Archives: NZ Issues Polls

Scott Guy verdict poll

July 16, 2012

Stuff reports:

The survey of 750 New Zealanders aged 18 years and over, conducted in the days immediately after the verdict, shows almost half of the respondents believed Macdonald was guilty.

When asked “From what you have seen, heard or feel about the case, do you think it is more likely Ewen Macdonald is guilty or not guilty?” 48 per cent said guilty.

A further 20 per cent said not guilty, 28 per cent said they were unsure, and 4 per cent of people refused to answer. …

The survey also showed support for major changes to the criminal justice system similar to those advocated for by Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar this week.

This included getting rid of a defendant’s right to silence, which would mean they would be forced to give evidence at the trial. Of those surveyed, 61 per cent thought this was a good idea. …

Three-quarters of people thought juries should be able to return a verdict of “not-proven” alongside “not guilty” and “guilty,” as used in the Scottish legal system. A “not-proven” verdict is essentially an acquittal, but gives juries an option where they feel that the charges have not been proved but they equally cannot say the accused is “not guilty”.

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Mining poll

July 9, 2012

The Herald reports:

The poll, conducted late last month, showed 27 per cent of those questioned supported the Government’s aim to increase oil gas and mineral exploration and almost a further 40 per cent cautiously supported it.

Thirty per cent of the 750 respondents were strongly opposed or leaned towards opposing increased exploration.

 

Alcohol polls

July 3, 2012

The Herald reports:

A Herald DigiPoll found that 56.5 percent of New Zealanders opposed a minimum price for alcohol, while 40.6 percent supported it.

Also the Herald reports:

Asked which purchase age they preferred in Parliament’s review of liquor laws, 54.4 per cent of respondents said 20 years old, and 25 per cent said 20 for off-licensed stores.

Just 19.4 per cent wanted the age kept at 18 for both on-licences (bars and restaurants) and off-licences (supermarkets and bottle stores).

 

League Tables poll

July 1, 2012

The Herald reports:

Almost 59 per cent of DigiPoll respondents approve of publishing of the material, either by the Ministry of Education or the media or both. But 36.4 per cent believe comparisons between schools are unfair.

The poll of 750 people was conducted between June 18 and 28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 per cent.

Gay Adoption poll

June 30, 2012

The Herald reports:

A Herald-DigiPoll showed that 61.2 per cent of the public felt adoption law should be changed to allow all couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt while 35.1 per cent felt adoption should be kept to heterosexual couples. The survey also showed more than half of New Zealanders approved of gay marriage, while 40.5 per cent opposed it.

The poll had a sample size of 750 people, interviewed between June 18 and June 28, and had a margin of error of 3.6 per cent.

The NZ Herald reports:

A Herald-DigiPoll of 750 voters conducted shortly after the announcement of the Alam Halfa exercise suggests more people approve of the resumption of exercises, but not overwhelmingly.

Asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of the United States resuming military exercises in New Zealand,” 47.6 per cent approved, 44 per cent disapproved and 8.4 per cent didn’t know or wouldn’t say.

A surprising level of disapproval.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said he was a little surprised and thought support for the exercises might be higher but respondents might have thought it involved ship visits.

I suspect so.

Stuff reports:

The public is right behind the Government’s plans to stop beneficiaries having babies.

Although critics have attacked the decision to provide free contraception for beneficiaries, two polls show the public loves the idea.

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents in a Sunday Star-Times reader poll supported funding long-term reversible contraception for female beneficiaries and their 16 to 19-year-old daughters. More than half wanted the Government to go further.

And a Research New Zealand poll found 65 per cent support, and that while those on low incomes were less likely to favour the proposal, there was still 54 per cent support among those earning less than $40,000.

Note the SST readers poll is not a scientific random poll.

Non Voting Poll

May 5, 2012

Colmar Brunton polled 1,097 voters and 272 non voters for the Electoral Commission.

  • 84% of voters voted on e-day, 16% prior
  • 37% of non voters were unaware of advance voting and of them, 59% say they would have voted if aware
  • 87% of respondents aware of referendum, being 93% of voters and 66% of non-voters
  • 67% of respondents felt fairly or very confident of knowing enough to make a decision for the referendum
  • 64% of non-voters considering voting
  • 43% of non voters decided not to vote on election day
  • Factors listed as significantly influencing the decision not to vote
    • Don’t trust politicians 53%
    • Obvious who would win 57%
    • Not interested in politics 54%
    • Makes no difference to me who wins 55%
    • My vote won’t make a difference 66%
    • Not enough info to choose 54%
    • Not like the personalities 68%

Polling Company: DigiPoll

Poll Method: Random Phone

Undecideds: 7.1%

Poll Size: 750 respondents, of whom 697 had a party vote preference

Dates: 19 to 29 April 2012

Client: NZ Herald

Report: NZ Herald

Party Support

  • National 48.1% (-2.8%)
  • Labour 34.8% (+6.8%)
  • Green 9.2% (-2.6%)
  • NZ First 4.9% (-0.3%)
  • Maori 1.7% (+1.3%)
  • United Future 0.7% (+0.7%)
  • ACT 0.0% (-1.8%)
  • Mana 0.1% (-0.2%)
  • Conservative 0.1% (-1.2%)

Projected Seats

  • National 61
  • Labour 44
  • Green 12
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • ACT 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Total 123

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 611 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 63/123 – 1 more than minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 44 + Greens 12 + Mana 1 = 57/126 -5 less than minimum needed to govern

The Maori Party is not shown as part of the centre-right or centre-left.

Preferred PM

  • Key 63.9% (-2.4%)
  • Shearer 13.1% (-6.4% from Goff)
  • Peters 6.4% (+0.9%)
Country Direction

  • Right 49.2% (-5.2%)
  • Wrong 42.1% (+5.4%)
  • Unsure 8.7% (-0.2%)

Paid Parental Leave

  • In favour of extending to 26 weeks 48.6%
  • Against 48.4%

Sky City deal

  • 40.3% disapprove
  • 37.7% approve so long as number of pokies over the city drops

 

Crafar Farms poll

March 20, 2012

Fairfax reports a poll by UMR. Key results were:

“Are you aware of the proposal to sell 16 agricultural properties, the Crafar farms, in the central North Island to an overseas company?

Yes: 87 per cent 
No: 12 per cent
Unsure: 1 per cent

“The Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin wants to buy the Crafar farms; do you support or oppose selling the farms to this Chinese company?”

Support: 21 per cent
Oppose:71 per cent
Unsure: 8 per cent

“Do you agree, or disagree, with this statement: ‘I don’t care what the nationality of the company is, 
I don’t want the farms to be sold to a foreign buyer’.”

Agree:  70 per cent
Disagree:  26 per cent
Unsure: 4 per cent

 

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