We undertake regular surveys to understand the New Zealand publics’ engagement and attitudes to conservation, and their use and enjoyment of public conservation lands and waters.
Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Survey 2024
In early 2024, we partnered with Recreation Aotearoa to research accessible outdoor recreation in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was the first time a study like this had been done.
Over 700 New Zealanders with disabilities and their caregivers completed the survey and shared their experiences of recreating in the outdoors and outdoor recreation preferences, perspectives and aspirations.
Findings will help with initiatives, including new accessibility guidelines for outdoor recreation providers.
Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Survey 2024 (PDF, 3,448K)
Survey of New Zealanders
New Zealanders were surveyed on their attitudes toward conservation and DOC, and their recreation activities on public conservation land.
2020 survey
The timing of the survey provided an opportunity to examine New Zealanders’ attitudes towards the outdoors following the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
Note: Due to changes in the way some key questions were worded, direct comparisons between the 2020 survey results and results from previous years are inadvisable.
2019 survey
Note: Due to a change in methodology, direct comparisons between the 2019 survey results and results from previous years are inadvisable.
2016 survey
2015 survey
2014 survey
- Survey of New Zealanders 2014 (PDF, 2,676K)
- Methodology report 2014(PDF, 2,888K)
- Voting with their feet (recreation) infographics (PDF, 37,609K)
- Voting with their feet (historic) booklet infographics (PDF, 19,053K)
- Voting with their feet (historic heritage and recreation) infographics(PDF, 31,899K)
2013 survey
Postal/online survey
Telephone survey
The following reports present the results of this surveyalongside the results from the telephone surveys from previous years.
- Attitudes, engagement and favourability (PDF, 1,133K)
- Kauri dieback attitudes (PDF, 443K)
- Sources of information (PDF, 439K)
- Recreation and historic sites (PDF, 895K)
- Methodology report (PDF, 651K)
The following reports present the results from the telephone survey in 2013, alongside the combined results from the telephone and online surveys from previous years.
- Attitudes, engagement and favourability (PDF, 1,512K)
- Kauri dieback attitutudes (PDF, 520K)
- Sources of information (PDF, 438K)
- Recreation and historic sites (PDF, 893K)
2012 survey
- Methodology report 2012 (PDF, 486K)
- Attitudes, engagement and favourability (PDF, 2,034K)
- Kauri dieback attitudes(PDF, 349K)
- Visitor and historic (PDF, 2,093K)
- Information bookings and online services (PDF, 712K)
2011 survey
In 2011 the National Survey of New Zealanders captured the views of more than 3600 New Zealanders aged 18 years and over through a combination of telephone and online responses. The results of the 2011 survey are detailed in the following reports.