a historical site (39%), being actively involved in a community organisation (37%), and attending a performance at the Royal Wanganui Opera House (34%). A decrease can be seen from 2013 in the number of residents who were actively involved in a community organisation (37%, c.f. 2013 45%) or who visited Sarjeant Gallery (30%, c.f. 2013 38%). Results for emergency preparedness are on par with the 2013 results. Sixty-four per cent of residents had discussed an emergency response plan with their household, a two per cent increase from 2013. More than half (56%) of residents had an emergency survival kit, residents indicated these kits contained a first aid kit and instruction book (93%), dried or tinned food for at least three days (89%), a battery powered radio that works (75%), and/or important personal documents (35%). 1 Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing 1 | P a g e There has been a decrease in the proportion of residents who had checked their kit in the last month (34%, c.f. 2013 48%). However, residents’ perceptions of their level of preparedness for an emergency and their ability to cope without any outside assistance has remained on par with last year’s results. Perceptions of safety were mostly consistent with the 2013 results: nearly all residents felt safe in their home during the day (98%) and in the evening (96%), and 96 per cent of residents felt safe in the CBD during the day. Residents who felt safe in the CBD during the evening had increased five per cent from 2013. The number of residents who felt their property was secure while they were away has decreased (90%), although neither of these results were significant. On par with last year’s result, the main reasons residents felt unsafe were people loitering around (37%), aggressive youths or street kids (33%), intimidation or not knowing what might happen (18%), the potential for violence (17%), and drunk people (16%). There was a significant decrease in the number of residents who felt unsafe because of drunk people in 2014 (16%, c.f. 2013 29%). The proportion of residents who indicated community wellbeing was very high (19%) has remained on par with last year’s results and the number of residents who had a very strong sense of belonging (20%) has increased from 2013, although not significantly. The number of residents intending to leave Wanganui (26%) has decreased from 2013 although not significantly. Of the residents who would leave Wanganui (26%), better job opportunities (38%), the need for a change (19%), and a bigger city bringing more opportunities (19%) were the main reasons identified by residents as why they would leave. There has been a decrease in the number of residents who indicated they would leave Wanganui to be closer to family (10%, c.f. 2013 23%), and to go to a safer place or somewhere with less crime (3%, c.f. 2013 12%). The perception of the quality of life in Wanganui has decreased from last year with more residents agreeing that the quality of life is the same (71%, c.f. 2013, 61%) as last year. Correspondingly, there has been a decrease in the number of residents who rated the quality of life in Wanganui as worse than last year (7%, c.f. 2013 18%). The best thing about living in Wanganui has changed from 2013. This year residents indicated that the good community (24%, c.f. 2013 31%), the close proximity of everything (21%, c.f. 2013 31%), and not being too big (20%, c.f. 2013 27%) were the best things about living in Wanganui. Less than half (38%) of the residents interviewed believed that the problem of graffiti in Wanganui was better than last year, the proportion of residents who believed the problem is much better than last year has increased slightly (8%). Furthermore, the number of residents who were very satisfied (21%, c.f. 2013 14%) with the CBD contribution to their lifestyle and the image of Wanganui has increased from 2013. On par with last year’s results, 59 per cent of residents have used or visited Wanganui Airport in the last 12 months. Of these residents 91 per cent were very satisfied (45%) or satisfied (46%) that the terminal facilities. Overall, residents were fairly satisfied with services that Council provided. 88 per cent were satisfied (50%) or very satisfied (38%) with the cleanliness of the CBD. 59 per cent were satisfied (36%) or very satisfied (23%) with the water services. 56 per cent were satisfied (37%) or very satisfied (19%) with animal control. 73 per cent were satisfied (50%) or very satisfied (23%) with the control of litter. 59 per cent were satisfied (35%) or very satisfied (24%) with public art. 48 per cent were satisfied (35%) or very satisfied (13%) with the roading network. 45 per cent were satisfied (30%) or very satisfied (15%) with the parking services. 43 per cent were satisfied (30%) or very satisfied (13%) with the footpath surfaces. 2 | P a g e Three measures for the facilities provided by Council have decreased in satisfaction ratings. These were: swimming pools (56%, c.f. 2013 62%), community buildings (46%, c.f. 2013 49%), and Sarjeant Gallery (45%, c.f. 2013 56%)2. 89 per cent were satisfied (46%) or very satisfied (43%) with parks and reserves. 78 per cent were satisfied (42%) or very satisfied (36%) with Cooks Gardens. 76 per cent were satisfied (45%) or very satisfied (31%) with the sports grounds. 63 per cent were satisfied (38%) or very satisfied (25%) with the War Memorial Centre. 56 per cent were satisfied (30%) or very satisfied (26%) with the swimming pools. 68 per cent were satisfied (36%) or very satisfied (32%) with the Whanganui Regional Museum. 46 per cent were satisfied (37%) or very satisfied (9%) with the community buildings and rural halls. 71 per cent were satisfied (41%) or very satisfied (30%) with the Royal Wanganui Opera House (R.W.O.H). 71 per cent were satisfied (38%) or very satisfied (33%) with the cemeteries. 45 per cent were satisfied (23%) or very satisfied (22%) with the Sarjeant Gallery. 74 per cent were satisfied (35%) or very satisfied (39%) with the libraries. 57 per cent were satisfied (36%) or very satisfied (21%) with the Durie Hill Elevator. 56 per cent were satisfied (38%) or very satisfied (18%) with the public toilets. User satisfaction has increased amongst Royal Wanganui Opera House users (91%, c.f. 2013, 67%), Sarjeant Gallery users (77%, c.f. 2013 74%) and library users (90%, c.f. 2013 85%). For Council governance, 57 per cent of residents felt that had Council responded to the community’s needs and issues well (46%) or very well (11%), this is an increase on both ratings from last year, although not significantly so. Satisfaction with the quantity and quality of information supplied by Council has remained on par with last year’s results.