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Social Development

Social development is vital to creating a knowledge society. Recent work on what an inclusive economy might mean for New Zealand emphasises the links between productive capability, social capability and well being. The central challenge is to ensure New Zealanders, in all their diversity, are valued and included as part of our knowledge society. We cannot afford and must not tolerate waste of human talent.

Social well-being has a wide range of dimensions that affect people at individual, whanau/family, community and societal levels. Key issues are: longevity and quality of life; physical security; relationships in the family, community and wider society; material standard of living; rewarding work; personal time and leisure; knowledge, skills and education; culture and identity; social, economic and political freedoms; and natural and constructed physical environments. In particular, five major trends are likely to affect us.

Our population is ageing, with the exception of some groups such as Maori, Pacific and Asian populations. This will influence the nature of work, retirement and leisure, and will require a greater focus on educating an older, existing workforce.
Current birth and immigration rates suggest that New Zealand will become a nation with a predominance of Maori and Pacific peoples. This will influence national identity, and make the increased participation of Maori and Pacific peoples in higher levels of tertiary education critical to our future.
Social organisation has changed rapidly with the fragmentation of families and communities, and economic transformation may continue this trend. This endorses the need for a more inclusive economy.
Social change also requires a heightened focus on access to education, and implies remediation of the current digital divide and other barriers to inclusion.
Globalisation is raising issues about how we retain our identity as New Zealanders while being part of a global economy. As people move more freely between nations, so it becomes increasingly important to imbue New Zealand with a unique sense of place and a secure and confident identity.

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