People’s environmental knowledge

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. The structure of the questionnaire measures the key components of environmental awareness (knowledge, awareness, and concern), attitudes, and behaviour.

  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

  The survey is repeated every 3 years, with the next survey planned for 2025.

  Monitoring history

  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

  The table below shows the range of knowledge statements asked over the years (noting that no knowledge statements were asked in 2003). The 2022 survey includes six knowledge statements for this indicator.

  As indicated in the table, the statements have varied in terms of the number and type of statement asked. In 2022 the following new statements were asked:

  • Pollution in the region's rivers and streams comes mainly from agriculture.
  • The biggest source of greenhouse gases in the Waikato is agriculture.

   

  Range of knowledge statements asked over the years*	1998	2000	2006	2013	2016	2019	2022
  The biggest source of greenhouse gases in the Waikato is agriculture							*
  Pollution in the region's rivers and streams comes mainly from agriculture							*
  Pollution in the region's rivers and streams comes mainly from farmland		*	*	*	*	*
  In this region, discharges of treated human sewage are a major cause of pollution in our waterways			*	*	*	*	*
  Most air pollution comes from people's home fires			*
  Air pollution comes mainly from people's home fires					*	*	*
  Pollution in the region's rivers and streams comes mainly from industry				*	*	*	*
  The biggest driver of climate change is the increase in greenhouse gases from human activity					*	*	*
  Most of the oil in our waterways comes from spillage from industries		*	*
  Grazing stock in the native bush in not harmful to the bush		*
  Land-based activities have an effect on the health of our coasts and harbours		*
  Most stormwater drains/road gutters drain directly into streams, rivers or the sea	*	*
  Pouring used cooking oil down the sink is one good way to dispose of it	*
  Most air pollution is caused by cars and trucks	*
  People create too much rubbish	*

  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 developed, reviewed and pilot-tested before inclusion in the final survey.
  • Age and gender weightings have been applied to the final data set for this project. 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 final sample size provides a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.06 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence interval.
• How this indicator is compiled

  Comparisons over time should be interpreted with caution because environmental problems receiving attention over the surveyed period since 1998 have evolved significantly. Environmental problems over recent years have become less localised, less directly observable, and more complex in terms of causes and solutions.

  Since the survey began a mix of negative and positive statements have been used.

  The scores of each statement were added together to give a rating out of four in 1998 and 2006, and a rating out of five in 2000, a rating out of three 2013, a rating out of five in 2016 and 2019, and a rating out of 6 in 2022. The regional result was compiled into the per cent of people giving each score and the average was calculated.