We asked Couch members to tell us about their plans for the 2010/2011 summer holiday season.
Couch members are self selecting and the findings of this poll are not representative of the New Zealand population. 293 Couch members participated in this couch poll about family plans for the summer.
This poll was open to all Couch members. The last few years have been very hard for many people and we wanted to find out if people are still taking the valuable together time families need to encourage happy, healthy, family relationships.
We were pleased to hear that three quarters of people are having a holiday and that slowing down and spending time with family and friends are still among people’s favourite things about summer.
Three quarters of respondents planned to take time off from their regular activities this summer.
Participants could choose multiple responses.
The most common reason cited for not having a holiday this summer was financial constraints (nearly one in five people). The next most common reasons were work commitments and planning a holiday later in the year.
Participants were able to choose only one response.
The most common people respondents were planning to holiday with was partner and then children. Nearly one third of respondents chose “other “- the most common reason cited for this was they were holidaying with immediate family (partner and children).
Q4: If you are taking a holiday this summer, how long will your holiday be?
The length of holidays varied from just the statutory holidays through to three months. The most common length of holiday was two weeks, next most common length was three weeks with nearly half of all respondents taking two – three weeks holidays. Just under 10% or respondents were taking one week holiday. A number of participants were planning to break up their holidays with numerous short breaks and long weekends and juggling around the needs of children and work.
Participants were able to choose more than one response.
Travel within New Zealand , visiting friends and family, general travel and having others from within New Zealand were the most common travel plans. 92 respondents – nearly 40% – had multiple travel plans; the most common combination was visiting family and friends in New Zealand and other travel within New Zealand.
Q6. If you are having a holiday this summer, where are you planning to holiday?
The destinations covered from Northland through to Southland and everything in between. The most popular destinations were Northland followed by Hawke’s Bay, Coromandel, Marlborough, Bay of Plenty and Auckland
Q7. What is your favourite holiday destination?
For the majority of people, their favourite summer destination was by a beach – mainly in New Zealand. Favourite overseas destinations included Australia, tropical islands, New York, Las Vegas and Europe.
Q8. What is your favourite thing about summer in New Zealand?
The overwhelming response was feeling more relaxed, having more time, longer days and spending time with family and friends. For most people the better weather and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors particularly the beach, barbecues and camping are highlights of summer.
Q9. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your summer experiences?
The majority of people commented on the positives of summer, warmth, relaxing and spending time with family and friends.
A break away is important for all families to reconnect, laugh and have fun together. Leave the TV and computer behind and talk to each other! It recharges my batteries like nothing else!
Great time to connect with friends and family as often we are too ‘busy’ during the year and time just slips away. I love the fact that New Zealand ‘closes down’ over summer – good for everyone!
There were also many comments about the down side of summer, the cost of Christmas and holidays and the stresses which can accompany this time of year. The increased consumption of alcohol and loud and inconsiderate behaviour were also identified as negative.
Holidays are so expensive – especially getting to the South Island. I like staying in Wellington and working out things to do that don’t cost much – eg beach, Botanical Gardens, day-trips to Petone, Eastbourne, Lindale
I’d love to remove Christmas from summer – it’s the antithesis of relaxing and peaceful. Once it has been endured, I feel that summer starts…
I’m not keen on Summer time because as soon as the sun comes out, alcohol and bad behaviour abound. As I live in town, I usually experience a summer of beer bottles in my garden and on my roof and noise, noise, noise!! Give me winter or a non alcohol consuming country to visit any day!
They are incredible stressfull. Schools finishing, Christmas, new year, birthdays, the heat and mugginess and no money.
Conclusion
Overall, for the participants, summer is a time of relaxing and unwinding, catching up with family and friends and recharging batteries. For many it is a time to turn off the cell phone, take off the watch, sleep in and catch up with friends and family. Some people did comment on the down side of summer such as the cost of holidays and higher consumption of alcohol, on the whole summer was viewed as a positive time.
