SLSNZ National Beach & Coastal Safety Report 10-Year Overview | 2011 - 21 & 1-Year Overview | 2020-21

COASTAL VISITATION
NATIONAL VISITATION & PARTICIPATION
3.1M 3.8 2.0
HOURS/ 2.2M
NZ ADULTS VISITED
THE COAST
VISITS/MONTH
VISIT
COASTAL ACTIVITY
PARTICIPANTS
COASTAL PARTICIPATION SUMMARY
New Zealanders love the coast. To better understand how
the coast is used, the annual National Coastal Safety Survey
(NCSS) explores coastal participation, behaviours and
perceptions. Between May 2020 and April 2021, 3.1 million
New Zealand adults (16 years and above) visited the coast
on average 3.8 times each month. This suggests that there
were over 12 million individual visitations to the coast with
2.2 million coastal activity participants (Figure 1.2).
The OmniPoll National Coastal and Water Safety Survey in
New Zealand is conducted online among a national sample
of 1000 people aged 16 and over. In the OmniPoll annual
research, participation is asked for several coastal activities
and refers to the past 12 months. The OmniPoll research
has predominately a beach and coastal focus. For boating/
watercraft/ jet ski, this also include activities in bay, harbour,
estuary, off shore …but not in lake or river.
Figure 1.2
Coastal Participation By Activity And Gender
In the last 12 months, males and females visited the coast equally, but females spend less hours per visit. Swimming and
wading was the most popular activity (49%), followed by kai gathering for food (23%) and boating (16%).
SCUBA
1% DIVING
55%
SWIMMING/
WADING 49%
45%
JET SKI/
3% PWC
35%
25%
KAI
GATHERING 23%
15%
SURFIING
6%
5%
BOATING
16%
ROCK
6% FISHING
LAND-BASED
FISHING 10%
6% SNORKELLING
WATERCRAFT 7%
Net Occasional
Net Frequent
Net Occasional: people who occasionally participate in coastal activities (11 times per year to less than once a year.
Net Frequent: people who often participate in coastal activities (everyday to 3 times per month).
SURF LIFE SAVING NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL BEACH & COASTAL SAFETY REPORT 2021
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