Research

Why we asked about belonging

To feel like you belong, you need to be able to be your whole self. This means feeling accepted and included, and not feeling discriminated against or excluded.

We asked about belonging because we wanted to understand what helps people belong; what gets in the way of belonging; and find out what work is needed to create a society where everyone feels valued.

Our approach

From February to September 2020, we met with and talked to individuals and groups across the country. Due to the restrictions caused by Covid-19, things went a little differently than planned. This meant we met with people both face-to-face and over video calls, in hui and individually. We also received submissions online through our website.

Who spoke to us

860 people
  • 73%
    Between 25 and 65 years of age
  • 70%
    Identified as female
  • 77
    Ethnicities and cultures
  • 52
    Countries
  • Income
  • Education
  • Employment situation
  • Status as parent or guardian
  • Housing situation

How it lines up with other data

The communities of Aotearoa New Zealand are incredibly diverse – and within every community itself there is even more diversity and difference. What these communities share in common is the desire to have a society that is inclusive and provides belonging for all.

We asked a team of researchers to help us understand what work has been done before in Aotearoa New Zealand around diversity, belonging and inclusion. The Capturing the Diversity Dividend of Aotearoa New Zealand research project at the University of Waikato put together a review of all of this research.

Download the review in PDF format  (pdf - 1 MB) Download the review in Word format  (docx - 225 KB)