Auckland: 12th best

Liveability survey results: Auckland has been ranked the 12th-best city in the world to live in.

From City Scene, published on 21 June, 2009.

Auckland has been ranked the 12th-best city in the world to live in, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's recent liveability survey.

This follows on from the Mercer Quality of Living survey earlier this year that established Auckland as the fourth-equal best city for organisations seeking international placement for their staff. Auckland is the highest-placed New Zealand city on this latest list. Wellington is next in line at 23rd place.

The Economist Intelligence Unit - the publisher of respected business journal The Economist - is the world's leading provider of country intelligence.

Their liveability ranking assessed conditions in 140 cities around the world by assigning a rating of relative comfort for over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories - stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. It is part of the wider global cost-of-living survey.

"It's good to see such a highly regarded organisation acknowledging what Aucklanders already know - that this is a world-class place to live, work and visit," says Mayor of Auckland city, Hon. John Banks.

"Auckland is rated better than many of the world's biggest cities, including Paris, London, Rome and New York. While we can celebrate this result, with inspired leadership and delivering projects such as a rejuvenated waterfront and a completed transport network, there is no reason why Auckland can't be rated even higher as a world-class city in future."