Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey
The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey (YHWS) is New Zealand's largest, nationally representative survey of young people aimed at understanding youth health and wellbeing.
Before 1999, there was a crucial data-gap and a need for comprehensive, current and nationally representative information about young peoples' wellbeing. This led to the development of the Youth2000 survey series by a group of academics, whose work has since established a foundational evidence base on youth wellbeing. In 2021, the New Zealand Government appointed the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to create the What About Me? survey, the findings from which built on those from the Youth2000 series.
Current Iterations
The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2025
The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2025 represents the merging and continuation of What About Me? and Youth2000 questionnaires and survey streams, to produce a single survey that will allow for the tracking of youth health and wellbeing trends from this 25-year legacy onward, with plans to conduct this survey every three years.
Previous Iterations
What About Me? The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2021
The 2021 Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey called What About Me? surveyed 7,209 young people years 9 to 13 in their schools during 2021. Another 502 youth of the same age completed surveys in their communities (e.g. at alternative education). The survey was filled in online, using tablets provided. It was available in te reo Māori and English written and audio versions.
The survey findings identified areas of strength, resilience and challenges for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand:
- Most young people feel loved and connected
- Many young people have a strong sense of identity
- Most young people have a stable home base
- Young people aspire to achieve and contribute
- Some young people were more likely to have experienced discrimination
- Young women were less positive than young men about many aspects of their lives
- Mental wellbeing overall for young people appears to be deteriorating
- Young people at lower decile schools were more likely to worry about their whānau not being able to pay for essentials.
Main reports
An overview report, with the context for the survey and key findings for young people in education settings.
A technical report, describing survey methods, technical decisions and the analytical approach here.
A set of data tables, with more detailed breakdown of the data provided in the overview report. This will take the form of a downloadable spreadsheet.
Accompanying reports
Young people surveyed in community settings (e.g. alternative education providers)
Rangatahi Māori (from the school sample)
Pacific young people (from the school sample)
The additional reports are accompanied by a set of data tables in the form of a downloadable spreadsheet.
Other youth health and wellbeing resources
Beginning in 1999, conducted by the Adolescent Health Research Group, the Youth2000 series has included over 36,000 young people in Aotearoa, with findings used widely to inform policy and practice, here and overseas. The Youth2000 survey series asks large, representative samples of secondary school students from New Zealand a wide range of questions. These include questions about ethnicity and culture, physical health, food and activities, substance use, sexual health, injuries and violence, home and family health, school achievement and participation, neighbourhood environment, spirituality and access to healthcare.
