Beacons attitudes and usage research
When they are carried and reasons why they aren't.
As part of our ongoing beacons behaviour change campaign, we conducted baseline research into who carries beacons – or if they don’t, why not.
Nearly 4000 New Zealanders were surveyed, and the results weighted based on Stats NZ population estimates. About half had done a relevant outdoor activity in the last 12 months.
The research found that day tramping was the most popular activity, selected by a quarter of all respondents. This was followed by recreational boating, mountain biking, kayaking and land-based fishing. As a proportion of people doing the activity, rates of beacon carriage were lowest among day hikers and land-based fishers (18 percent for each activity). Beacon carriage was highest among packrafters, backcountry skiers, climbers, hunters and canyoners, with 40-60 percent regularly taking a beacon.
When considering group sizes, those who did solo adventures were most likely to carry a beacon (46 percent). Overall, 43 percent of those who participated in an activity have taken a beacon out at least once in the last 12 months. However, only 31 percent took them out more than half the time, and only 10 percent took them on every trip.
Lack of awareness of beacons and lack of perceived need to take one were the main barriers to taking a beacon. Other barriers included the purchase price (around $500) and the hassle of renting a beacon.
The main reasons to take a beacon included reassurance for family, awareness of the risks, lack of cellphone coverage and desire to be rescued quickly. The results of the research will be used to further develop our beacons behaviour change campaign for the 2023-24 summer, with an increased focus on those groups with the lowest beacon carriage rates.
The full research report can be viewed on the NZSAR website: https://nzsar.govt.nz/sar-system-support/sar-research/ under 2022 Locator Beacon Behaviour Change Campaign report.
This article was first published in the March 2023 issue of Link Magazine.