24 October 2013

Media release

New poll: 69.3% against partial state asset sales

A new poll using the question being asked in the November-December referendum finds 69.3% will vote against partial sale of state assets.

30.7% say yes when asked “do you support the Government selling up to 49% of Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power, Genesis Power, Solid Energy and Air New Zealand?”

Though the referendum result does not bind the Government, if the referendum does not result in a majority for the partial asset sales, 57.3% want asset sales underway to be cancelled and no more assets sold.

The nationwide Horizon Research survey of 2,771 respondents aged 18+, conducted between October 17 and 23, 2013, finds 23.8% want asset sales which are underway to continue and but no further sales of the assets while 15.8% want the Government to carry on with the sales.

The citizens initiated referendum on the partial sale of state assets will be held by postal ballot from Friday 22 November until Friday 13 December this year after a petition was signed by 10 per cent, or nearly 400,000, of eligible voters.

National and Act voters will support the sales by 61.9% and 73.5% respectively. 37.1% of National voters are against the sales.

Labour (93.2%) and Green (94.4%) voters are firmly against the sales, along with 92.7% of New Zealand First voters, 71.7% of Conservative party and 54.8% of United Future voters.

National supporters, however, split almost evenly three ways on what to do if there is a no vote in the referendum: 33.8% say keep selling, 33.9% say complete sales underway but then stop and 29.8% say cancel any sales underway and do not sell more of these assets.

84% of Labour voters want all sales to stop if a majority is against sales.

The results are weighted by age, gender, ethnicity, personal income, educational status and party vote 2011 to provide a representative sample of the New Zealand adult population at the 2006 census and last general election. At a 95% confidence level the maximum margin of error is +/- 1.9%.

Further results analysed by 2011 party vote are available at www.horizonpoll.co.nz

ENDS

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