Republic Poll: New Zealanders Looking To The Future

MEDIA RELEASE 21 April 2008

"A poll commissioned by the Republican Movement and published on Queen Elizabeth's 82nd birthday shows New Zealanders are increasingly looking to the future as a republic - a challenge New Zealand's political leaders should take up" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

41% of those surveyed in the poll stated they wanted New Zealand to become a republic, and did not want Prince Charles to become New Zealand's head of state when the Queen's reign ends. 43% continue to support the status quo, with 15% stating they do not know either way.

"These results shows the importance of addressing the growing public mood for change. A large number of voting New Zealanders - about 1.4 million - want our country to become a republic either now or when the Queen's reign ends" continued Mr Holden.

This latest poll comes after a small Colmar-Brunton poll in March found 66% of New Zealanders supported "the Queen as head of state" - showing significant good feeling towards the Queen. The Republican Movement's poll finds that the good-will does not transfer to her son, Prince Charles, who inherits the role irrespective of what New Zealanders want.

"After lunching with the Queen earlier this month, Helen Clark said she was not going to lead the change to a republic. This poll reflects that a new chapter in New Zealand's national identity is approaching. The Prime Minister must show vision and leadership in that regard" concluded Mr Holden.

NOTES

The phone poll of 964 voting-age New Zealanders was conducted between 31 March - 14 April 2008. The question asked was:

"When the Queen dies, which option would you prefer: Prince Charles becoming King of New Zealand or New Zealand to becoming a republic?"

The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.3%. The poll was commissioned by the Republican Movement and undertaken by Curia Market Research Limited.

A similar poll by The Sunday Age in Australia, published 13 April 2008, found 69% of the 557 voters in New South Wales and Victoria supported a republic once the Queen's reign ends.

For more polls on the republic, see our page on polling:

* www.republic.org.nz/polling [1]

ENDS

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