The Tairawhiti Wellbeing Survey is led annually by Trust Tairāwhiti to capture the perspectives and experiences of our local communities.
It tracks regional wellbeing across six muka (wellbeing outcomes) in the Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora:
- hapori (communities)
- tūhono (relationships)
- tūtangata (cultural identity)
- taiao (environment)
- ōhanga (economy)
- mātauranga (knowledge)
Each year the survey includes questions on life satisfaction, health, income, business opportunities, community connections and perceptions of the environment. These questions track wellbeing outcomes over time, helping us see what’s improving and where more support is needed.
The TWS is a condensed version of Stats NZ’s General Social Survey (GSS), adapted for Tairāwhiti. Because national surveys include only a small local sample, they don’t fully reflect our region – so TWS fills that gap.
It also includes a Trust Tairāwhiti module focused on our strategic priorities.
The first TWS was conducted in 2022, along with a national pilot survey for comparative data.
On 1 October 2025, Trust Tairāwhiti released the inaugural State of Wellbeing report, encompassing TWS data from 2022 to 2024 to provide the first clear picture of how local wellbeing has changed over time.
2024 Wellbeing Survey Numbers
- The survey ran for eight weeks from 18 October to 9 December 2024.
- There were 1002 weighted results from people right across Tairawhiti.