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whataboutme.nz was a nationwide survey of young people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The survey was done to tell the Government, other agencies and researchers what it is like to be a young person in Aotearoa. It asked about things like where they lived, what they experienced and what was important to them.
We heard from just under 8,000 young people throughout the country about health and wellbeing. Most young people completed the survey in schools and kura, but some completed it in alternative education, teen parent units and organisations working with young people in the community.
The survey was filled in online, using tablets that we provided. It was available in te reo Māori and English written and audio versions, and in New Zealand sign language.
What were the questions about? You can see the survey questions here
The survey asked young people questions about:
At the end of the survey, young people had a chance to tell us about one thing they think would help to have a good life now and in the future.
The survey took approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete and was anonymous.
We are researchers from Malatest International. You can find out more about us here. The Ministry of Social Development asked us to carry out a survey of young people's health and wellbeing across the whole country. You can find out more about MSD here.
School closures as part of the COVID-19 response delayed the survey until 2021. Young people completed the survey in Terms 2, 3 and 4.
We visited each school and kura randomly selected as part of our sample. A class of students from each year took part. Our research team and someone like a youth worker were there when young people filled in the survey. We gave each young person a tablet to complete the survey online and collected the tablets at the end of the class.
We would like to thank all young people who contributed their time and energy to building this picture of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand through What About Me.
We would also like to thank the youth workers who supported our research team in delivering the survey and all the schools, kura and community organisations who welcomed us and helped us connect with young people in their spaces.
We would like to thank the members of the Māori, Pacific and technical advisory groups for their contribution throughout the project.
We hope the survey results include information that will help continue to support young people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ngā manaakitanga
Schools, kura, alternative education providers and other orginisations only knew if young people were invited to take part in the survey. They did not know what answers young people gave in the survey. No names were collected with survey responses.
Young people could stop doing the survey at any time and do a different activity on the tablet. Nobody knew if they did this.
Participating schools and other organisations have been given access to a summary of the results from their young people.
The nationwide results are now available for young people who completed the survey in schools. They are reported in an overview report you can find here. Other important resources available at that link are:
Data collected from young people in community settings are not included in these first reports and will be the focus of another report. Separate reports focusing on rangatahi Māori and Pacific young people will also be produced.
Information young people gave us in the survey was used to write the reports and produced the results table here. None of the reports or tables identify any person or any school who took part in the survey.
Information will be stored securely and used to compare findings with later surveys. It will be held at Stats NZ and will be available to academics, government agencies and others to inform their work with young people.
The survey results are now available on the MSD website for young people who completed the survey in school. You can access:
The full dataset with data dictionary and supporting documentation will be held by Stats NZ. You can find information about accessing it on the MSD website.
Data collected from young people in community settings are not included in these first reports and will be the focus of another report. Separate reports focusing on rangatahi Māori and Pacific young people will also be produced.
The full survey questionnaire as it appeared to young people on their tablets can be accessed here. The survey covered:
For more information email us here or call us on 0800 002 577