Perceptions of Wildlife in New Zealand And Persuasive Documentary Filmmaking Techniques

Abstract

Understanding the current knowledge and perceptions of your audience is important when creating persuasive communication. The aim of the creative component of this thesis, a 25-minute film, is to encourage responsible cat ownership in order to allow native biodiversity to increase in urban areas. Therefore, understanding why the audience might value one species over another is important in order to create a film that will provoke more conservation-friendly opinions. The academic side of this theses explores New Zealander’s perceptions of wildlife as well as documentary storytelling techniques that could be used to create social change.

This thesis introduces the opinions that the general public in New Zealand have towards native wildlife and biodiversity conservation (Chapter One). The way in which biodiversity is currently being conserved is often controversial in the eyes of the public, and this has been especially true regarding cat management in working towards a ‘Predator- Free 2050’ national strategy.

Documentary filmmaking is a communication tool that can be used effectively to create social change, which can help work towards alleviating social tensions in controversy. Documentary techniques for social impact are explored in Chapter Two, as background for the making of the documentary film, which aimed to encourage public engagement with responsible cat ownership through a locally-based narrative.

In order to acquire a more in-depth understanding of the wildlife perceptions of urban New Zealanders, a survey was designed and implemented to target a Dunedin suburb (North East Valley). Described in Chapter Three, the survey interrogated 131 respondents about their opinions regarding ten animals that can be found in Dunedin. This included five native species and five introduced. Questions queried levels of familiarity (e.g. identification and context of knowledge), as well as the level of concern respondents, would feel if they found the animal dead in their backyard, and why respondents feel that way.

Finally, a 25-minute documentary film was made with the message of responsible cat ownership. It was created with the intention to encourage the public to work towards a future where endemic and native wildlife flourishes in urban environments. This intentionality is discussed in Chapter Four. The film follows an urban cat owner, as he learns about where his free-roaming cat goes and what that could mean for the environment. The negative impact of cats is also explored through natural history stories of endemic species that have been greatly impacted by cats in the past. Finally, the film provides a look at what biodiversity could be like, delivered through the exemplary story of Zealandia’s success in Wellington, combined with methods of responsible cat ownership suggested as stepping stones for achieving this.