Sustainable Development: Social cohesion
People are inherently social beings; relationships and networks between people underpin human life. Just as the relationships between people are complex and open to many interpretations, so are the various elements of social cohesion. These elements have to do with the collective values people hold, patterns of social engagement and participation, and the levels of unity and harmony within society.
Social cohesion does not require uniformity. Social cohesion exists where the different communities in a society work well both within each community and with each other.
In this section four key aspects of social cohesion are explored: social connectedness; human rights; culture and identity; and safety and security. There is, however, a range of different definitions and interpretations of these aspects, as well as significant gaps in New Zealand’s current measurement of social cohesion.
This chapter covers:
| Topics
| Sustainable development indicators selected
| Contextual discussion
|
| Social connectedness
| Participation in unpaid work outside the home
| Frequency of interaction with family/whanau and friends
|
 | Household access to telecommunications
| |
| Human rights
| Proportion of enrolled voters voting at general elections
| Gender and ethnicity of elected representatives
|
| | Complaints to the Human Rights Commission and the Race Relations Office
|
| Culture and identity
| Fluency in te reo Mäori
| Mäori and Pacific children receiving Mäori medium and Pacific medium education
|
| Safety and security
| Criminal offending
| Child abuse and neglect
|
How is social cohesion relevant to sustainable development?
Maintaining a healthy, well functioning society is important to sustainable development. Social cohesion exists where: people feel part of society; family and personal relationships are strong; differences among people are respected; and where people feel safe and supported by others.
Building alliances to achieve common goals is one aspect of social cohesion. These can support the joint effort required to care for and protect the environment and can help to build strong national and local communities. Building social cohesion helps to create what is sometimes called ‘social capital’, the networks and social norms that help society to function effectively.
A recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) review of evidence for the role of social capital in well-being notes a wide range of benefits of social capital. In particular it states: "Perhaps the most convincing evidence of the positive impact of social capital lies in the area of personal health."1 It also notes that: "Social capital improves child welfare, lowers rates of child abuse and facilitates the transition to adult life."2 The report also presents evidence relating to productivity improvements, increased regional innovation and helping people find jobs.3
Of special significance in New Zealand is the recognition of the importance of a sustainable Mäori society and culture. Two elements of particular importance in building Mäori cultural and social capital are te reo (or Mäori language) and work for the community - on the marae or helping in the whanau, hapu or iwi.4
Current situation and trends
Social connectedness
Human rights
Culture and identity
Safety and security
What are the differences within New Zealand?
For information on What are the differences within New Zealand?
Factors influencing change
Factors influencing levels of social cohesion can be grouped into five areas: population and immigration patterns; economic factors; natural environment; development of children; and information and technology.
Elements of New Zealand’s national identity are likely to change as the people in New Zealand become more diverse, the Mäori and Pacific populations grow, and as the European ethnic population decreases in proportion to other ethnic groups.
The increase in education in the Mäori and Pacific mediums11 may help to provide Mäori and Pacific children and young people with a stronger cultural identity, and to preserve and regenerate languages and cultural practices. Other ethnic communities are also seeking to establish bilingual mediums, with a small but growing number of ethnic pre-school centres being established.
Economic development is linked to social cohesion. Levels of unemployment and changes in labour market patterns, such as hours worked or the type of work available, have implications for family relationships and social cohesion.
Access to the natural environment and the design and form of public space can also support or hinder social cohesion. For example, levels of access to natural environments such as the coast, national parks and public walkways, can influence people’s perception of the natural environment and their ability to join together to protect it and to interact with each other. The way that public spaces are designed can also impact on people’s social interaction, for example public space allowing use by those with access needs (such as wheelchair and pram access), and allowing people to move around without threat of crime or injury.
The healthy development of children and support for effective parenting are also important to developing social cohesion and a sustainable society over time. If children are not valued, loved and nurtured, the costs and effects on society are likely to be significant and ongoing (in terms of related psychosocial problems, lower educational attainment, lower ability to form positive relationships and higher levels of crime).
The ability to take part in society depends on structures and processes that support participation (such as the voting and education systems) and on access to information. In the future, the opportunity to access new forms of technology for all who want it will be important to retaining social cohesion.
Data gaps or issues
As with many other countries, New Zealand is in the early stages of developing its measurement of social cohesion. Current gaps in New Zealand’s national indicators include: those relating to people’s sense of belonging; sense of place; trust of others; trust in public institutions; tolerance of diversity; freedom of cultural expression; social support networks; social exclusion/isolation; and integration of new migrants into New Zealand life.
Long, consistent time series are needed to monitor the progress towards sustainable development. Unpaid work has been measured in the 1996 and 2001 Censuses, and in detail in the 1999 Time Use Survey. Although these produced broadly similar patterns of information, comparisons and analysis of changes over time are not possible because of changes in definition.
Complaints of discrimination, alongside further ways to measure cultural harmony, will be important to measure, particularly as the population diversifies.
More information on the interaction among family/whanau, and on broader, different types of interaction is needed to provide better measures of social capital. Similarly, better information is needed to understand New Zealanders’ level of concern for and willingness to help support the wider community.
Endnotes
Related information
Time Use
Around the Clock - Findings from the New Zealand Time Use Survey (1998-99) - Reference Report
Arts and Culture
2001 Census Snapshot 1: Cultural Diversity
2001 Census Snapshot 2: Who has Access to the Internet?
Looking past the 20th Century - Access to technology
Monitoring Progress Towards a Sustainable New Zealand
Social connectedness
Human rights
Culture and identity
Safety and security
What are the differences within New Zealand?
References and further information
back to top
For enquiries and information requests
This page last modified on: 08 March 2004