Women, retirees happiest: survey

Kiwi women are happier than their male counterparts, but retirees, widowers and those living on the West Coast are happier than the rest of us.

UMR Research has just released its Happiness of New Zealand report, which shows the nation's happiness peaked in September last year, in the midst of the Rugby World Cup.

The nationwide survey asked 750 Kiwis to rank on a scale of zero to 10 how happy and satisfied they were with the way their life was going.

The report revealed what region is happiest, what occupations are happiest and whether age impacts on happiness.

West Coast/Buller was the happiest region, with Northland not far behind. The least happy region was Marlborough.

The report showed retirees and homemakers were the happiest occupational groups, while unemployed people registered the lowest levels of happiness.

Those aged 65 and over had the highest levels of happiness and people who had been widowed were happier than divorced and single people.

UMR Research's report into why people are happy will be released later this week.