Archives: NZ Issues Polls

Most important issues

May 31, 2014

Roy Morgan reports:

When asked about the most important problem facing New Zealand, 44% of New Zealanders mention some kind of Economic issue. This is up 2% since February 2014 and still well ahead of Social issues (21%, unchanged), Government/ Public policy/ Human rights issues (18%, down 1%) and Environmental issues (8%, down 1%).

The most important Economic issues facing New Zealand include Poverty / The gap between the rich and the poor (18%, up 2%), Economy/ Financial crisis/ Recession/ Inflation/ Exchange rate/ High dollar (8%, down 2%), Unemployment/ Job security (8%, up 1%) and the Cost of living/ Increasing prices/ Financial hardship/ Household debt (5%, unchanged).

Other important issues mentioned by New Zealanders are the Government/ Politicians/ Leadership/ Government spending (6%, down 2%), Drugs/ Alcohol Issues/ Drink Driving (5%, up 1%), Housing shortage/ Affordability (5%, up 2%),  Social apathy/ Lack of values/ Lack of empathy towards others/ Intolerance (4%, down 1%) and Education (3%, unchanged).

Polling Company: Reid Research

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,000 respondents (3.1% maximum margin of error)

Undecideds:

Dates: approx 17 to 22 May 2014

Client: 3 News

Report: 3 News

Party Support

  • National 50.3% (+4.4%)
  • Labour 29.5% (-1.7%)
  • Green 10.2% (-1.0%)
  • ACT 0.5% (-0.6%)
  • Maori 0.6%  (-0.9%)
  • United Future 0.0% (-0.1%)
  • Mana 0.2% (-0.9%)
  • NZ First 5.6% (+0.7%)
  • Conservative 2.3% (+0.4%)
  • Internet 0.6% (+0.6%)

Projected Seats

  • National 62
  • Labour 36
  • Green 13
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 7
  • Total 124

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 62 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 64/124 – one more than the minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 36 + Greens 13 + Mana 1 + Internet 0 = 50/124 – thirteen fewer than minimum needed to govern
  • C – NZ First 7 + Maori 3 = 10/124

On this poll, there would be a centre-right Government.

Preferred PM

  • Key 46.3% (+3.7%)
  • Cunliffe 9.8% (+0.8%)
  • Peters
  • Norman

2014 Budget

  • 73% like Budget 24% dislike
  • 67% of Labour voters like it

Immigration

  • 62% support tighter restrictions on immigration
  • 35% oppose

Polling Company: Colmar Brunton

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,000 respondents, of whom 755 had a voting preference

Undecideds: 17%

Dates: 17 to 21 May 2014

Client: One News

Report: Colmar Brunton

Party Support

  • National 51.0% (+4.0%)
  • Labour 30.0% (-1.0%)
  • Green 11.0% (nc)
  • ACT 0.8% (+0.5%)
  • Maori 0.8% (+0.1%)
  • United Future 0.0% (-0.1%)
  • Mana 0.4% (+0.4%)
  • NZ First 4.8% (-2.2%)
  • Conservative 1.3% (-1.0%)
  • Internet 0.7% (+0.7%)

Projected Seats

  • National 65
  • Labour 38
  • Green 14
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Conservative 0
  • Internet 0
  • Total 123

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 65 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 67/123 – five more than minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 38 + Greens 14 + Mana 1 + Internet 0 = 53/123 – nine fewer than minimum needed to govern
  • C – Maori 3 + NZ First 0 = 3/123

On this poll National could form a centre-right Government.

Preferred PM

  • John Key 43% (+1.0%)
  • David Cunliffe 10% (+2.0%)
  • Winston Peters 6% (+2.0%)

House Prices

  • 68% support register of foreign ownership of property, 22% against
  • 57% support more immigration controls to reduce house prices, 33% against

Economic Outlook

  • Better 59% (-3%)
  • Same 24% (+6%)
  • Worse 17% (-3%)

Budget

  • Better off 9% (+3%)
  • Same 66% (-4%)
  • Worse off 10% (-3%)

Polling Company: Ipsos

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,011

Undecideds: Unknown

Dates: 10 May to 12 May 2014

Client: Fairfax

Report: Stuff

Party Support

  • National 47.6% (-1.8%)
  • Labour 29.5% (-2.3%)
  • Green 12.7% (+2.7%)
  • NZ First 3.7% (+0.1%)
  • Maori 1.9% (+0.8%)
  • United Future 0.1% (nc)
  • ACT 0.9% (+0.4%)
  • Mana 0.5% (+0.2%)
  • Conservative 1.6% (-0.5%)

Projected Seats

  • National 62
  • Labour 38
  • Green 16
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Total 122

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 62 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 64/122 – two more than the minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 38 + Greens 16 + Mana 1 = 55/122 – seven fewer than the minimum needed to govern
  • C – Maori 3 + NZ First 0 = 3/122

On this poll a centre-right government would be formed.

Preferred PM

  • John Key 48.6% (-1.0%)
  • David Cunliffe 13.4% (-3.9%)
  • Winston Peters 3.4% (+0.6%)

Country Direction

  • Right 63.6% (-0.1%)
  • Wrong 35.7% (+0.1%)

Time for a Change of Government

  • Yes 46.3% (-1.0%)
  • No 48.1% (+0.1%)

Keep interest rates low

  • National 40%
  • Labour 26%

Spending

  • Should increase spending in Budget 21%
  • Decrease spending 21%
  • Maintain current levels 51%

Most important issues

  • Freeze on energy and fuel prices 74% personally/69% for country
  • Tax cuts for workers 70%/69%
  • Increase minimum wage 55%/72%
  • Help first time buyers 54%/76%
  • Reduce childcare costs 44% personally/66% for country
  • Increase paid parental leave 32%/45%
  • Introduce capital gains tax 28%/44%
  • Increase pension age 26%/46%

Government performance

  • Keeping unemployment down – 52%
  • Balancing tax and expenditure – 57%
  • Managing economy 69%
  • Improve standard of living 41%
  • Improve standard of living for poor people 31%
  • Improve standard of living for rich people 75%

Colmar Brunton have done a poll of 500 respondents for TVNZ’s Q+A programme. Their findings:

  • 42% say Judith Collins should resign as a Minister and 42% disagree
  • 50% say her behaviour has been damaging to the Government, and 42% say it won’t make a difference
  • 46% say John Key has handled Collins and Williamson well and 42% say not well
  • 23% say these issues will influence their vote and 75% say they will not.

Stats Chat comments on this poll here.

Andrew at Grumpolie responds to some of the comments and analysis of the poll here.

Polling Company: DigiPoll

Poll Method: Random Phone

Undecideds: 11.4%

Poll Size: 750 respondents, of whom 665 had a party preference

Dates: 06 to 16 March 2014

Client: NZ Herald

Report: NZ Herald

Party Support

  • National 50.8% (+4.0%)
  • Labour 29.5% (-5.9%)
  • Green 13.1% (+2.3%)
  • NZ First 3.6% (-0.3%)
  • Maori 0.2% (-1.1%)
  • United Future 0.0% (nc)
  • ACT 0.8% (+0.8%)
  • Mana 0.1% (-0.8%)
  • Conservative 1.3% (+0.6%)

Projected Seats

  • National 65
  • Labour 37
  • Green 17
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • ACT 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Total 125

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 65 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 67/125 – four more than the minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 37 + Greens 17 + Mana 1 = 55/123 -eight fewer than the minimum needed to govern
  • C – NZ First 0 + Maori 3 = 3/123

On this poll, National would form the Government.

Preferred PM

  • Key 66.5% (+4.6%)
  • Cunliffe 11.1% (-5.4%)
  • Peters 6.5% (-0.8%)
  • Norman 4.5% (+1.1%)

Baby Bonus of $60 a week

  • Support 47%
  • Oppose 49%

Kim Dotcom

  • Should be extradited if court rules eligible 47%
  • Should not be extradited 42%

NZ Flag

  • Support new flag 41%
  • Keep current flag 53%

Countdown

  • 51% believe Shane Jones allegations
  • 20% believe Countdown

Len Brown

  • Would vote for Brown in 2016 – 23%
  • Would not vote for Brown – 58%
  • Brown can still be an effective advocate – 52%
  • Brown should have resigned 50% (+12%)
  • Brown should not have resigned 38% (-13%)

Income Inequality

  • 44% say gap between rich and poor has got a lot bigger
  • 30% say a little bigger
  • 22% say gap the same
  • 3% say gap has closed
  • 33% say they are better off under National
  • 30% the same
  • 30% worse off

New Zealand Flag

March 1, 2014

Research NZ found:

  • 22% agree NZ should adopt a new national flag, 37% disagree
  • 41% of those who back a change, support the black flag with silver fern design, with 57% opposed

Religion in schools

March 1, 2014

UMR found:

  • 27% agree New Zealand schools should include classes on Christianity taught from a Christian perspective, with 47% disagreeing
  • 74% agree New Zealand schools should teach about the differences between religions but not about which religion is right with 12% disagreeing
  • 68% agree Evolution should be taught as the view of how life developed which is generally accepted by scientists with 14% disagreeing
  • 38% agree Evolution, creationism and intelligent design should be taught as equally valid explanations for how life developed with 38% disagreeing

Polling Company: Colmar Brunton

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,007 respondents, of whom 834 had a voting preference

Undecideds: 13%

Dates: 15 to 19 February 2014

Client: One News

Report: Colmar Brunton

Party Support

  • National 51.0% (+6.0%)
  • Labour 34.0% (nc)
  • Green 8.0% (-5.0%)
  • ACT 0.4% (-0.1%)
  • Maori 0.9% (-0.5%)
  • United Future 0.3% (+0.2%)
  • Mana 0.0% (-0.3%)
  • NZ First 3.1% (-0.8%)
  • Conservative 1.3% (-0.3%)

Projected Seats

  • National 64
  • Labour 44
  • Green 11
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Conservative 0
  • Total 125

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 64 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 66/125 – three more than minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 44 + Greens 11 + Mana 1= 56/125 – seven fewer than minimum needed to govern
  • C – Maori 3 + NZ First 0 = 3/125

On this poll there would be a centre-right Government.

Preferred PM

  • John Key 43% (+1.0%)
  • David Cunliffe 10% (-2.0%)
  • Winston Peters 4% (nc)

Winston Peters

  • 43% say he should be a Minister
  • 43% say he should not

Most important issues

  • Education 40%
  • Health 37%
  • Jobs 30%
  • Child poverty 27%
  • Wages 23%
  • Crime 21%
  • Income tax 17%
  • Asset sales 17%
  • House prices 15%
  • Inequality 14%

Minimum Wage

  • Increase to more than $15/hour 23%
  • Increase to $15/hour 46%
  • Increase to less than $15/hour 16%
  • Stay at $13.75/hour 13%

NZ Flag

  • Design a new flag 28%
  • Keep current flag 72%
  • If change, 85% say public should decide design

Fairfax Ipsos poll Feb 2014

February 15, 2014

Polling Company: Ipsos

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,018 of whom 845 have a party preference

Undecideds: 17%

Dates: 10 February to 12 February 2014

Client: Fairfax

Report: Stuff

Party Support

  • National 49.4% (-0.8%)
  • Labour 31.8% (-1.8%)
  • Green 10.0% (-0.7%)
  • NZ First 3.6% (+1.3%)
  • Maori 1.1% (+0.4%)
  • United Future 0.1% (nc)
  • ACT 0.5% (+0.4%)
  • Mana0.3% (-0.4%)
  • Conservative 2.1% (+1.4%)

Projected Seats

  • National 64
  • Labour 41
  • Green 13
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Total 124

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 64 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 66/124 – three more than the minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 41 + Greens 13 + Mana 1 = 55/124 – eight fewer than the minimum needed to govern
  • C – Maori 3 + NZ First 0 = 3/124

On this poll a centre-right government would be formed.

Country Direction

  • Right 63.7% (+4.2%)
  • Wrong 35.6% (-4.9%)

Government Rating

  • 5.8/10 (+0.2)

Time for a change

  • Yes 47.3% (-2.8%)
  • No 48.0% (+4.9%)

Baby Bonus

  • Support 48.5%
  • Oppose 48.1%

Raise Taxes

  • Support 25.2%
  • Oppose 69.4%
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