"A poll commissioned by the Republican Movement and published today, on the Queen's 83rd birthday, shows New Zealanders are increasingly looking to the future as a republic - although Prince Charles is winning the race by a nose" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

43% 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. 45% supported Charles as King, with 13% stating they wouldn't answer or didn't know.

"Whether they support the monarchy or a republic, New Zealanders want the chance to choose who their future head of State is" continued Mr Holden. "With the Cabinet Office helping legal academic Alison Quentin-Baxter research a book on the implications of the end of the Queen's reign, the debate is reaching a new and crucial phase".

This poll comes after a Research New Zealand Poll in December 2008 found 42% of New Zealanders supported a republic, while 48% supported the monarchy. 

NOTES

The phone poll of 1,018 voting-age New Zealanders was conducted between 25 March - 7 April 2009. 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 +/- 3.1%. 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