Ever wondered which is New Zealand’s happiest town?

Ever wondered which is New Zealand’s happiest town?

A new online tool could have the answer. The NZ MoodMap is an interactive website designed to capture the mood of New Zealand as it happens.

From today, New Zealanders can visit www.moodmap.co.nz and click to rate their current level of happiness, compare their mood with the regional average, and see which regions are the happiest in the country. While individual happiness ratings are anonymous, participants can choose to share their rating on social media.

The NZ MoodMap is part of Sovereign’s focus on healthy living and provides a fun way for New Zealanders to engage and connect on a topic that is vitally important to health and wellbeing.

“Studies [1] show that happier people live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers,” says Chris Lamers, Sovereign’s Chief Officer for Marketing and Innovation.

Lamers believes NZ MoodMap’s real-time self-assessments will provide valuable insights into just what can affect moods. “By comparing results between regions and over time, we can begin meaningful conversations about what happiness means to New Zealanders.

“What makes us happy? Why are some places happier than others? What can we learn from each other, to enhance happiness and wellbeing across all New Zealand communities?”

Sovereign has developed a series of activities and partnerships dedicated to building better health and wellbeing for New Zealand communities. This includes partnering with AUT to develop New Zealand’s first wellbeing index (The Sovereign Wellbeing Index), and sponsorship partnerships with Youthline, Conservation Volunteers, and Child Matters Buddy Day. Sovereign also works with communities, agencies and government bodies to support the promotion of wellbeing.

“The NZ MoodMap is part of Sovereign’s commitment to helping New Zealanders make healthier and happier choices,” says Lamers. “The state of happiness in our communities is important for all of us.”

To rate how happy you are today, visit www.moodmap.co.nz

About Sovereign
Sovereign Assurance Company Limited (Sovereign) is New Zealand’s largest life insurer; protecting the lives of more than 600,000 people through the provision of personal insurances (such as life, income protection, disablement and trauma and major medical health policies) and employer sponsored compulsory and voluntary workplace schemes. Sovereign’s financial strength is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best [2]. Sovereign is part of the ASB group of companies, which is in turn part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia group.

[1] Diener Ed and Micaela Y. Chan, Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity, Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Volume 3, Issue 1, pages 1–43, March 2011
[2] A.M. Best Inc is an approved insurance rating agency. A copy of the scale, of which this rating forms part of, is available from Sovereign.

ENDS

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