Gains and losses

The first Consumer was published in 1959. New Zealand had a population of 2.3 million; every school child got free milk; open fires were the main source of home heating; nearly 20 percent of households cooked on a coal range; 19 percent didn’t have a flush toilet; and nearly 50 percent had no refrigerator or washing machine.

Fifty years on, indoor plumbing is now "standard issue"; electric ovens have replaced the coal range; school milk is long gone; and heat pumps are fast becoming the preferred method of home heating (though our housing stock remains woefully insulated).

Huge gains have also been made socially and economically: we’re smarter, richer and living longer to enjoy what we have. Changing attitudes have also opened up more opportunities for participation in society, particularly for women.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy has increased by around a decade since 1959. Gender and ethnic gaps are closing, although life expectancy for Maori continues to lag behind that for Pakeha - despite significant gains for Maori women. 

Educational attainment

We’re better educated than ever before: teenagers are staying at school longer and the proportion of the population with a bachelors degree or higher qualification rose from eight percent in 1990 to 21 percent in 2008.

 

But ...

But among the gains, there have been losses. As in many OECD countries, the gap between rich and poor has grown, and more households now live in relative poverty.

Guide to the graphs

• Our data is sourced from the Ministry of Social Development and Statistics New Zealand.