Research and Resources
Knowledge helps us walk the path, together.
We produce research and reports for the benefit of our youth, our community, caregivers, parents and whānau.
We take an evidence-based approach, leaning on agency partners, experts and specialists.
The Wānaka Youth Survey
The Upper Clutha Wānaka Youth Survey is designed to help inform agency partners, caregivers and the community about the intentions and habits of our youth, as well as understanding the concerns held by both youth and caregivers.
Highlighting the adult-size problems faced by youth in our district helps us all better navigate the paths required to support them.
New for 2026 – Parent | Whānau Survey
In addition to our 2026 Youth Survey Project – we are introducing a Parent | Whānau Survey.
We are seeking parent voice to help co-design the 2026 Upper Clutha Parent Survey. We’re hosting a Community Hui on Monday 23 February.
Facilitated by Ali McCormick, we’ll collaborate to discover the important topics and themes for us to include in this year’s parent survey. We’ll use a ‘strengths-based’ process designed to create collaborative solutions. The Hui is set for Monday 23 February 9:00AM to 11:30AM at the Wānaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street. If you would like to have your say, sign up here to explore together what helps our whānau thrive in our community, and shape what comes next.
2.5 hours that could shape your family’s next decade
- What truly matters to you as a parent in the Wānaka | Upper Clutha region? What’s Working? What’s Missing? What’s Next?
- This collaborative session creates space to pause and reflect on your parenting experience – the pressures, the joys, the realities of raising whānau here. Your insights will directly shape the themes and questions for the 2026 Parent Survey, ensuring it captures what genuinely matters to our community.
A deep dive into:
- What’s working in your parenting and community life
- What challenges and pressures you’re navigating
- What support would actually make a difference
Your voice. Your community. Your chance to influence what comes next and help us get it right!
The Approach
Since 2016 Path Wānaka (Ara ki Wānaka) has been researching and tracking the attitudes towards, and engagement with, harmful substances, and the activities of youth living in the Upper Clutha. The 2023 survey was conducted in May and June and invited students from Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College to participate. The age range covered 11-24 year olds. Parental consent was sought for those under 14 years of age. The survey went to 560 students with 232 surveys submitted Of the surveys submitted 181 were analysed.
The research is conducted by an independent researcher.
What Did We Find?
Positive risk-taking is an important part of growing up. It helps young people developer their identities and learn from success or failure.
Activities such as playing sports, trying new activities and volunteering as positive risk-taking behaviours. 89% of students surveyed participate in some form of outdoor sports. 54% volunteer and 50% participate in the arts.
Negative risk-taking activities are those that concern parents and the community. Alcohol remains the most tried substance with vaping the next highest. Vaping was listed by students as the biggest concern for youth today. The impact of social media is a concern with over 50% of students being exposed to images that they consider nasty or disturbing.
To read more, download the report below.