Six biennial public perception surveys of the environment have been completed at Lincoln University. The survey asks 2000 people their perceptions of the state of the New Zealand environment and its management. 2010 survey responses are analysed and compared with 2000 - 2008 surveys to identify trends and some key issues with freshwater in New Zealand. There is concern about the quality and management of lowland streams. Blame is increasingly placed on farming for damage to freshwaters. The challenge is how to match political response and policy development to the level of public concern about freshwater and its management.

Paper presented at the joint annual conference of the New Zealand Association of Economists and the Law and Economics Association of New Zealand, 30 June - 2 July 2010, University of Auckland Business School.