Whangamata Beach User Survey: Public Awareness and Attitudes to Dune Management
Report: TR05/59
Author: John Dennis (International Research Consultants Ltd.), with Jill Thomson (Eclectic Energy), Angela Davies and Sandra Barns (Environment Waikato)
Abstract
This research was undertaken to provide information to Environment Waikato to inform the development of strategies that promote individual behaviour change with respect to coastal issues, lift awareness of coastal hazards and natural character and increase knowledge of coastal processes.
A survey of 229 beach users at Whangamata was undertaken in January 2005 to find out:
- the attitudes to, and level of knowledge of, dune systems
- the benefits and barriers beach users saw in using beach accessways
- the types of beach users
- what types of beaches are preferred by beach users
- use of the sand dune area
- awareness of Beachcare.
Environment Waikato has been working with the Whangamata Beachcare community since it formed in 1994 to improve the health of the dune systems. Research undertaken in 1997 with beach users at Whangamata offered useful comparative data on levels of understanding and awareness, with some questions repeated in this survey.
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