Environmental Awareness, Attitudes and Actions, 2006: a Survey of Residents of the Waikato Region

TR 2007/06
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Report: TR 2007/06

Author: Gravitas Research and Strategy Ltd.

Abstract

This report contains the findings of the 2006 survey of 1,003 residents of the Waikato region. The Environmental Awareness, Attitudes and Action Survey was first implemented by Environment Waikato in June 1998 to benchmark environmental perceptions within the region. This survey was repeated in 2000 and 2003, and most recently again in September/October 2006.

The research aims to provide information to:

  • track public views, attitudes and priorities about environmental issues
  • raise awareness of the impact and effects of people on natural resources
  • anticipate public response to environmental policies and programmes
  • evaluate current policies and programmes
  • provide information useful to agencies such as district and city councils.

Information from the survey:

  • provides indicators of people’s environmental awareness, attitudes and actions and how these have changed over time (through comparison with 1998, 2000 and 2003 results)
  • assists in the evaluation of the effectiveness of policy, education and communications projects
  • provides indicators of the potential for and the barriers to undertaking environmentally beneficial behaviours for programme design and implementation.

Environmental Awareness, Attitudes and Actions, 2006: A Survey of Residents of the Waikato Region. Part A [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Environmental Awareness, Attitudes and Actions, 2006: A Survey of Residents of the Waikato Region. Part B [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Environmental Awareness, Attitudes and Actions, 2006: A Survey of Residents of the Waikato Region. Part C [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Contents
  Executive Summary i
1 Introduction and Objective 1
2 Methodology, Sample Structure and Reporting 1
2.2 Sample Structure 3
2.3 Reporting 5
3 Environmental Issues 7
3.1 Satisfaction with the Local Environment in General 7
3.2 Most Important Environmental Issue Facing the Waikato Region 10
3.3 Most Important Environmental Issue in Five Years 17
4 Perceptions of Changes Regarding Environmental Issues 21
4.1 Water Quality in Local Streams, Rivers and Lakes 22
4.2 Pollution or Waste Produced by Nearby Businesses and Industries 26
4.3 Pollution or Waste Produced by Nearby Farms 29
4.4 Availability of Waste Recycling Services and Facilities 32
4.5 Soil and Land Erosion 36
4.6 Fencing off Areas of Native Bush or Wetland on Private Property 39
4.7 Fencing Off Streams, Rivers and Lakes 43
4.8 Effluent is Disposed of According to the Rules 46
4.9 Cyclist-Friendly Roading in Local Area 49
4.10 Public Transport Availability 53
4.11 Natural Amenities of Local Town or City 57
4.12 Overall State of Local Environment 60
5 Level of Concern on Environmental Issues 64
5.1 Water Pollution from Industry 65
5.2 Water Pollution from Farmland 68
5.3 Water Pollution from Towns and City Areas 71
5.4 Loss of Natural Beach Character Through Development 74
5.5 Construction of Seawalls to Protect Property from Long Term Coastal Erosion 77
5.6 State of Native Bush and Wetlands on Private Property 80
5.7 Spread of Cities/Towns Across Farmland 83
6 Knowledge of Environmental Issues 86
6.1 Pollution in Rivers and Streams Mainly from Farmland 86
6.2 Oil in Waterways from Industries’ Spillage 90
6.3 Treated Human Sewage a Major Cause of Waterway Pollution 93
6.4 Air Pollution from Home Fires 96
7 Air Quality 98
7.1 Air Quality in the Waikato Region 98
7.2 Activities Damaging Air Quality in the Waikato Region 100
8 Natural Hazards 103
8.1 Awareness of Natural Hazards 103
9 Energy Generation and the Environment 105
9.1 Visual Amenity of Wind Turbines 106
10 Environmental Regulations and Controls 108
10.1 Council Enforcement of Rules and Laws 109
10.2 Protection of Significant Natural Sites 113
10.3 Threat of Urban Sprawl and Subdivisions to Natural Environment 116
10.4 Livestock in Streams and Waterways 119
10.5 Government Restrictions on Private Property Use 122
10.6 Landowners and Their Own Land 125
10.7 Council Provisions for Construction in At-Risk Areas 128
10.8 Sustainable Design of New Developments 130
10.9 Permission to Burn Garden Waste 132
10.10 Index of Attitudes Towards Environmental Regulations 134
11 Economy, Business and the Environment 135
11.1 Healthy Environment, Healthy Economy 136
11.2 Sacrificing Environmental Quality for Economic Growth 139
11.3 Environmental Protection and Economic Development 143
11.4 Business Profit and the Environment 147
11.5 Business and Environmentally Friendly Behaviour 150
11.6 Businesses’ Obligation to the Environment 154
11.7 Business Bearing Expense of Meeting Environmental Standards 157
11.8 Farm Productivity and Waterways 160
11.9 Decline in Farm Economy to Achieve Better Environment 163
11.10 Balancing Economy with the Environment Scale 166
12 Personal Environmental Action 167
12.1 Actions Taken to Protect the Environment 167
12.2 Involvement in Public Actions/Meetings 173
12.3 Actions Taken 175
12.4 Effectiveness of Public Actions Taken 177
12.5 Public Say in the Way the Environment is Managed 180
12.6 Public Action Segmentation 183
13 Conclusions 188
14 District Summaries 190
14.1 Franklin 191
14.2 Thames-Coromandel 199
14.3 Hauraki 208
14.4 Waikato 216
14.5 Hamilton 224
14.6 Matamata-Piako 232
14.7 Waipa 241
14.8 South Waikato 249
14.9 Otorohanga 257
14.10 Waitomo 265
14.11 Rotorua 273
14.12 Taupo 281
  Appendix 289
  Questionnaire 290
  Refusal Analysis 299