FAQ

Around 15-20 minutes.

Questions cover topics ranging from housing, health, employment and income, transport, environment and more. This year we've included some additional questions around health and access to key services to better understand the needs of residents in this area. Here is a selection of sample questions included in the survey.

1. How would you best describe your current living situation? (Please select one answer)

• I have a steady place to live
• I have a place to live today, but I am worried about losing it in the future
• I do not have a steady place to live
• Prefer not to answer

2. We’d like to know how well your income meets your basic needs for accommodation, food, clothing, heating, bills, and transport. Which one of the following statements best describes your household? (Please select one answer)

• I can cover my expenses and have a sufficient level of disposable income
• I can cover my expenses and have some disposable income
• I can cover my expenses but have no disposable income
• I cannot cover my expenses
• Prefer not to answer

3. Thinking about the public transport in the district, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Please select one answer for each row)                                

• Public transport is affordable
• Public transport is frequent enough to meet my needs
• Public transport is reliable (it arrives/departs on time)
• Public transport is easy to get to from my house
• Public transport is accessible for my needs
• Overall, the public transport available in the district meets the needs of residents

4. Thinking about the neighbourhood in which you live, please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Please select one answer for each row)

• This is a welcoming community
• Living in this neighbourhood gives me a sense of community or belonging
• There is a strong and active community in this neighbourhood
• I participate in activities within my neighbourhood
• The neighbourhood is safe for myself, my family, and others
• I could rely on my neighbours for support following an emergency
• The community where I live is accepting of different cultures and beliefs
• The built spaces (e.g. parks, playgrounds, public buildings) in my community are accessible

5. Thinking about access to mental health services in the district, how much do you agree with the following? (Please select one answer for each row)

• I know where to get mental health support
• There are sufficient mental health services in the district
• Nothing stops me from getting mental health support if I needed to
• I can access mental health services at a time and location good for me

Yes, responses are anonymous. You cannot be identified from any information provided in the survey and no Council staff member will have access to your personal details.

The Census only occurs every five years. This survey takes an in-depth look at life and issues specific to our district every year.

Yes. The information you provide will help us better understand our communities, and the views of many not just those that shout the loudest.  

Where issues are in control of the Council, we can make more informed decisions based on this data.  Where services are not in our control, we can facilitate discussions and advocate for improvements. 

A lot can change in our community over 12 months, while the survey questions may evolve depending on the current issues facing the district's residents. Taking part every year provides us with an up-to-date snapshot into what life is like for people living in the Queenstown Lakes District and the biggest issues they are facing. It also allows us to track our performance against key indicators over time.

Temporary residents can take part but not visitors, sorry.

The main reason is because our survey sample comes from sources (electoral roll and ratepayer database) that only list residents aged 18 and over. In addition, the Research Association NX Code of Practice provides some clear regulations/reasoning around minimum ages to include in research. You can learn more about this at www.researchassociation.org.nz/resources/Documents/RANZ%20Code%20of%20Practice%20July%202015%20final.pdf.

Everyone in your household can take part, as long as they are 18 years and over.

Please contact Versus Research if you have any questions about the survey on 0800 837 787.

If you have a media enquiry, please contact QLDC Communications on communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has commissioned Versus Research to complete the survey on its behalf. Versus Research handles all survey responses, ensures the survey sample used is representative of the Queenstown Lakes population, and provides analysis of the key findings. The survey is hosted on a platform provided by Alchemer which is why you may see their name occasionally.

Results will be available on the QLDC website in early 2026.

Versus Research produce a report which includes a demographically representative sample of responses from all respondents – whether they were invited to participate or did so through the Let’s Talk site. Inviting residents to participate ensures input from a broad cross-section of the community, while opening the survey up to all residents allows everyone in the community to have their say. Including both invited and non-invited respondents in the final report maintains consistency with previous Quality of Life surveys and supports a reliable time series analysis. This is slightly different from the Community Insights survey which ran in March this year, in which the final report consisted of only responses from invited participants. The purpose of each survey is different, hence the different approaches to population sampling. Advice is taken from the respective survey providers on the best approach to take for each survey.