Improving support for the use of Land Use Capability

Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research is conducting a survey to identify how we can provide New Zealanders with better information about our land resources. The initial focus is on improved information about the use of the New Zealand Land Use Capability (LUC) system.

The LUC system classifies all of New Zealand’s rural land into one of eight classes, based on those physical attributes that determine its capacity for long-term production. Using this information helps to achieve sustainable land development and management on individual farms, in whole catchments, and at the district, regional, and national level. It has a long history of use in New Zealand, but we are aware that some of the supporting material is difficult to access.

If you decide to participate, you will complete a survey about improving the provision of information on the LUC system. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

There will be an optional field for you to volunteer your name and email address so that we can contact you about resources you might be willing to share with us, or if you are willing to discuss your LUC needs directly with us. We will not share your contact details beyond the Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research staff involved in this activity. If you do not choose to volunteer your name and email address, your response will remain confidential and anonymous.

Please read the following information before deciding whether or not to participate.

Survey Purpose
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research is creating a new online land resources information hub, the Land Resources Portal. We see it as a ‘launch pad’ providing better access to land resources information and data. It will be a sister site to the popular Soils Portal.

The initial focus of the Land Resources Portal will be to provide better support about the Land Use Capability (LUC) system, the LUC Classification and associated documents and data. This survey seeks your views on where you think there are currently information gaps about LUC and its application in the areas you use it.

If you have any questions about the survey, please get in contact via LRIS@landcareresearch.co.nz

This research has been approved by the Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Social Ethics Committee (Approval 2122/24). For any questions regarding the ethics of this research, please contact Nick Kirk at kirkn@landcareresearch.co.nz

Question Title

* 1. Which options best describe you?

Farmer

Farm environment plan (FEP) consultant

Farm advisor (e.g. fertiliser, irrigation)

Rural valuer, real estate, banking or insurance agent

Researcher (academic or government)

District or regional council employee involved in monitoring and/or consents

District or regional council employee involved in policy

Central government employee (policy, science, or conservation)

Student

Member of the public

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How frequently do you use Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research's online LUC resources (OurEnvironment & LRIS Portal)?

I have never heard of either of them until now.

I am aware of at least one of them, but I have never used either of them.

I have used at least one of them once or twice.

I use at least one of them a few times a year.

I use at least one of them a few times a month.

Feel free to elaborate, if you like. Which do you use, and how frequently? Which layers do you use, etc.

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* 3. How useful are these LUC information resources to you? (Select N/A if you think they have no utility.)

	Essential	Very useful	Moderately useful	Some use	N/A
LUC regional extended legends	LUC regional extended legends Essential	LUC regional extended legends Very useful	LUC regional extended legends Moderately useful	LUC regional extended legends Some use	LUC regional extended legends N/A
The new national LUC legend	The new national LUC legend Essential	The new national LUC legend Very useful	The new national LUC legend Moderately useful	The new national LUC legend Some use	The new national LUC legend N/A
Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification)	Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification) Essential	Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification) Very useful	Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification) Moderately useful	Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification) Some use	Best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification) N/A
LUC GIS layers (data sets)	LUC GIS layers (data sets) Essential	LUC GIS layers (data sets) Very useful	LUC GIS layers (data sets) Moderately useful	LUC GIS layers (data sets) Some use	LUC GIS layers (data sets) N/A
LUC training materials	LUC training materials Essential	LUC training materials Very useful	LUC training materials Moderately useful	LUC training materials Some use	LUC training materials N/A
Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021)	Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021) Essential	Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021) Very useful	Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021) Moderately useful	Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021) Some use	Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (3rd edition, 2021) N/A
LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal)	LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal) Essential	LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal) Very useful	LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal) Moderately useful	LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal) Some use	LUC related digital on-line tools (OurEnvironment, & LRIS Portal) N/A

If there are other resources that you need, but they either do not exist or are not accessible to you, please note them here:

Question Title

* 4. If you seek training material, or best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification), please describe what topics you want to access, and how would you like to access them.

I am not seeking training material and/or best practice guidance.

Yes, I am seeking training material and/or best practice guidance on the following:

Question Title

* 5. Do you have any issues regarding the supporting data you use alongside the LUC such as discovering what data exists, getting access to the data, fitness for purpose of the data, or absence of the data you need?

No.

Yes. Please describe the issues you have:

Question Title

* 6. Do you, or the organisation you work for, create information related to LUC, and, if yes, would you be willing to share it and make it publicly available?

No.

We do, but we cannot share it.

Yes, and we'd be willing to discuss sharing it with you. Here's what we have:

Question Title

* 7. Please enter your contact details if you are willing to discuss sharing of LUC-related information with us.
Also, feel free to leave your contact details if you are willing to discuss your LUC needs directly with us, and perhaps provide early-access feedback for the Land Resources Portal, we would be appreciate your input.
This is optional, if you choose not to provide contact details your questionnaire response will remain anonymous.

Name

Organisation

Email Address

Improving support for the use of Land Use Capability

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* 1. Which options best describe you?

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* 2. How frequently do you use Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research's online LUC resources (OurEnvironment & LRIS Portal)?

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* 3. How useful are these LUC information resources to you? (Select N/A if you think they have no utility.)

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* 4. If you seek training material, or best practice guidance (e.g. applying LUC classification), please describe what topics you want to access, and how would you like to access them.

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* 5. Do you have any issues regarding the supporting data you use alongside the LUC such as discovering what data exists, getting access to the data, fitness for purpose of the data, or absence of the data you need?

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* 6. Do you, or the organisation you work for, create information related to LUC, and, if yes, would you be willing to share it and make it publicly available?

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* 8. We welcome any additional feedback. Please enter any comments or suggestions below.