Wellbeing is a concept which is integral to the New Zealand planning system, yet defining what wellbeing truly is comes with many complications. Using three different models of wellbeing; subjective wellbeing; collective wellbeing; and the Māori model Te Whare Tapa Whā; provides a basis for understanding wellbeing within New Zealand. The specific focus of this research is on the Waitaki district, a large but relatively sparsely populated district in the South Island of New Zealand.

This research aims to identify the aspects of wellbeing which are most important to the population of the Waitaki district, as well as any areas which they feel can be improved upon. While the research aims to focus specifically on the areas of wellbeing which are influenced by local government and planning legislation, many different aspects of wellbeing are accounted for. Ultimately, this research will be used to inform the Waitaki District Council on directions to look into for their upcoming community wellbeing strategy.

The primary method of data collection for this research was a survey which was circulated throughout the Waitaki district. Consisting of mostly multiple choice questions, with some optional short answer questions, the survey aimed to focus not only on the wellbeing of the individual, but the perceptions of wellbeing across the community as a whole. With a total of 260 responses, the survey reached just over 1.1% of the entire Waitaki population. This data was the foundation of the research, but Key Informant interviews with relevant informants were also used to supplement this data.

Results from the survey data uncovered four major areas where Waitaki residents feel their wellbeing could be improved. These areas are; access to housing; transportation within and outside of the district; access to health services; and the cost of living in general. These were all areas that a significant proportion of the population felt were both important, and currently underserved within the district. Not all findings of this research were negative however, with factors such as sense of community; access to natural spaces; and overall safety being viewed as some of the positive aspects of living within the Waitaki district.

Although measuring wellbeing as a whole is a difficult task, the results from the survey indicated that the majority of residents within the district are able to maintain a high quality of life, and good overall wellbeing. The recommendations to council on focus areas for the community wellbeing strategy are structured around the Māori model for health, Te Whare Tapa Whā. The importance of transportation specifically emerged as a key issue, particularly with the large rural population within the district, and the need to travel between districts for essential health services