People's attitudes to environmental regulations

Methods - how we monitor

• Where and how we collect the data

  People’s attitudes towards environmental regulations 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.

  The survey data collection method in 2019 changed to a mixed method approach designed to ensure a wide cross section of residents were reached. 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

  The survey has been carried out eight times:

  • June 1998
  • October to November 2000
  • October to November 2004
  • May 2008
  • 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.
• How this indicator is compiled

  The question and its accompanying three statements on attitudes to regulation were used for the first time in the 2000 survey and have been repeated in consecutive surveys.

  • ‘Do you generally agree or disagree with each of these statements about the Waikato environment?’
  • ‘Waikato Regional Council should enforce its rules and laws to make sure that the environment is well looked after.’
  • ‘Landowners should be allowed to do what they like on their own land.’
  • ‘Government restrictions on the use of private property are necessary so that the environment will not be harmed.’

  Participants’ responses were recorded using the following scale:

  Response	Points
  Agree	(3)
  Depends	(2)
  Disagree	(1)
  Don’t Know	(2)

  
  ‘Don’t know’ and non-responses were coded as ‘Depends’ on the answer scale. The ‘landowners’ statement was framed negatively, with its polarity reversed for analysis. The other two statements were framed positively.

  The regional result is compiled into three categories based on the scores of 3-9.

  Category	Scores
  High	9
  Middle	7-8
  Low	3-6

  Regional results are given as the percentage of people giving each score, and then the mean, mode and median are calculated.

  For each territorial authority, the same process is used (per cent giving each score and the mean of the total).