In Better Futures Colmar Brunton is  “Celebrating a decade of tracking New Zealanders’ attitudes & behaviours around sustainability”.

Trends show an increase in people concerned about the effects of climate change, and a commitment to live a sustainable lifestyle.

In a poll run between 4 and 11 December 2018 asked what issues people care most about.

• Build up of plastic in the environment 72% – up 9
• The cost of living 68% – no change
• The protection of New Zealand children 67% – down 1
• Suicide rates 67% – up 3
• Violence in society 65% – down 4
• Pollution of lakes, rivers and seas 64% – up 4
• Caring for the ageing population 63% – new
• The protection of my personal data online 62% – new
• Availability of affordable housing 61% – up 2
• Not having access to good affordable healthcare 60% – up 2

Trend of New Zealanders who express high level of concern around the impact of climate change on New Zealand

• 2009 – 36%
• 2010 – 31%
• 2011 – 29%
• 2012 – 33%
• 2013 – 34%
• 2014 – 41%
• 2015 – 40%
• 2016 – 45%
• 2017 – 48%
• 2018 – 55%

Commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle:

• 2015 – low 17%, medium 59%, high 24%
• 2016 – low 10%, medium 65%, high 25%
• 2017 – low 10%, medium 60%, high 30%
• 2018 – low 5%, medium 53%, high 42%

Who will always/mostly go meat free:

• 2014 – 4%
• 2015 – 5%
• 2016 – 6%
• 2017 – 7%
• 2018 – 10%

Switching to an electric car or hybrid:

• 34% thinking about switching
• 22% thought about it but probably won’t
• 27% don’t want to switch
• 14% haven’t thought about it or don’t know

‘Sustainable’ travel practices:

• 71% shop locally
• 67% walk for short journeys
• 57% drive in a more fuel-efficient way
• 20% take public transport
• 20% cycle for short journeys
• 19% carpool for work
• 9% pay to offset carbon on flights
• 6% scooter for short journeys

Impact of plastic:

• 85% say reducing disposable packaging is the right thing to do
• 77% say they can make a difference by reducing use of disposable packaging
  …but…
• Only 1% who buy lunch use reusable containers all the time.

‘Kinder’ businesses:

• 86% “It is important for me to work for a company that is socially and environmentally responsible”
• 90% “If I heard about a company being irresponsible or unethical, I’d stop buying their products or using their services”

On employers caring about society:

• 67% agree their employer has values they believe in
• 65% agree their employer actively supports society
• 66% agree they would recommend their workplace to others