A study of New Zealanders motivations towards increasing native backyard planting

Purpose Urban backyards hold both aesthetic and practical value, offering significant potential for native biodiversity conservation within cities. Homeowners, as the primary managers of these spaces, play a crucial role in determining whether their backyards contribute to ecological sustainability by planting native species. This study aims to investigate how New Zealand homeowners’ attitudes, behaviours and motivations influence their engagement with native planting, and identifies effective strategies to encourage this practice. Design/methodology/approach This study used an online survey targeting a diverse sample of New Zealand homeowners, designed to assess their perceptions, motivations and barriers related to native planting. Correlational and regression analyses were used to identify the factors most strongly associated with the likelihood of increasing native planting in urban backyards. Findings Homeowners with healthier backyards, greater native plant coverage and those who spend 6–8 h per week maintaining native plants exhibit greater satisfaction with their backyards. Key motivations for native planting include attracting wildlife, enhancing aesthetics and contributing to ecological sustainability. Younger homeowners, Maori and Pacific communities and those dissatisfied with their current backyards are particularly inclined to increase native planting. Targeted financial and educational initiatives could significantly boost native plant coverage in urban backyards, contributing to both homeowner satisfaction and broader environmental goals. Originality/value While the role of urban backyards in biodiversity conservation is recognized, there is limited understanding of how homeowners can be motivated to enhance native plant coverage. This study addresses this gap by examining the factors that drive or hinder native planting among New Zealand homeowners.