About the project
My name is Yvonne Matthews, PhD, and I am leading this research. This study is funded by a Marsden Faststart grant from the Royal Society Te Apārangi. I am not connected with any solar provider and will not receive any payment or benefits from solar businesses.
This project aims to understand how people in Aotearoa New Zealand think about and use solar energy. It looks at what influences the decision to install solar panels, how solar households use energy differently, and what people think about government support for solar.
Your answers will help researchers learn more about how New Zealanders make energy choices. The findings will be used to inform research and policy discussions about energy for the future.
Why have I been invited, and do I have to take part?
You have been invited to because this is an open online survey for New Zealanders. We are looking for a wide range of people, including those who have solar panels and those who do not. No names or contact details have been collected to invite you, and you do not need to share any identifying information.
Taking part is your choice, and you can stop at any time without any consequences. You can also skip any question you do not want to answer.
Because the survey is anonymous, we will not know which answers belong to you. This means that you cannot withdraw from the survey after completing it.
What will I be asked to do?
If you choose to take part, you will complete an online survey about household energy. The survey will take around 20–25 minutes to finish. You can do it on any computer or mobile device with internet access, at a time that suits you.
The questions ask about your household’s energy use, awareness of solar energy, and views on government support. If you already have solar panels, there are a few extra questions about costs, energy changes, and how satisfied you are. If you do not have solar panels, you will be asked about reasons for not adopting solar and what might make you consider it in future.
What are the benefits and risks of this study?
There are no direct benefits to you from taking part, but your responses will help improve understanding of household energy choices and possibly lead to better policies.
The risks are very low. Some people may find questions about finances or housing sensitive. You can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer. No one will be able to link your answers to you or your household.
What will happen to the information that I share?
The survey will not ask for your name or address. It asks for your postcode to study regional patterns.
Your answers will be combined with many others. Short quotes from written comments may be used in reports, but nothing that could identify you.
Data will be stored securely on a password-protected computers and secure Sharepoint folder. Only the researcher will see the survey data. The anonymised dataset may be shared with other researchers for non-commercial academic purposes, but never with details that could identify you.
The data will be kept in a secure Sharepoint folder for at least 10 years so results can be checked if needed. After that, it will be completely deleted.
You can choose to give your email address if you want to receive a summary of results or be notified about the next stage of this research. Your email will be stored separately from your answers, used only for this purpose, and deleted once the emails have been sent.
What will happen to the results of the study?
The findings will be shared through academic journal articles, conference presentations, and research reports about energy transitions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key results may also be shared with policymakers and the public to support future renewable energy decisions.
What are my rights?
You do not have to participate in this research if you don’t want to. If you do decide to participate, you have the right to:
- skip any question;
- stop the survey at any time;
- ask questions about the study;
- request a summary of the findings;
- read any published reports based on this research.
Who can I contact if I have any questions or problems?
If you have any questions about the study, please contact:
Dr Yvonne Matthews – yvonneresearch@gmail.com
This research has been assessed and approved by the Aotearoa Research Ethics Committee (AREC25_50). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Coordinator of AREC, on admin@aotearoaresearchethics.org