Research shows limited understanding of EU

 

Published by the Communications and Development Department

 

12 August 2003

The University of Canterbury's National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) has successfully carried out a quantitative study of the perceptions of the EU among New Zealanders – the first of its kind on public opinion on the EU within New Zealand.

NCRE director Professor Martin Holland says the survey results show that while the EU is recognised as an important partner for New Zealand, knowledge and understanding of the EU remain limited.

 

The survey sample totalled 1000 New Zealand residents from throughout the country aged over 18 who were interviewed over the telephone during February and March this year.

 

Results showed that the most important overseas partners for New Zealand were considered to be (in order of significance) Australia, the US, the UK, Asia, Europe/EU, Japan and China. When thinking about the EU, respondents listed trade, the Euro and economics as the main images and issues that came to mind.

 

However, knowledge of the EU and current EU developments, such as the enlargement process, was limited, with 78% of respondents being unable to name any accession or candidate country.

 

The survey also showed that New Zealanders get most of their information on the EU through the news media, with TV news and newspapers the most popular sources of information.

 

Professor Holland said that while a single survey was interesting and valuable in its own right, the conclusions that could be drawn lacked context, as yet.

 

“A series of surveys taken regularly is needed so that changes in New Zealanders’ perceptions can be traced and analysed over time. Therefore, we hope to conduct this survey annually to establish a comprehensive and informative data-base on EU-NZ perceptions.

 

“The NCRE is committed to raising New Zealand’s awareness and knowledge of the EU and the enlargement process through outreach activities, and it is clear that since the news media is the main source of EU information, we need to work on ways to encourage better and wider news coverage of EU developments.”

 

The survey project was made possible by a grant of €20,000 (NZ$40,000)
from the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture.

 

The results and concluding comments of the survey are presented in the brochure “External Perceptions of The European Union: A Survey of New Zealanders’ Perceptions and Attitudes towards the European Union” written by Professor Holland, NCRE Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Natalia Chaban, and NCRE Advisory Board Member M. Maureen Benson-Rea from the University of Auckland.

 

The full survey can be viewed on the NCRE website at www.europe.canterbury.ac.nz

For more information contact:

 

For more information contact:

Professor Martin Holland
Director
National Centre for Research of Europe
University of Canterbury
Christchurch
Ph 03 364 2348

Email office@cre.canterbury.ac.nz