43 percent of New Zealanders are positive about China-New Zealand relations, while 38 percent maintain neutrality, according to the first report relating to the country’s impression of China, released by the New Zealand China Council on Aug. 26.

The investigation was carried out in February this year, and surveyed 1,001 people over the age of 18.

The report, titled Perceptions of China Monitor: Survey 2018, indicates that over one third of the respondents want to see trade with China increase, while 38 percent want it to stay the same.

69 percent of respondents said Mandarin was one of the most useful foreign languages to be taught in New Zealand schools.

Apart from the positivity towards China and China-New Zealand ties, the report also revealed some of the misunderstandings held by Kiwis. 63 percent of those surveyed know that China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, but many of them mistakenly believed that China is also New Zealand’s largest source of investment. As a matter of fact, the three largest investors in the country are Australia, the UK and the US.