1. Your Environment – What matters? Summary of Results Whale Bay - Raglan Bob McCree Photography

2. PolicyProgrammesMonitoring/Tracking

3. Surveys as a tool Gain a representative sample of the opinions of the Waikato Regional community Larger the sample size the more likely that responses will reflect opinions of the population Statistically robust - Sample size of 1250 with a margin of error no greater +/-2.77% at 95% confidence level

4. Why do we need to know? RMA requires us to understand our environment, which includes people and communities (s2 Interpretation) Understand the level of awareness of environmental issues Know the level of engagement with environmental activities Know the level of support for regulation and compliance

5. Survey background Water quality Sea walls Recycling Water Waikato River Clean water Water Traffic Air

6. Sample profiles Rural 33% Older 30% Māori 22% Full time 41% Youth 4% Urban 67% Female 57% Male 43%

7. Example - Area differences

8. Most important environmental issue 1998-2016

9. High level findings In regard to the state of the environment in general, the percentage of people who say it has ‘stayed the same’ is 41% - down from 53% in 2013 29% think the environment has improved – consistent with 2013 but down 10% from 2006 Those who think it has deteriorated has increased from 17% in 2013 to 27%

10. Just over half of Waikato residents (55%) consider that pollution in rivers and streams comes mainly from farmland with 53% agreeing that pollution comes mainly from industry. Sixty one per cent of respondents agree that the public understands the importance of investing in water quality (an increase from 56% in 2013) The majority of respondents (96%) agree that businesses should be obligated to treat the environment well Environmental awareness

11. Rural residents 97% of farmers agree that businesses should be obligated to treat the environment well 91% of rural residents agreed that environmental protection and economic development go hand in hand More likely to agree that businesses take care to minimise impact on the environment (65% rural vs 59% urban) John Barran Photography

12. Environmental attitudes Vast majority agree that a healthy environment is necessary for a healthy economy (90%) Eighty-nine per cent of respondents agree that environmental protection and economic development can go hand in hand – down from 92% in 2013 While there is strong support for Council to enforce its rules and laws (91%) an increase from 88% in 2013, this is less than the 96% rating in 2006 An increased number of residents (73%) agree that government restrictions on private property are necessary so that the environment will not be harmed (69% in 2013)

13. Environmental actions More people are recycling in general (77%) up from 64% in 2013 Picking up litter (20%) up from 7% Planting trees (19%) up from 16% Saving water (18%) up from 15% Composting garden and kitchen waste (14%) Using a car less often (12%)

14. Concerns still exist Concerns about water pollution are trending down 78% are concerned about water pollution from industry down from 84%, 76% are concerned about water pollution from farmland – again down 81% in 2013 75% are concerned about water pollution from towns and city areas – down from 81%

15. New Ecological Paradigm 6 POINT SCALE EXPANDED ECOLOGICAL VALUES SCALE

16. Spread of cities/towns across farmland Construction of sea walls Water quality in coastal and marine areas Air pollution Water pollution from industry Climate change Water pollution from towns and city areas Water pollution from farmland

17. In closing... Region’s environment is highly valued by its residents Council has a role to ensure the environment is well looked after and has support of the community Water quality continues to dominate as the biggest environmental challenge facing the region both now and in five years time People are showing an increased awareness of how society will affect the environment in the long term

18. Questions... Whale Bay - Raglan Bob McCree Photography