Responses to rating NZ the most "socially advanced" country in the world

The 2014 Social Progress Index (SPI) ranked New Zealand as the most socially advanced nation in the world.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomed the ranking, saying "We are an ambitious people and we want the best for our families. Sometimes in our focus on always trying to be better we fail to count our blessings and acknowledge just how much progress we have made as a nation".

However Labour Leader David Cunliffe said there was still much to do, highlighting the increase in recorded violence against children, including a rank of 31 (of 132) for child mortality.

"The Social Progress Index shows there has been a 68 per cent rise in recorded violence against children from 2008 to 2013. It also shows 20 per cent of Kiwi kids are living in vulnerable circumstances and New Zealand is ranked a miserable 31st for child mortality."

"New Zealand is also flagged over-representation of Maori in our prison population and while gaps in academic achievement between Maori and non-Maori are narrowing, they remain ‘stubbornly wide’."

"Violence against women, pay inequality and limited gender diversity at the top are noted as persistent challenges."

The SPI is designed to complement the GDP and other economic indicators to provide a more holistic understanding of country social and environmental performance. The Index uses 54 indicators under three main components of "Basic Human Needs", "Foundations of Wellbeing" and "Opportunity" to determine a country score. New Zealand performed strongly within "Opportunity" due to top global rankings on "Personal Rights" and "Personal Freedom and Choice." Areas identified for improvement included "Ecosystem Sustainability" and some measures under "Health and Wellness."

Full 2014 results are available on the SPI website.

Media:

Celebrate NZ 'but Kiwi kids and women still missing out', Voxy, 04.04.2014

New Zealand officially best in the world, Beehive, 04.04.2014

NZ first in world according to 2014 Social Progress Index, Scoop, 03.04.2014