1. Oil and Gas Industry Reputation
Online omnibus quantitative survey
December 2017

2. Methodology
Results in this report are from UMR Research’s SayIt Online Omnibus survey of New Zealanders nationally distributed.
The survey was conducted from 29th November to 13th December 2017.
The margin of error for a 50% figure at the 95% confidence level for a sample of n=1000 is approximately ±3.1%.
All numbers are shown rounded to zero decimal places. This means that the specified totals are not always exactly equal to the sum of the specified sub-totals – they are calculated from raw numbers and then rounded to 0dp. The differences are seldom more than 1%.

3. Summary of findings
Almost one-third (29%) of respondents said they know ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’ about the oil and gas industry, this was an eight point increase since to March 2016.
Declared knowledge was significantly higher among males. 42% of males said they know ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’ about the oil and gas industry, while only 17% of females said the same.
Nearly half (47%) of respondents believe that the NZ oil and gas industry is important to the economy, this was steady compared to March 2016 (down 1%).
Older respondents were more likely to believe in the importance of the oil and gas industry to the economy. 57% of 60+ believe the NZ oil and gas industry is important to the economy, while only 42% of under 45s think the same.
Around a fifth (19%) of respondents have a favourable opinion of the oil and gas industry, this was slightly lower than March 2016 (down 5%).
Males have a much more favourable opinion - 27% compared to 11% of females. 60+ respondents also have a more favourable opinion (26%).
The main reason given for having a favourable opinion was ‘good for the economy/ exports’. While the main reason given for having an unfavourable opinion was ‘bad for environment, increase climate change’.

4. Summary of findings (cont.)
Thirteen percent of respondents have a high level of trust in the oil and gas industry, this was largely unchanged since March 2016 (down 2%).
Males have a higher level of trust than females, with 18% and 8% respectively trusting the oil and gas industry.
When the advocacy statements were tested 13% of respondents said they would speak positively about the oil and gas industry (unchanged since March 2016).
Males were more willing to speak positively. 19% of males said they would speak positively of the oil and gas industry compared to 7% of females.
Forty-one percent of respondents believe that oil and gas can be produced in New Zealand without damaging our environment, almost identical the proportion reported in March 2016 (up 1%).
Males and those 60 years or older were more believing of this statement. 53% of males believed the statement compared to 29% of females; while 50% of 60+ believed it compared to 35% of under 45s.

5. Knowledge – tracking
How much would you say you know about the oil and gas industry?
A LOT + A FAIR AMOUNT: 29%
NOT THAT MUCH + HARDLY ANYTHING: 71%
A LOT + A FAIR AMOUNT: 21%
NOT THAT MUCH + HARDLY ANYTHING: 78%

6. Knowledge – demographics
How much would you say you know about the oil and gas industry? December 2017
A LOT + A FAIR AMOUNT: 29%
NOT THAT MUCH + HARDLY ANYTHING: 71%

7. Importance to the economy – tracking
How important do you believe the New Zealand oil and gas industry is to the economy?
IMPORTANT: 47%
NEUTRAL: 31%
NOT IMPORTANT: 15%
IMPORTANT: 48%
NEUTRAL: 28%
NOT IMPORTANT: 15%

8. Importance to the economy – demographics
How important do you believe the New Zealand oil and gas industry is to the economy? December 2017
IMPORTANT: 47%
NEUTRAL: 31%
NOT IMPORTANT: 15%

9. Favourability – tracking
How favourable an opinion do you have of the oil and gas industry?
FAVOURABLE: 19%
NEUTRAL: 41%
UNFAVOURABLE: 32%
FAVOURABLE: 24%
NEUTRAL: 33%
UNFAVOURABLE: 32%

10. Favourability – demographics
How favourable an opinion do you have of the oil and gas industry? December 2017
FAVOURABLE: 19%
NEUTRAL: 41%
UNFAVOURABLE: 32%

11. Reasons for favourable opinion
What are the main reasons you have a favourable opinion of the oil and gas industry?
Base: Those respondents who are favourable of the oil and gas industry, n=213
* Multiple response question, percentages may add to more than 100%.

12. Reasons for unfavourable opinion
What are the main reasons you have an unfavourable opinion of the oil and gas industry?
Base: Those respondents who are unfavourable of the oil and gas industry, n=362
* Multiple response question, percentages may add to more than 100%.

13. Trust How much do you trust the oil and gas industry? HIGH TRUST: 13%
NEUTRAL: 32%
LOW TRUST: 46%
HIGH TRUST: 15%
NEUTRAL: 30%
LOW TRUST: 42%

14. Trust How much do you trust the oil and gas industry? December 2017
HIGH TRUST: 13%
NEUTRAL: 32%
LOW TRUST: 46%

15. Advocacy
Which of the following statements best captures how you personally would talk about the oil and gas industry?
POSITIVE: 13%
NEUTRAL: 52%
CRITICAL: 35%
POSITIVE: 13%
NEUTRAL: 57%
CRITICAL: 30%

16. Advocacy
Which of the following statements best captures how you personally would talk about the oil and gas industry? December 2017
POSITIVE: 13%
NEUTRAL: 52%
CRITICAL: 35%

17. Environmental impact: oil and gas – tracking
Do you believe oil and gas can be produced in New Zealand without damaging our environment?

18. Environmental impact: oil and gas – demographics
Do you believe oil and gas can be produced in New Zealand without damaging our environment? December 2017