New Zealanders’ Perceptions of
Asia and Asian Peoples – 2014 Annual Survey


The Foundation's Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples report is an annual survey that looks at how New Zealanders perceive Asia and Asian peoples and how much they know about the region.
  • Eight in ten (80 percent of) New Zealanders believed that the Asian region was important to New Zealand’s future. The importance of Asia remained unchanged between the 2013 and 2014 surveys.
  • Asia was viewed as the second most important region to New Zealand’s future, behind Australia (on 85 percent).
  • The benefits of a relationship with Asia were viewed primarily in economic terms, with most New Zealanders viewing export market opportunities (91 percent) and Asian tourism (91 percent) as particularly beneficial to New Zealand in the next 10 to 20 years.
  • Eighty-four percent of New Zealanders believed that it was important for New Zealand to develop cultural and economic ties with Asia.