Culture shapes the meaning of sustainability, NZ study finds

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-07-24 08:50

New Zealand; International

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Cultural context changes what sustainability means to people, a new NZ study finds. When researchers spoke to focus groups, NZ Pākeha were more likely to see nature as a resource to be protected for future generations, and saw individual responsibility as important. Māori viewed sustainability as a Western proxy for kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and valued collective responsibility and relationships between people and nature. People in urban China tended to view sustainability through government policies, and considered it part of state-led national development. The researchers say it is important that the world has shared sustainability goals, but also enough flexibility to include diverse knowledge systems and cultural narratives.