The 'Changing UK' Report, which has just come out this month, looks at five ways in which communities are breaking up. Each of these could be considered in relation to New Zealand, as well.
1) Simple “Geographical Inequalities”, such as population increasing more in someareas, house prices being higher and so on.
2) “Demographic Segregation”, the change from 1971 to 2006 of the population by age between areas becoming more segregated, most quickly from 2001 to 2006. This is where younger people are congregating in areas where there parents/extended families don't live.
3) “Economic Polarisation”, the increase from the situation in 1968 and the 1970s up to the present decade, in rich and poor geographical polarisation in Britain.
4) “Social Fragmentation”, the increase in the degree to which people appear to be socially isolated by area in Britain: data from 1971 up to last measurement in 2001.
5) “Political Disaffection”, the increase in the proportion of the population abstaining in general elections since 1966 and the increased polarisation in this measure most recently (up to 2005 compared with the early 1990s and late 1980s) when abstention rates at general elections are compared between areas over time.
Geography, age, income, loneliness and a lack of interest in where the country is headed. New Zealand needs to consider these issues and work hard to maintain community for the future.
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