Archives: Term of Parliament

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.

Polling Company: DigiPoll

Poll Method: Random Phone

Undecideds: Unknown

Poll Size: 750 respondents

Dates: 11 to 17 March 2013

Client: NZ Herald

Report: NZ Herald

Party Support

  • National 48.5% (+0.6%)
  • Labour 36.3% (+4.4%)
  • Green 9.0% (-1.7%)
  • NZ First 2.5% (-3.0%)
  • Maori 1.1% (-0.4%)
  • United Future 0.0% (-0.3%)
  • ACT 0.1% (-0.1%)
  • Mana 0.5% (+0.2%)
  • Conservative 1.3% (-0.1%)

Projected Seats

  • National 61
  • Labour 46
  • Green 11
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • ACT 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Total 124

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 61 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 63/124 – the minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 46 + Greens 11 + NZ First 0 + Mana 1 = 58/124 -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 63.0% (-2.6%)
  • Shearer 18.5% (+5.6%)
  • Peters 4.0%

Country Direction

  • Right 49.0% (+0.9%)
  • Wrong 43.0% (+0.3%)
Asset Sales
  • 52% opposed to sale of MRP, 32% in favour
  • 30% plan to buy shares in MRP

Term of Parliament

  • 51% 3 years
  • 48% 4 years

Marriage

  • Should remain between a man and a woman 48% (+8%)
  • Allow same-sex couples to marry 52% (-4%)

Polling Company: Colmar Brunton

Poll Method: Random Phone

Poll Size: 1,026 respondents of whom 875 have a voting preference

Undecideds: 10%

Dates: 9 to 13 February 2013

Client: One News

Report: Colmar Brunton

Party Support

  • National 49.0% (+5.0%)
  • Labour 33.0% (-2.0%)
  • Green 11.0% (-1.0%)
  • ACT 0.1% (-0.5%)
  • Maori 1.0% (+0.3%)
  • United Future 0.2% (-0.3%)
  • Mana 0.5% (+0.2%)
  • NZ First 3.9% (+0.3%)
  • Conservative 0.9% (-0.4%)

Projected Seats

  • National 62
  • Labour 42
  • Green 14
  • ACT 1
  • Maori 3
  • United Future 1
  • Mana 1
  • NZ First 0
  • Conservative 0
  • Total 124

This is based on no change in electorate seats.

Coalition Options

  • CR – National 62 + ACT 1 + United Future 1 = 64/124 – 1 more than minimum needed to govern
  • CL – Labour 42 + Greens 14 + Mana 1= 57/121 -6 fewer than minimum needed to govern

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

Preferred PM

  • John Key 44% (+5.0%)
  • David Shearer 15% (nc)
  • Winston Peters 5% (-1%)
Decision to keep Hekia Parata as Minister of Education
  •  21% right decision
  • 59% wrong decision
  • 20% unsure

Economic Outlook

  • Better 48% (+7%)
  • Same 22% (-2%)
  • Worse 30% (-4%)

Partial Asset Sales

  • Support 30% (+6%)
  • Oppose 64% (-5%)
  • Unsure 6% (-1%)

Four Year Term

  • Support 56%
  • Oppose 40%
  • Unsure 5%

Make unemployed apply for jobs in Christchurch

  • Yes 39%
  • No 53%
  • Unsure 7%
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