Tauranga residents are more satisfied about their quality of life than residents of other cities, but we're also more frustrated about traffic congestion, a new survey has found.

The 2018 Quality of Life survey is a partnership between eight New Zealand councils that measures people's perceptions about their quality of life.

Results were announced on Wednesday September 12 and are available at www.quailtyoflifeproject.govt.nz

Results for Tauranga showed the highest overall satisfaction with quality of life. Tauranga also scored highest for health, emotional wellbeing and appreciation of the natural environment. Quality of lifestyle for Tauranga was second highest at 39 per cent, just behind Christchurch at 40 per cent.

However, 56 per cent of Tauranga respondents say their city has become a worse place to live over the previous 12 months, with the two main reasons cited being increase in traffic congestion and increase in population.

At 83 per cent Tauranga's score for traffic frustration was significantly higher than any other city, with Auckland coming in next at 36 percent.

Mayor Greg Brownless says the poor score regarding traffic and congestion was no surprise, given the challenges that came with rapid population growth.

'Tauranga has grown very quickly without a corresponding investment in roading networks, public transport and cycling. Solutions to traffic congestion lie not simply in bigger roads but in making it easier for more people to travel without always relying on their cars.

'This year the council has approved significantly more funding for cycling lanes and public transport infrastructure, and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is planning more frequent bus services and a new bus routes to suit more people.”

The survey results will be used to inform Tauranga City Council's strategic planning, including the Draft Community Wellbeing Strategic Plan, the Tauranga Urban Strategy and Transport Strategy.

'The ongoing challenge for our city is how best to cater for all our residents, current and future, while safeguarding and enhancing the things that make Tauranga such a great place to live,” says Greg.

Councils participating in the Quality of Life survey were Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hutt, Porirua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Snapshots from the survey:

Overall quality of life comparisons with other cities:

• Tauranga 91 per cent
• Hutt 90 per cent
• Wellington 98 per cent
• Dunedin 87 per cent
• Porirua 85 per cent
• Hamilton 84 per cent
• Christchurch 84 per cent
• Auckland 83 per cent

Is your town a great place to live?

• Wellington 94 per cent
• Dunedin 87 per cent
• Tauranga 86 per cent
• Hutt 81 per cent
• Auckland 79 per cent
• Hamilton 75 per cent
• Christchurch 73 per cent
• Porirua 72 per cent

Do you feel a sense of pride in the look and feel of your area?

• Wellington 89 per cent
• Dunedin 73 per cent
• Tauranga 66 per cent
• Auckland 62 per cent
• Hamilton 53 per cent
• Hutt 50 per cent
• Christchurch 44 per cent
• Porirua 43 per cent

Are your housing cost affordable?

• Dunedin 65 per cent
• Hutt 58 percent
• Christchurch 57 per cent
• Tauranga 56 per cent
• Hamilton 51 per cent
• Wellington 50 per cent
• Porirua 47 per cent
• Auckland 41 per cent

Reasons for positive quality of life rating

Lifestyle

• Christchurch 40 per cent
• Tauranga 39 per cent
• Wellington 36 per cent
• Dunedin 35 per cent
• Hutt 34 per cent
• Porirua 33 per cent
• Auckland 32 per cent
• Hamilton 31 per cent

Appreciation of natural environment

• Tauranga 13 per cent
• Auckland 8 per cent
• Porirua 8 per cent
• Dunedin 8 per cent
• Wellington 7 per cent
• Hutt 5 per cent
• Christchurch 4 per cent
• Hamilton 3 per cent

Health and Wellbeing

• Dunedin 45 per cent
• Christchurch 45 per cent
• Tauranga 43 per cent
• Wellington 42 per cent
• Auckland 41 per cent
• Hamilton 41 per cent
• Hutt 40 per cent
• Porirua 40 per cent

Relationships

• Wellington 49 per cent
• Christchurch 49 per cent
• Tauranga 48 per cent
• Dunedin 45 per cent
• Auckland 44 per cent
• Hutt 44 per cent
• Porirua 44 per cent
• Hamilton 41 per cent

Why has your city become a better place to live over the previous 12 months?

Improved amenities

• Auckland 37 per cent
• Hutt 35 per cent
• Dunedin 32 per cent
• Tauranga 31 per cent
• Christchurch 24 per cent
• Wellington 22 per cent
• Porirua 20 per cent
• Hamilton 19 per cent

Growth – economy and business

• Tauranga 15 per cent
• Dunedin 12 per cent
• Hamilton 8 per cent
• Christchurch 7 per cent
• Porirua 7 per cent
• Hutt 5 per cent
• Wellington 3 per cent
• Auckland 3 per cent

Good roads/roads being upgraded

• Christchurch 16 per cent
• Tauranga 14 per cent
• Auckland 10 per cent
• Hamilton 10 per cent
• Hutt 8 per cent
• Wellington 6 per cent
• Dunedin 4 per cent
• Porirua 3 per cent

Why has your city become a worse place to live over the last 12 months?

More traffic and traffic congestion

• Tauranga 83 per cent
• Auckland 36 per cent
• Hamilton 32 per cent
• Wellington 29 per cent
• Hutt 25 per cent
• Dunedin 19 per cent
• Christchurch 7 per cent

Increase in population

• Tauranga 25 per cent
• Auckland 9 per cent
• Dunedin 7 per cent
• Hamilton 4 per cent
• Porirua 4 per cent
• Christchurch 3 per cent
• Hutt 2 per cent
• Wellington 1 per cent

Infrastructure failing to keep up with demand

• Tauranga 17 per cent
• Dunedin 9 per cent
• Auckland 7 per cent
• Hamilton 5 per cent
• Porirua 5 per cent
• Wellington 5 per cent
• Christchurch 2 per cent
• Hutt 2 per cent

Homelessness

• Wellington 44 per cent
• Tauranga 20 per cent
• Hamilton 19 per cent
• Hutt 16 per cent
• Dunedin 13 per cent
• Auckland 11 per cent
• Christchurch 9 per cent
• Porirua 7 per cent

Crime rate increased

• Hamilton 33 per cent
• Porirua 22 per cent
• Auckland 16 per cent
• Hutt 14 per cent
• Christchurch 12 per cent
• Tauranga 2 per cent
• Wellington 1 per cent
• Dunedin 0 per cent

Lack of maintenance

• Auckland 14 per cent
• Hutt 8 per cent
• Porirua 6 per cent
• Christchurch 6 per cent
• Dunedin 6 per cent
• Hamilton 5 per cent
• Wellington 2 per cent
• Tauranga 2 per cent