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Wind farm questionnaire: Analysis of responses
The questionnaire was sent to all members and achieved a response rate of 41%. The GOPI committee considers this a sufficient basis on which to base GOPI policy regarding wind farms and their effect on the Inlet.
The questions asked in the questionnaire
- Do you support wind farms as a way of generating electricity in New Zealand?
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Strongly support |
Support |
Oppose |
Strongly oppose |
No opinion |
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- Do you support the proposed wind farm at the Puketiro location?
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Strongly support |
Support |
Oppose |
Strongly oppose |
No opinion |
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- Would you accept some ecological impacts on the Pauatahanui Inlet from a wind farm?
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Yes |
Only if minor |
No |
No opinion |
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- Would you accept some impacts on the landscape of the catchment hills around the Pauatahanui Inlet from a wind farm?
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Yes |
Only if minor |
No |
No opinion |
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- Would you accept some impacts on the amenity values of Pauatahanui Inlet or of its catchment hills from a wind farm?
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Yes |
Only if minor |
No |
No opinion |
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Analysis of responses
Wind farms generally
95% of respondents strongly supported (67%) or supported (28%) wind farms as a way of generating electricity in New Zealand. One person strongly opposed wind farms, and one had no opinion; both strongly opposed the proposed Puketiro wind farm and any impacts.
The proposed wind farm at the Puketiro location
Of the 95% of respondents who supported wind farms generally:
- 81% either strongly supported (37%) or supported (44%) the proposed Puketiro wind farm;
- 12% opposed or strongly opposed the proposed Puketiro wind farm; and
- 7% had no opinion on the proposed Puketiro wind farm, but opposed any impacts or were willing to accept impacts only if minor.
Ecological, landscape and amenity impacts
Respondents varied in what impacts, and what level of impacts, they were willing to accept.
Most respondents opposed ecological impacts irrespective of their support or opposition to the Puketiro wind farm: 79% opposed ecological impacts (30%) or accepted them only if minor (49%), whereas 19% would accept them.
Of the respondents who strongly supported or supported the proposed Puketiro wind farm, 73% similarly opposed ecological impacts or would accept them only if minor, compared to 24% who would accept ecological impacts .
People were more reluctant to accept ecological impacts than landscape or amenity impacts. There was a more even split between people who would accept landscape or amenity impacts and those who opposed them or would accept only minor impacts: 53% vs 47% for landscape impacts, and 47% vs 49% for amenity impacts respectively.
Six wind farm supporters nevertheless opposed ecological impacts. In contrast, none opposed landscape impacts and only one opposed amenity impacts, which were instead generally only opposed by those who strongly opposed the wind farm at Puketiro.
In terms of views on combinations of impacts:
- 14% opposed all ecological, landscape and amenity impacts.
- 12% opposed ecological impacts and only accepted minor landscape or amenity impacts.
- 16% would only accept minor impacts.
- 28% would accept landscape and amenity impacts, but opposed ecological impacts or accepted them only if minor.
- 14% would accept ecological, landscape and amenity impacts.
The Resource Management Act defines amenity values as “Those natural and physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes”.
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