New Zealand is still at the forefront of sought after immigration destinations, as a recent survey suggests.

The recent National Quality of Life Survey has affirmed the long-held belief that New Zealand is able to offer on of the finest quality lifestyles in the world. According to the results of the survey, 90 per cent of New Zealanders rate their quality of life as good or better.

A total of 500 people were surveyed across New Zealand’s 12 main cities, and a further 2,000 across the rest of the country, of which nine out of ten felt that they were happy, healthy and living in a safe environment. Furthermore, within the cities, 86 per cent of people in the main cities and 88 per cent of people in other areas believed that they had enough money to get by comfortably.

People in New Zealand are also more inclined to do things like visit the doctor now than they were when the last Quality of Life Survey was completed in 2006. Over the last three years, the number of people who have avoided seeing their GP due to the cost has fallen from 20 per cent to just six per cent. This has been largely attributed to the fact that universal subsidies for doctor’s visits were introduced in 2007.

Wellingtonians proved to be the proudest of their city, with 82 per cent expressing a sense of pride, and also felt safest outside after dark.

The survey was paid for by the 12 participating councils, including North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, Manukau, Rodney, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, Christchurch and Dunedin, and also by the Ministry of Social Development.