Poorest in Cash - Richest in Life

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

Kiwis who earn $30,000 or less are the most likely to have a good work-life balance, according to a Government report from the Ministry of Social Development.

Nearly 80% of fulltime workers in the low-income bracket say they are satisfied with how they juggle their employment and home life.

The figure beat all higher earners - even those pulling in $70,000 or more, of whom 72% were happy with their mix.  However part-time workers claimed the best equilibrium of all.

The Social Development Ministry's annual national report card also shows we are fatter but smoke less, earn more and live longer than we did in the mid 1990s.

The annual snapshot shows New Zealanders are better educated, but voter turnout is down and fewer people can afford houses. 

The study credits NZ with being one of the least corrupt countries in the world, but says it also has high rates of road deaths and homicides compared with the rest of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development.