02 Apr Comparative Rural Community Profiling
This research project is a three stage initiative that aims to provide up to date contextual knowledge about rural communities as a springboard for future action.
The analysis is presented in three reports. The first report is a ‘desk’ analysis based on census data (Statistics New Zealand’s area unit data) for each of the rural districts, rural centres, and minor urban areas which make up Taranaki’s three territorial authorities: Stratford, South Taranaki and New Plymouth (excluding New Plymouth city). Area units are a geographic concept. They are not communities (which are social entities), however rural areas contain communities of both place and interest and as such are a useful starting point for understanding the socio-economic and demographic structure of rural places.
The second report compares Taranaki’s rural districts, rural centres and minor urban areas with similar locations across New Zealand.
The third report will be available by mid-2018 and will provide an overview and a rapid appraisal of current research available on rural New Zealand from a social science perspective, undertaken since the Ministry of Primary Industry ceased sponsoring social science research on rural New Zealand around 2000.
This socio-economic profiling of rural and minor urban areas in Taranaki and the analysis of trends, changes and differences between people living in Taranaki’s rural districts, rural centres and minor urban areas and rural areas elsewhere in New Zealand is being undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Sustainability at Otago University.