The Public Pulse of Conservation is a survey of Aotearoa New Zealand residents conducted by the Department of Conservation. The survey is administered on behalf of the department by Ipsos, and captures 1,000 responses every month. The results from each monthly survey ‘wave’ are normally published by the end of the month in which they are collected.

Ipsos collates a monthly topline report summarising the findings from the survey. The report for the March 2023 wave, surveying activity from the previous month - February 2023, is available below.

• Monthly Topline Report – March 2023 - Department of Conservation

Key findings for March 2023

• Visitation to both Protected Natural Areas (44% vs. 48% for January activity) and Heritage Places (27% vs. 31%) has significantly decreased this month.
• Average visits to Protected Areas is now at an all-time low since tracking began (1.1 vs.1.9 in Sept 2021).
• Satisfaction with the overall experience at Protected Natural Areas has significantly decreased this month also, following a significant increase in February; it now sits at 4.1 (mean score out of 5) compared to 4.2 during the January activity period. Meanwhile satisfaction with the overall experience at Protected Heritage Places remained stable this month.
• Protected Natural Areas’ NPS has significantly decreased, now at 28. Protected Natural Areas’ NPS is now 12-points lower than in March 2022 when it was at 40.
• Protected Heritage Places’ NPS, now at 11, continues to decrease and remains much lower than for the 12 months preceding the substantial decline that began in September. Compared to March 2022 (25), NPS is now 14-points lower than it was at that time.
• Measures of personal experience at Protected Heritage Places have softened across the board this month, with all measures down.
• This month, significantly fewer people recalled DOC content. Of recalled content, most concerned climate change issues, predator / pest control, and Great Walks.

The Sustainable Tourism Explorer will soon be updated with measures from the Public Pulse of Conservation survey, and a data release page will be developed to surface key data for you to interact and download for your own insights.