Social » Connected Community

Our connections and access are efficient, quick and easy - locally, nationally and internationally. Our communication networks, air and sea ports, roads and public transport systems are world class and enable us to link well with others, both within and outside the region.

What is Connected Community?

A region that is well-connected in terms of enabling resident’s access to private and public transport, and technology such as the internet, contributes to their overall well-being. Access to private and public transport increases people’s ability to get to employment, education and medical services, as well as access to the wider community within and outside the region.

Connected community is made up of 10 indicators that were selected to measure progress towards the connected community outcome definition (shown above). Please see below for the raw data available over the 2001 to 2010 study period for each of the connected community indicators.

As with the social well-being GPI, the available indicator data that forms part of the connected community outcome area was used to calculate individual index values for each indicator for each year over the 2001 to 2010 study period. The graph below shows the average of these individual index values, and represents the connected community GPI for the Wellington region from 2001-2010.

 

Couple on train

Connected community GPI, 2001-2010

What this means

Over the 2001 to 2010 time period, the connected community GPI was found to be highest in 2009 and lowest in 2001. While the connected community GPI has seen some fluctuations over the study period, increases have generally been observed each year. Overall the connected community GPI has increased 10.6 % from 2001 to 2010. 

The majority of connected community indicators have increased over the study period, with the percentage of households with access to broadband making the biggest contribution. Other increases of note were public transport boardings per capita and active mode share of total household travel. Peak AM/PM congestion rate index showed the only decrease over the 2001 to 2010 period.

Did you know?

Natural disasters (and the cost of cleaning up after them) actually create an increase in GDP, thus counting natural disasters as a benefit to our economy. From a GPI perspective, natural disasters would be a decline in our well-being

10 Indicators are being used to track Connected Community in the Wellington region

Click on each indicator below to access further information

Home internet access

Why is this indicator important?

Access to communication via the internet helps to maintain social connectedness. It enables social contact with friends and family in the absence of frequent face-to-face contact.  The internet is an important means of accessing a wide range of information and services. People who are unable to access information technologies, or who are without the skills to use them, run the risk of being excluded from possible social, educational, cultural and economic benefits. This may have adverse effects on their educational outcomes, employment prospects and other aspects of well-being.

Percentage of households with access to the internet, 2001-2011

Findings

  • In 2006, 65.5% of households in the Wellington region had access to the internet, a large increase from 44.2% in 2001.
  • The percentage of households with access to the internet has also increased for New Zealand over this time (37.4% in 2001 to 60.5% in 2006).
  • The percentage of households with access to the internet is higher in the Wellington region than for New Zealand.

Home internet access

Definition and data details

Indicator Definition

The number of households with access to the internet expressed as a function of the total number of households

Data Source

Statistics New Zealand: Census

Last updated 25 July 2012

While care has been taken in processing, analysing and extracting information, we cannot guarantee that the information is free from error and we shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service.