Constitutional Issues poll

Research NZ surveyed 500 NZers in March 2013. They found:

• Only 33 percent of New Zealanders had heard of the Constitutional Review. 
• The respondents were evenly split on the question of the need for a constitutional review. Some 44 percent believed there was a need and 44 percent did not.
• On the question of whether Parliament alone should decide whether to adopt a new constitution, or whether a referendum should be held, there was an overwhelming majority in favour of a referendum being held, 79 percent being in favour of a referendum. Only 13 percent believed the decision to adopt a new constitution should be decided by parliament alone.
• On the question of whether a new constitution should incorporate the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, some 58 percent were in favour and 35 percent were not. 
• A majority of 58 percent of respondents were in favour of a four year parliamentary term. 
• There is not a great deal of support for the suggestion that New Zealand should become a republic, some 28 percent being in favour and 62 percent against.