Oranga
Wellbeing
This wellbeing overview draws on data from the Social Investment Agency’s Regional Data Explorer, a tool designed to support regional and sub-regional decision-making.
It brings together a broad set of indicators across population, education, health, safety, and economic wellbeing - helping to highlight areas of strength, challenge, and change across Southland and Aotearoa regions. These indicators are not part of the Government Target reporting framework and are sourced from a range of datasets, each with its own update cycle and reference period. While the data provides a consistent regional view, more granular insights can often be gained by exploring Territorial Authority-level or population-specific filters.
Below are some key indicators and associated commentary, with more information on data sources available in the Technical Glossary and via links to other dashboards.
Population and Demographics
19.8% of Southlanders are aged 65 and over, compared to 17.6% nationally
Southland has a lower proportion of 25–44 year-olds (26.1%) than the national average (28.6%)
Ethnic composition (multiple responses possible): around 7 in 10 identify as European, with Māori, Asian, and Pacific Peoples also strongly represented
Southland (%) (as at September 2025)
New Zealand (%) (as at September 2025)
Southland (#) (as at September 2025)
European
Māori
Pacific Peoples
Asian
MELAA
Other Ethnicity
85,572
17,694
3,906
9,738
1,410
1,623
New Zealand (#) (as at September 2025)
European
Māori
Pacific Peoples
Asian
MELAA
Other Ethnicity
3,490,524
953,013
511,572
1,095,522
127,812
67,020
Education Attendance
Regular school attendance in Southland declined to 51.3% in Q3 2025, down from 70.2% in Q1 2025
Attendance is above the national average of 50.3%
Southland (as at Q3, 2025)
51.3%
Down from 70.2% in Q1, 2025
Up from 68.8% in Q3, 2021
New Zealand (as at Q3, 2025)
50.3%
Down from 65.9% in Q1, 2025
Up from 63.1% in Q3, 2021
Deprivation and Rurality
56% of Southlanders live in high-deprivation areas (6-10), compared to 51% nationally
33% of the population lives rurally — more than double the national rate of 15%
Deprivation
Deprivation is an area-based way to look at socioeconomic deprivation
Southland (as at September 2025)
High (6-10)
56%
Low (1-5)
44%
New Zealand (as at September 2025)
High (6-10)
51%
Low (1-5)
49%
Southland (as at September 2025)
Urban
67%
Rural
33%
New Zealand (as at September 2025)
Urban
85%
Rural
15%
Health and Healthcare Access
92.1% of Southlanders were enrolled with a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) in Q1 2025, compared to 87.5% nationally
22.3% of Southlanders waited more than 12 months for medical procedures in Q3 2024, compared to 3.7% nationally
Mental health referral rate in Southland was 6.9 per 1,000 people in Q3 2025, compared with the 7.7 nationally
People who are enrolled with a PHO can access primary health care more easily than those who are not. Patients visiting a PHO for a minor illness provide an early intervention opportunity and eases pressure on emergency care.
Southland (as at Q1, 2025)
92.1%
Down from 92.2% in Q4, 2024
New Zealand (as at Q1, 2025)
87.5%
Down from 87.7% in Q4, 2024
Data collected from Ministry of Health, collated from IDI by SIA.
Time spent waiting for health care presents a potential barrier to health system access and engagement.
Southland (as at Q3, 2024)
22.3%
Up from 10.7% in Q3, 2023
Up from 3.6% in Q3, 2021
New Zealand (as at Q3, 2024)
3.7%
Down from 5.3% in Q3, 2023
UUp from 2.9% in Q3, 2021
Data collected from Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora
Referred to mental health services (rate per 1,000 people).
Southland (as at Q3, 2025)
6.9
Up from 6.6 in Q1, 2025
New Zealand (as at Q3, 2025)
7.7
Down from 8.2 in Q1, 2025
Data collected from Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora
Crime and safety
Victimisation rate increased to 108.1 per 10,000 people in Q1 2025, up from 97.3 in Q4 2024 and below the national rate of 167.7
Violent crime proceedings were 10.7 per 10,000 people in Q1 2025, lower than the national average of 11.4
Many factors can influence people’s chances of being victims of different types of crime. Monitoring rates of victimisation can help identify high risk communities.
Southland (Q1, 2025)
108.1
Up from 97.3 in Q4, 2024
New Zealand (Q1, 2025)
167.7
Up from 166.8 in Q4, 2024
Data collected and sourced: NZ Police
Measuring crime rates helps to inform planning, decision-making, and policy development to create safer neighbourhoods and communities.
Southland (Q1, 2025)
10.7
Up from 10.5 in Q4, 2024
New Zealand (Q1, 2025)
11.4
Same as 11.4 in Q4, 2024
Data collected and sourced: NZ Police
Economic and Social Support
5.1% of Southlanders received Jobseeker Support in Q3 2025, up from 4.6% in Q1 2025, and below the national rate of 6.3%
4% received a Supported Living Payment in Q3 2025, compared to 3.1% nationally
Jobseeker Support is a weekly payment for people who are actively looking for or preparing for work. It includes people with part-time work obligations and those who cannot look for work at the moment (e.g. those with a health condition, injury, or disability).
Southland (as at Q3, 2025)
5.1%
Up from 4.6% in Q1, 2025
New Zealand (as at Q3, 2025)
6.3%
Up from 5.8% in Q1, 2025
Data collected and sourced by: Ministry of Social Development
Supported Living Payment is for people who have, or care for someone with a health condition, injury, or disability that limits their ability to work.
Southland (as at Q3, 2025)
4.0%
Up from 3.8% in Q1, 2025
New Zealand (as at Q3, 2025)
3.1%
Same as 2.9% in Q1, 2025
Data collected and sourced by: Ministry of Social Development
Other Dashboards and Links
The Government’s Regional Data Explorer has been developed by the Social Investment Agency in partnership with Regional Public Service Leaders. It brings together a range of social sector and economic data from Government agencies which users can drill down to a local level and even by age and ethnicity.
