Republic poll: Maori republic support climbs, despite wedding

MEDIA RELEASE 2 May 2011

"A poll commissioned by the Republican Movement found increasing support amongst Maori for a New Zealand republic, despite all the coverage of the Royal Wedding" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

The poll of over 1,000 voting age New Zealanders was conducted in the weeks leading up to the Royal Wedding. Unsurprisingly, support amongst women for the monarchy rose sharply since last year's poll; support amongst men has remained about the same. Overall support for the monarchy was up just 3% to 54%, while support for a New Zealand republic was down slightly to 35%.

"What's really surprising is Maori support for a republic is now up to 47% of respondents. The Royal Wedding has demonstrated to Maori that no matter how hard they work, no Maori will ever be head of state of Aotearoa unless we create a republic" continued Mr Holden.

"Without increasing support amongst women, support for the monarchy would not have increased. It's clear from these figures that the Royal Wedding was not the knock-out blown to republicanism some  have claimed" concluded Mr Holden.

NOTES

The phone poll of 1,016 voting-age New Zealanders was conducted between 1 April - 28 April 2011. 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 +/- 3.2%. The poll was commissioned by the Republican Movement and undertaken by Curia Market Research Limited.

For more opinion polls, see our page on polling: www.republic.org.nz/polling

ENDS

Media contact: Lewis Holden 027 699 1350 (m)

The Republican Movement is a network of New Zealanders who want our head of state to be elected by New Zealanders - either directly or indirectly.

We are committed to:

• involving all New Zealanders in the republic debate;
• providing relevant and reliable information;
• focusing on ideas, not personalities;
• winning a referendum to establish the republic;

Creating a republic does not require any change to the Treaty of Waitangi, flag or Commonwealth membership. For more information, see our website: www.republic.org.nz