New Zealanders: Free time and good life more important than money

WELLINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Living a morally good life and having free time is more important to New Zealanders than getting rich, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

The poll, conducted by UMR Research, asked 750 respondents to rate six values on whether they were very important, somewhat important, not that important or very not important at all, the New Zealand Press Association reported on Wednesday.

Only 8 percent valued being wealthy as "very important", but most rated living a morally good life (78 percent), having enough time to do the things you want to do (64 percent) and having children (59 percent) as very important.

Climbing the career ladder didn't appeal to many, with only 37 percent rated being successful in a career as very important compared with 49 percent who rated helping the wider community by volunteering and donating as very important.

The research showed Aucklanders, men and those under 30 were more likely to rate being wealthy and being successful in their careers as very important.

More men than women valued free time as very important, while more women than men valued having children, volunteering and donating as very important.

Similar research conducted in the United States showed New Zealanders and Americans rated things much the same as each other, but with one important exception.

While 61 percent of Americans rated being successful in a career as very important, only 37 percent of New Zealanders felt the same.