What people contact government about

Table 5 shows the reasons for contact with government. It indicates that the most common contact is with social services, for the purposes of receiving money, attending an appointment, or providing information.

Table 5: Percentage of government departments contacted by respondents' reasons for contact

Table presented showing percentage (%) rounded to one decimal point

Women were more likely to seek and provide health information (9.1% and 10.5% respectively) and seek information, fill in forms and make appointments for social services (31.7%, 35.2% and 53.6% respectively). Men were more likely to provide information (30.5%), pay money (29.4%) or fill in forms (31.4%) about tax, finance or business.

By ethnicity New Zealand European/Pakeha were more likely to contact government on city/regional council matters (usually to pay money). They were significantly more likely to seek information on city/regional council matters (38%), personal and family (4.5%), maps and land information (5.4%) and statistics (0.9%). The New Zealand European/Pakeha group (1392) was significantly less likely to seek information on social services (27%), elections (0.3%) and treaty issues (0.1%). As would be expected this group also sought information from all sources including tax/finance/business/IRD/companies office/economic development (24%), education (6%), health (7%) and housing/tenancy (7%).

New Zealand Maori were significantly more likely to contact social services (40%). New Zealand Maori (238) sought information from most sources including social services (31%), tax/finance etc (25%), health (8%), education (8%) and housing and tenancy (6%). In comparison this group was significantly less likely to seek information on city/regional council (28%) matters. The group was significantly more likely to seek information on consumer (3%) and treaty issues (1%).

Across all the remaining ethnic groups, including other, the main categories respondents sought information on included social services (30-50%), health (4-13%), tax/business etc (8-40%), city/regional council (20-54%) and immigration/passports (13-50%). Respondents reporting other ethnicity (87) were significantly more likely to seek information on education (10%) and immigration/passports (16%). As a group they were less likely to seek information on tax/finance etc (15%). This group primarily consisted of people who appear to be migrants, particularly British, South African or American, as well as a smaller number of people who gave their ethnicity as 'New Zealander' or 'Kiwi'.

The trend across ethnic groups in relation to filling in forms was similar other than those reporting Indian or New Zealand Maori ethnicity. New Zealand Maori were significantly more likely to fill in a form more than twenty times a year (8%). New Zealand European (1927) were significantly more likely to fill in forms regarding statistics (2%), city/regional council (24%) and labour/employment (2%). In comparison New Zealand Maori were significantly more likely to fill in forms regarding education (7%), elections (7%) and justice (5%). Those reporting 'other' ethnicity were significantly more likely to fill in forms regarding immigration (24%) and less likely to fill in forms regarding city/regional council matters.

New Zealand European were significantly more likely to make contact in regards to statistics and labour/employment, albeit that the numbers overall were low (25 and 28 respectively). New Zealand European (630) were also significantly more likely to have appointments with maps/land (27), labour/employment (21) and agriculture/forestry/fisheries etc (22). This compared to being less likely to have appointments with social services (268), transport (12) and immigration (13) and being less likely to contact social services to provide information (32%). This compared to New Zealand Maori who were significantly more likely to contact social services (40%).

Those reporting 'other' ethnicity (90) were significantly more likely to receive money regarding social services (82%). Again, this may be linked to the majority appearing to be migrants. New Zealand Maori (249) were significantly more likely to receive money regarding education (8%).

New Zealand European (1082) were significantly more likely to pay money to city/regional council (52%) but less likely to pay personal/family (2%). This compared to New Zealand Maori ethnic group (200) who were more likely to pay money to justice (12%), personal/family (5%) and transport (39%). Those reporting 'other' (82) ethnicity were significantly more likely to pay money to immigration (12%), housing/tenancy (16%) and personal/family (6%).

Respondents who worked for government were less likely to contact the government in relation to housing and tenancy or social services, but were significantly more likely to contact government for education and immigration/passport information, across all contact types.

In regards to urbanisation, results were largely as could be expected. City-dwellers (2714) were less likely to seek information on maps and land information or agriculture/forestry/fisheries etc, but more likely to seek information and fill in forms on immigration/passports and citizenship. City-dwellers were more likely to provide information in regards to transport, and less likely to have any type of contact with councils. They were more likely to make appointments in relation to social services.

Country-dwellers (1113) were significantly more likely to seek information on maps and land information, and more likely to seek information and make appointments in regards to agriculture, forestry, fisheries etc. They were less likely to have any form of contact in relation to social services, but more likely to have contact with councils. They were also more likely to receive money and fill in forms related to tax, finance or business.

Upper north Islanders were significantly more likely to provide information to social services and in relation to policies, and to pay money in relation to transport, but were less likely to pay money in relation to social services. Lower North Islanders were significantly more likely to seek information on social services and pay money in relation to tax or business, but were less likely to provide information in regards to elections or pay money in relation to transport. South Islanders were less likely to pay money to council but more likely to fill in forms in relation to social services.

In relation to level of education, responses tend to confirm previous expectations. People with qualifications no higher than Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA 2, who make up close to half the New Zealand population, were more likely to seek information in regards to social service, personal and family matters (e.g. Child Youth & Family) and housing and tenancy. Respondents with technical or trade certificates were more likely to seek information on justice; from councils and on agriculture, forestry or fisheries although the total number of respondents in this category is small. Results are similar in relation to providing information, making or attending appointments and receiving money; those with qualifications lower than Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA2 were significantly more likely to figure in these categories in regards to health, social services and personal and family issues, particularly those with no qualifications at all. Those with Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA2 were significantly less likely to provide information to social services and more likely to provide information on tax, finance or business. This trend generally continued with higher qualification levels, with respondents with technical certificates (30) and above also being markedly more likely to provide information to councils, although the numbers are small. Although also small in number, respondents with university degrees were likely to contact tax, finance or business sources in relation to receiving money, whereas people whose highest qualification was secondary school were significantly more likely to contact social services in regard to receiving money.

Respondents with partners were significantly less likely to provide information in relation to social services, while those living alone, receiving superannuation, the community wage or domestic purposes benefit, along with those with an income between zero and $19,999 were more likely to provide information in regards to social services. Again, it is likely that there is an overlap between these groups. Those with partners and/or children were more likely to provide information in relation to tax, finance or business, or councils. This response pattern remained similar across all types of contact. In addition, wage earners and those living on student allowances were more likely to report receiving money from government in relation to education (17% for those on student allowances) while the self-employed and wage-earners were more likely to report receiving money in relation to tax or business (31% and 25% respectively). The self-employed were more likely to pay money in relation to health.

Respondents living with parents, siblings or flatmates were significantly more likely to fill in a form in regards to education. The self-employed were significantly more likely to complete forms in relation to tax and business, maps or land information and councils (37%, 4% and 27.5% respectively). Salary and wage-earners were significantly more likely to complete forms about immigration, passports or citizenship (11%).