NZ and Australia top givers according to global survey
The World Giving Index 2010 report, released earlier this month by the Charities Aid Foundation, has declared New Zealand and Australia as the two most giving nations in the world.
Based on data gathered through the Gallup WorldView World Poll, the World Giving Index 2010 is the largest study ever carried out into charitable behaviour across the globe. Gallup surveyed people in 153 countries, which represents 95 percent of the world's population. The Index shows New Zealanders are particularly generous when it comes to giving money and helping strangers, but also in terms of volunteering.
After hearing of New Zealand's top ranking, the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, the Hon. Tariana Turia said: "as a nation we must celebrate our generosity and make sure that our decisions and our actions bolster it even further.
"Being identified as a generous nation reminds us that we have the capacity and the resource within us all to head off some of the complex challenges that we face as a society today.
"Let us be proud of our capacity to be kind - and work even harder to make sure that same generosity of spirit and kindness is valued in our homes as much as it is on the streets and across our communities".
The global study also found that people are more likely to give money to charity if they are happy, than if they are wealthy.
For more on the World Giving Index 2010 report visit: http://www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=19479