Four out of five New Zealanders are concerned about freshwater quality, Stats NZ said today.
In the 2018 General Social Survey the state of rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and aquatic life was identified as an issue by 80 percent of New Zealanders. Half of those who reported this as an issue said farming activities are the main cause, while 17 percent said sewage and stormwater discharges are the main cause.
“The survey showed little difference in attitudes between people living in rural and urban areas, when it came to concerns about fresh water and what the main causes are,” wellbeing and housing statistics manager Dr Claire Bretherton said.
The nationwide survey included a representative sample of people living in the country as well as in towns and cities.
Almost three-quarters of people thought New Zealand has an issue with the state of oceans and sea life, and with plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct. Changes in weather patterns were identified as an issue by 69 percent of people. In contrast, only around half thought New Zealand has an issue with air pollution.
“Levels of air pollution in New Zealand are generally good, particularly when compared with heavily industrialised countries, so it makes sense that fewer people said air pollution was an issue,” Dr Bretherton said.
Perceptions change according to migrant status
Recent migrants, those who had moved to New Zealand within the last five years, were the least likely to identify environmental problems compared with longer-term migrants and those born here. For example, 1 in 6 recent migrants said New Zealand has an issue with air pollution, compared with 1 in 3 long-term migrants and 1 in 2 New Zealand-born people.
“This may be because the longer people live here, the less their perceptions of New Zealand’s environment are influenced by international comparisons,” Dr Bretherton said.
Issue
Total population
Air pollution
48.9
The state of the oceans and sea life
74.3
“The state of rivers
80.2
lakes
68.7
streams
73.8
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
47.3
50.4
72.7
75.9
78.9
81.5
67.0
70.3
72.3
75.2
Issue
Born in NZ
Air pollution
56.8
The state of the oceans and sea life
83.1
“The state of rivers
88.4
lakes
71.7
streams
79.8
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
55.2
58.4
81.7
84.5
87.2
89.6
70.2
73.3
78.3
81.3
Issue
Long-term migrant
Air pollution
35.4
The state of the oceans and sea life
60
“The state of rivers
68.4
lakes
65.5
streams
65
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
32.3
38.5
56.7
63.3
65.5
71.3
62.2
68.9
62.1
67.9
Issue
Recent migrant
Air pollution
16.3
The state of the oceans and sea life
31.8
“The state of rivers
34.4
lakes
45.7
streams
38.6
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
10.8
21.8
26.3
37.2
28.1
40.8
39.0
52.5
31.2
45.9
The places migrants had come from also had an impact on their perceptions. People born in South East Asia were among the least likely to think New Zealand has an issue with air pollution, while people from Oceania and Europe had perceptions more like those born here.
Environmental perceptions by ethnicity
Levels of concern about the environment differed by ethnicity.
Issue
European
Air pollution
52.8
The state of the oceans and sea life
81.6
“The state of rivers
88.1
lakes
69.4
streams
79.3
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
51.2
54.4
80.1
83
86.9
89.4
67.7
71.2
77.9
80.7
Issue
Māori
Air pollution
65.6
The state of the oceans and sea life
86.8
“The state of rivers
89.9
lakes
79.6
streams
84.1
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
61.8
69.3
84.5
89.2
87.7
92.1
76.8
82.4
81.4
86.8
Issue
Pacific peoples
Air pollution
55.4
The state of the oceans and sea life
73.3
“The state of rivers
73.1
lakes
73.6
streams
69.5
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
50
60.8
68.8
77.7
68.3
77.8
68.2
79
64.1
74.9
Asian
Air pollution
19.1
The state of the oceans and sea life
37.4
“The state of rivers
42.1
lakes
57.9
streams
45.2
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
15.8
22.3
33.3
41.6
38.0
46.2
53.8
61.9
41.5
48.9
“Of New Zealand’s total population, Māori were more likely than other ethnicities to identify environmental problems,” Dr Bretherton said.
“This reflects the whakapapa that Māori, as tangata whenua, have with the environment.”
The differences between ethnic groups are much smaller, however, when looking at only the New Zealand-born population. This is due to the larger influence of migration on European, Pacific, and Asian ethnicities.
Issue
European
Air pollution
55.7
The state of the oceans and sea life
83.3
“The state of rivers
89.1
lakes
70.3
streams
79.9
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
54
57.3
81.8
84.8
87.8
90.5
68.7
72
78.3
81.5
Issue
Māori
Air pollution
65.3
The state of the oceans and sea life
86.6
“The state of rivers
89.7
lakes
79.4
streams
83.9
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
61.4
69.1
84.1
89
87.5
91.9
76.5
82.3
81.1
86.6
Issue
Pacific peoples
Air pollution
60.8
The state of the oceans and sea life
82.6
“The state of rivers
80.6
lakes
76.3
streams
75.2
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct
53.8
67.7
77.5
87.7
75.6
85.6
69.4
83.1
69.1
81.3
Asian
Air pollution
35.9
The state of the oceans and sea life
71
“The state of rivers
73.1
lakes
66.4
streams
69.9
wetlands
and aquatic life”
Changes in weather patterns
Plant and animal life becoming endangered or extinct