This Discussion Paper, jointly commissioned by the Treasury and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, provides a perspective on how to better reflect culture in the Living Standards Framework (LSF). It forms part of a series of papers published by the Treasury to generate discussion on key issues in developing the LSF and the LSF Dashboard.

The Treasury developed the LSF to strengthen the quality of its policy advice through the more consistent use of wellbeing data and evidence. The LSF Dashboard pulls together a range of wellbeing indicators which inform the Treasury’s advice on policy priorities for improving New Zealanders’ living standards. This paper is the first step in the process to better incorporate culture into the LSF and Dashboard. Key questions include:
• What are the different dimensions of culture that matter for New Zealanders’ wellbeing?
• What would be the advantages and disadvantages of creating a fifth capital stock under the heading Cultural Capital in the LSF?
• What set of indicators and statistical measures should there be to monitor the contribution of cultural capital to future wellbeing?

(This discussion paper is based on AERU Research Report No. 353 of the same title. The full references for the sources cited in this report can be found in this paper.)

Dalziel P., Saunders C., Savage C. (2019). Culture, Wellbeing, and the Living Standards Framework: A Perspective. Discussion Paper 19/02 – Prepared for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Treasury. Wellington: New Zealand Treasury.