The release of the Asia New Zealand survey comes after three people were arrested in Dunedin on Monday in connection with an attack on an Asian family which police said had "racial overtones".
Mr Chin, an Asia New Zealand trustee, said the attack was an "isolated incident" and "not typical of the way that Dunedin or New Zealand people behave".
The results of the survey showed by far the majority of people had positive feelings towards people of Asian descent, he said.
In the random survey of 1105 people, carried out from September 5 to October 5, 83% of New Zealanders agreed Asian people contributed significantly to New Zealand society and 78% agreed Asian immigrants brought valuable cultural diversity to New Zealand.
Negative feelings about Asian immigrants decreased in 2011, with 25% of people believing Asian immigrants took away jobs from New Zealanders compared with 29% in 2010.
More than four out of five New Zealanders (83%) saw the Asian region as important to New Zealand's future, which was the highest level recorded since the research was first carried out in 1997.
Recognition of the economic benefits of a relationship with Asia increased, with 93% of those surveyed agreeing exports to Asia and Asian tourism in New Zealand would have positive impacts on New Zealand in the next two decades.
Asia New Zealand Foundation chairman Philip Burdon said the report reflected a growing recognition among New Zealanders that Asia was important to New Zealand.
"It's heartening the survey shows four out of five New Zealanders agree that Asian immigrants contribute significantly to this country, and bring a valuable cultural diversity."
Mr Chin said the survey results were "very encouraging" and reflected how "mature" New Zealand was as a society.
"It shows that by in large New Zealanders are more accommodating of other ethnicities."
People from Dunedin probably had even warmer feelings towards Asians than other parts of New Zealand, which was shown by the fact that he and Sukhi Turner, both of of Asian descent, were elected mayor in the past 15 years, he said.
