Most Aucklanders concerned about environment

7 August 2008

According to a recent Auckland Regional Council survey, more than two thirds of Aucklanders are ‘concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about the environment in the region. When asked to name the most important environmental problem, traffic congestion tops the list followed by air pollution.

The Environmental Awareness Survey is the Auckland Regional Council’s annual telephone survey. A representative sample of 1,600 regional residents are asked a series of questions about aspects of the natural and built environment as well as their perceptions of living in the region and of the Auckland Regional Council.

When asked to rate their level of concern from a list of specific environmental issues, 87 per cent said they were ‘concerned’ or ‘very ‘ concerned about water pollution of our beaches, harbours and streams. Over 70 per cent were concerned about environmental destruction including the loss of native animals and plants, the loss of streams, wetlands, bush and forest, and the destruction of historical heritage sites.

Since the 2007 survey, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of respondents concerned about the loss of heritage sites (from 65 per cent to 72 per cent).

Alison Reid, Social Research Coordinator at Auckland Regional Council says that about half of the respondents felt that they knew more about historical heritage, the environment and biodiversity than they did three years ago. “Increased awareness may be a factor in this increase in concern,” she says.

According to the survey, 73 percent of us feel our region is a ‘great’ or ‘good’ place to live, with people citing the natural environment such as beaches and open spaces, and the entertainment and employment opportunities as reasons why they like living in the Auckland region.

ENDS

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