Auckland Council

Survey results: Weed management in Auckland
June 2019

Background
Council controls weeds on our footpaths and kerbs to:
- protect and maintain assets
- maintain infrastructure
- keep people safe
- meet our amenity, safety and environmental goals.
Check out how council manages weeds on our footpaths and kerbs.

If you want to opt out of weed spraying on your property boundary you can join the no-spray register here.

How we will use the results

We wanted to understand how Aucklanders feel about managing weeds on footpaths and kerbs by our roads. We will use this and the other feedback we receive (including from subject matter experts) to create a recommendation report.

The Governing Body and Local Boards, will use this recommendation report to inform their decisions about how we will control weeds on our footpaths and curbs in the future.

Methodology
- 31,882‬ panellists received an invitation
- 5,686 surveys were completed (a response rate of 18%)
- Survey was open for 11 days (23 October - 3 November 2019)
This survey was run on Auckland Council's People's Panel, a quick and easy way for Aucklanders to help shape Auckland by taking part in short surveys.
October 2019 - Weed Management Survey Summary

Total Responses 5,686

Average time to complete About 8 minutes

First Response Wed 23 October 2019, 9:10 AM

Last Response Sun 3 November 2019, 11:06 PM

Total Responses	5,686
Average time to complete	About 8 minutes
First Response	Wed 23 October 2019, 9:10 AM
Last Response	Sun 3 November 2019, 11:06 PM

Question 1A

Which of the following weed control methods do you use at home?

Please select all that apply.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Weed killer e.g. synthetic or plant-based / organic herbicide	3,220	57
Hot water treatment e.g. boiling water	1,138	20
Removal by hand / hand-tool	4,841	85
Weed-eating / mowing	3,480	61
None of these - I don't do any weeding at home	175	3
I don't know	9	0
Other (please specify)	337	6

Question 1B

What kind of weed killer do you use?

Please select all that apply.

Number of responses to this question	3,220 (57%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Synthetic weed killer e.g. Roundup or other glyphosate products	2,472	77
Plant-based herbicide / organic herbicide	1,015	32
Not sure - I don't know what kind of weed killer it is	185	6
I don't know	15	0
Other (please specify)	136	4

Question 1C

How do you choose which weed killer to buy in store?

Please choose no more than 4 things that influence your decision.

Number of responses to this question	3,220 (57%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
The price / cost	1,313	41
Whether it is a well-known brand	593	18
The ingredients	667	21
The concentration / effectiveness of managing weeds	1,932	60
The application method e.g. spray, powder	1,298	40
I just buy what I have bought in the past	609	19
The environmental impact	939	29
Frequency of application e.g. monthly, yearly	514	16
The labour / time involved	546	17
Health and safety considerations	852	26
None of these - I don't buy weed killer	30	1
I don't know	16	0
Other (please specify)	139	4

Question 2A

In general, are the weeds on our footpaths and kerbs something that matters to you?

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - It does not matter to me at all 331 6

2 518 9

3 1,181 21

4 1,623 29

5 - It matters to me a lot 2,006 35

I don't know 27 0
Question 2B

How much do you care about the weed control methods that Auckland Council uses on footpaths and kerbs?

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - I don't care at all 314 6

2 403 7

3 1,107 19

4 1,496 26

5 - I care very much 2,281 40

I don't know 85 1
Question 2C

How aware are you of the weed control methods Auckland Council uses on footpaths and kerbs?

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not aware at all 1,748 31

2 1,015 18

3 1,353 24

4 889 16

5 - Very aware 560 10

I don't know 121 2

Answer	Count	%
1 - It does not matter to me at all	331	6
2	518	9
3	1,181	21
4	1,623	29
5 - It matters to me a lot	2,006	35
I don't know	27	0

Answer	Count	%
1 - I don't care at all	314	6
2	403	7
3	1,107	19
4	1,496	26
5 - I care very much	2,281	40
I don't know	85	1

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not aware at all	1,748	31
2	1,015	18
3	1,353	24
4	889	16
5 - Very aware	560	10
I don't know	121	2

Question 2D

How many weeds are you okay with along Auckland's footpaths and kerbs?

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
No weeds are acceptable – zero weeds	973	17
One or two weeds are acceptable	2,982	52
Quite a few weeds are acceptable	1,154	20
Many weeds are acceptable	287	5
I don't know	34	1
Other (please specify)	256	5

Question 2E

Are you on the Auckland Council No Spray Register where you can opt out of weed spraying on your berm or park boundary?

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

Yes 284 5

No 4,234 74

No - but I am planning to apply 518 9

I don't know 650 11

Answer	Count	%
Yes	284	5
No	4,234	74
No - but I am planning to apply	518	9
I don't know	650	11

Question 3A

Which of the following weed control methods have you heard of council using on footpaths and kerbs before?

Please select all that apply.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Synthetic herbicide (including glyphosate)	2,800	49
Hot water	1,343	24
High-pressure steam	1,810	32
Plant-based herbicide	1,037	18
Mechanical e.g. weed-eating / mowing	2,113	37
Manual e.g. removal by hand	483	8
None of the above	524	9
I don't know	926	16
Other (please specify)	176	3

Question 4A

What is your most preferred method of weed control for Auckland’s footpaths and kerbs?

Please select one only.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Synthetic herbicide (including glyphosate)	643	11
Hot water	293	5
High-pressure steam	1,476	26
Plant-based herbicide	928	16
Mechanical e.g. weed-eating / mowing	365	6
Manual e.g. removal by hand	198	3
None - I don't know enough to answer this question	964	17
None - I don't have a preference	412	7
None - I think there should be no weed control at all	12	0
I don't know	60	1
Other (please specify)	335	6

Question 4C

Which is your least preferred method of weed control for Auckland’s footpaths and kerbs?

Please select one only.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Synthetic herbicide (including glyphosate)	2,929	52
Hot water	176	3
High-pressure steam	96	2
Plant-based herbicide	85	1
Mechanical e.g. weed-eating / mowing	190	3
Manual e.g. removal by hand	924	16
None - I don't know enough to answer this question	647	11
None - I don't have a preference	419	7
None - I think there should be no weed control at all	7	0
I don't know	78	1
Other (please specify)	135	2

Question 4E

Would you be happy to pay more rates for council to use alternatives to synthetic herbicide (including glyphosate) on footpaths and kerbs?

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

Yes 1,082 19

Maybe - it depends 2,067 36

No 2,376 42

I don't know 161 3

Answer	Count	%
Yes	1,082	19
Maybe - it depends	2,067	36
No	2,376	42
I don't know	161	3

5A(i)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Cost / impact on rates

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 173 3

2 337 6

3 1,337 24

4 1,463 26

5 - Very important 2,317 41

I don't know 58 1
5A(ii)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Environmental impact of the method

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 123 2

2 166 3

3 614 11

4 1,152 20

5 - Very important 3,561 63

I don't know 69 1
5A(iii)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Effectiveness at managing weeds

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 45 1

2 91 2

3 540 9

4 1,482 26

5 - Very important 3,463 61

I don't know 64 1
5A(iv)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Frequency of application required

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 234 4

2 315 6

3 1,346 24

4 1,694 30

5 - Very important 1,970 35

I don't know 126 2
5A(v)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- The labour / time involved

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 309 5

2 417 7

3 1,497 26

4 1,582 28

5 - Very important 1,794 32

I don't know 86 2
5A(vi)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Energy used and carbon emissions

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 594 10

2 531 9

3 1,294 23

4 1,377 24

5 - Very important 1,723 30

I don't know 166 3
5A(vii)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Health and safety

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 82 1

2 98 2

3 531 9

4 1,014 18

5 - Very important 3,892 68

I don't know 68 1
5A(viii)

How important you think the following factors are for council to consider when selecting a weed control method for footpaths and kerbs?
- Preferences of the local community

Number of responses to this question 5,685 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

1 - Not important 360 6

2 523 9

3 1,508 27

4 1,455 26

5 - Very important 1,704 30

I don't know 135 2

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	173	3
2	337	6
3	1,337	24
4	1,463	26
5 - Very important	2,317	41
I don't know	58	1

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	123	2
2	166	3
3	614	11
4	1,152	20
5 - Very important	3,561	63
I don't know	69	1

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	45	1
2	91	2
3	540	9
4	1,482	26
5 - Very important	3,463	61
I don't know	64	1

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	234	4
2	315	6
3	1,346	24
4	1,694	30
5 - Very important	1,970	35
I don't know	126	2

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	309	5
2	417	7
3	1,497	26
4	1,582	28
5 - Very important	1,794	32
I don't know	86	2

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	594	10
2	531	9
3	1,294	23
4	1,377	24
5 - Very important	1,723	30
I don't know	166	3

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	82	1
2	98	2
3	531	9
4	1,014	18
5 - Very important	3,892	68
I don't know	68	1

Answer	Count	%
1 - Not important	360	6
2	523	9
3	1,508	27
4	1,455	26
5 - Very important	1,704	30
I don't know	135	2

Question 5B

Across the urban Auckland road network, the difference in weed control methodologies is millions of dollars.

Would you be willing to pay a local rate for a particular methodology to be used in your local board?

Number of responses to this question	5,685 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
Yes – I would be happy to pay more to get the weed control method I want	1,149	20
No – I’m happy to use the same weed control method as the rest of the region	2,092	37
Not applicable – I shouldn’t have to pay more for the weed control method I want	1,957	34
I don’t know	487	9

Question 6B

Are you:

Number of responses to this question 5,686 (100%)

Total number of responses for this survey 5,686

Answer Count %

Male 2,327 41

Female 3,193 56

Gender diverse 23 0

I prefer not to say 143 3

Answer	Count	%
Male	2,327	41
Female	3,193	56
Gender diverse	23	0
I prefer not to say	143	3

Question 6C

Which of the following age groups do you belong to?

Please select one only.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
15 - 17 years	14	0
18 - 24 years	105	2
25 - 29 years	158	3
30 - 34 years	193	3
35 - 39 years	329	6
40 - 44 years	456	8
45 - 49 years	533	9
50 - 54 years	615	11
55 - 59 years	606	11
60 - 64 years	597	10
65 - 69 years	641	11
70 - 74 years	658	12
75 years and over	573	10
I prefer not to say	208	4

Question 6E

Which of the following ethnic groups do you belong to?
Please select all that apply.

Number of responses to this question	5,686 (100%)
Total number of responses for this survey	5,686

Answer	Count	%
New Zealand European / Pākehā	4,268	75
Māori	299	5
Other European	427	8
Samoan	64	1
Cook Islands Māori	19	0
Tongan	32	1
Niuean	21	0
Tokelauan	4	0
Fijian	22	0
Other Pacific Peoples	16	0
Southeast Asian	44	1
Chinese	146	3
Korean	10	0
Indian	121	2
Other Asian	50	1
Middle Eastern	14	0
Latin American	20	0
African	28	0
I prefer not to say	319	6
Other ethnicity (please specify)	284	5

This survey was run on Auckland Council's People's Panel, a quick and easy way for Aucklanders to help shape Auckland by taking part in short surveys.