People’s environmental concerns

Methods - how we monitor

• Where and how we collect the data

  People’s environmental awareness, attitudes, knowledge and behaviours are identified through repeated cross-sectional surveys since 2000.

  In 2022 a total n=1,026 surveys were completed. The following sampling methods were used:

  • Online collection: this was the primary sampling method which, for the first time in 2022, made use of a third-party panel provider. Waikato residents were invited to self-complete the questionnaire on an online survey platform with n=792 surveys completed using this method
  • Telephone interviewing: A smaller component of Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing (CATI) interviews n=234 ensured a sufficient number of responses were achieved in some smaller rural areas.

  Monitoring frequency

  Surveys are repeated every three years, with the next survey planned for 2025.

  Monitoring history

  In 1998, respondents were asked: “What would you say is the single most important environmental issue in the Waikato region today?”

  In 2000, the question was modified to: "What do you think is the single most important environmental issue facing the Waikato region today?" This modified version has been used in consecutive surveys ever since.

  This survey has been carried out eight times:

  • June 1998 (benchmark survey)
  • October to November 2000
  • September to October 2003
  • September to October 2006
  • January to March 2013
  • February to March 2016
  • April to May 2019
  • April to May 2022

  Measurement technique

  The 2022 survey involved a mixed method approach to data collection designed to ensure a wide cross section of residents were reached. A total n=1,026 surveys were completed across both sources. Sample sources for data collection comprised of the following:

  Data collection type	Number of completed surveys	% of final sample composition
  Online	792	77%
  Telephone	234	23%
  Total	1,026	100%

  • The questions were reviewed and pilot-tested before inclusion in the final survey.
  • Age and gender weightings are applied to the final data set. Weighting ensures that specific demographic groups are neither under- nor over-represented in the final data set and that each group is represented as it would be in the population. The proportions used for the gender and age weights are taken from the 2018 Census (Statistics New Zealand).
  • The total sample size of n=1026 provides a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.06 per cent at the 95% confidence interval.