Hugh A. N. Benson

Kauri dieback, caused by Phytophthora agathidicida Weir, Beever, Pennycook & Bellgard, poses a major threat to the ecological and cultural significance of Aotearoa New Zealand’s kauri forests. Visitor behaviour, particularly boot-cleaning and adherence to track-use guidelines, is a key transmission pathway. Using the COM-B framework and audience segmentation, we surveyed 451 visitors to the Waitākere and Hunua Ranges to identify behavioural drivers, barriers, and segment-specific intervention needs. Stepwise regressions accounted for 52% of the variance in self-reported boot-cleaning compliance and 56% in track-use compliance within this sample (adjusted R²). Boot-cleaning compliance was enhanced by habit strength, worry about spreading the pathogen, awareness of correct procedures, and reliance on functional cleaning stations, while inconvenience and chemical aversion reduced compliance. Track-use compliance was lowered by perceived low likelihood of spread, doubts about mitigation effectiveness, time-cost concerns, and strong forest-use identity, whereas protection motivation and habitual rule-following increased compliance. Latent profile analyses produced three segments per behaviour: boot-cleaning—Conflicted, Receptive, Engaged; and track-use—Identity-Driven Forest Users, Uncommitted, Engaged—which differed systematically in knowledge, concern, and compliance. We outline potential intervention implications informed by these findings and prior literature.

Background: Kauri dieback is a soil-borne pathogen of the family Phytophthora which is lethal to kauri trees. Despite its risks, residents of New Zealand often do not follow imposed mitigation strategies. In this study we explored the potential impact of three factors on psychological distance to kauri dieback: pro-environmental worldviews, trust in government and physical distance from kauri forests. We also investigated the extent to which previously validated psychological distance measures predicted kauri forest visitors’ compliance with boot-cleaning and trail-usage guidelines (behaviours linked to the spread of kauri dieback). Methods: A survey assessing beliefs and behaviours related to kauri dieback was completed by a sample of 451 New Zealand residents who had visited a kauri forest in the past four years. Two path analyses were conducted to determine whether the effects of environmental worldview (NEP score), trust in government, and physical distance on boot cleaning and track use compliance behaviours were mediated by psychological distance. Results: Direct effects indicated that higher NEP score and closer physical distance significantly reduced psychological distance, but trust in government did not. Closer psychological distance also significantly improved self-reported track use and boot cleaning behaviours. Indirect effects indicated that psychological distance significantly mediated the effects of worldview, trust and physical distance on boot cleaning and track usage. Several significant direct effects of the exogenous predictors on the compliance behaviours were present after controlling for the mediator, indicative of partial mediation. Conclusions: Psychological distance is a reliable predictor of respondents’ boot-cleaning and track-use compliance. Interventions to decrease psychological distance may be beneficial for increasing compliance, although the effects were modest and other potential determinants of compliance also require investigation.

Realising behavioural change in long invested environmental practices is often difficult to achieve, especially when scientific understanding of the issues is still unfolding. Having confidence in one’s action requires knowledge that actions will be effective in improving environmental outcomes. Currently, we know little about the role of social trust in mediating complex and uncertain knowledge of environmental problems and the required actions needed to address them. In this quantitative study, we surveyed 472 users of endangered kauri forests in New Zealand to better explore the role of trust in relation to pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) designed to mitigate effects of the devastating plant disease, kauri dieback. Findings show uncertainty about the scientific knowledge of the issue, recommended actions and efficacy of proposed solutions significantly influenced PEB for both residents and visitors of forests; however, this relationship was partially mediated by trust, particularly among locals residing within 5 km of infected forest areas. These findings indicate the need for closer engagement with local residents to develop institutional and scientific trust in kauri dieback interventions. We outline activities that may help build trust and recommend new areas of research to support higher compliance with environmental protection initiatives.