New polling suggests a majority of New Zealanders support only allowing citizens to vote in general elections.
The polling, conducted by Curia Market Research for the Taxpayers’ Union, also finds more Labour, Green Party, Te Pāti Māori and Act supporters advocated for the policy than were against it, despite all four parties opposing it.
The poll, obtained by the Herald, came after New Zealand First announced in July it would campaign on limiting voting to only New Zealand citizens, with leader Winston Peters arguing citizenship created a formal bond of allegiance, belonging, responsibility and democratic authority that did not extend to those on permanent residence visas.
One thousand people were surveyed between August 1 and 4; 300 were polled online while the remaining 700 were contacted via landline or cellphone. The margin of error was 3.1%.
Of those polled, 59% responded “Yes” when asked: “Should voting in general elections be restricted to New Zealand citizens only?”
Some 32% did not support limiting voting to citizens only, while the remaining 9% were unsure.
The polling indicated that as people aged, they were less likely to support the policy. Of the respondents in the 18-39 age range, 63% were supportive while 28% weren’t. In the 40-59 age bracket, 58% were in favour and 29% weren’t, while in the 60-plus category, 56% supported and 39% didn’t.
When analysed through which party respondents would vote for, the highest proportion who backed the policy supported National (76%), closely followed by NZ First supporters (75%). Some 20% of National supporters didn’t like the policy, compared with 13% of NZ First supporters polled.
Of respondents supporting Act, 69% endorsed the policy while 31% did not.
The remaining parties’ supporters were more split on the policy.
Of Labour voters polled, 46% supported the idea while 42% didn’t. The same proportion (46%) of Green Party voters were supportive while 44% weren’t. The majority of Te Pāti Māori voters were unsure (40%), while 38% backed the policy and 22% were against it.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins does not support the policy idea put forward by New Zealand First. Photo / Anna Heath
The only party with more voters against the policy than for it was Opportunity; 50% compared with 43% in favour.
Party leaders from Labour, the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and Act said they didn’t support the policy.
Act leader David Seymour believed it would be a mistake.
“There are many people who come to this country, and sometimes you just have to paint a picture: a couple, both doctors choose New Zealand, they want their kids to be top of their class, they pay a lot more tax than the average, they work very long hours, and we’re saying they shouldn’t be allowed to vote for five years? I think that’s wrong.”
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick didn’t know whether there was evidence showing a need for the change.
“Of course we’re always happy to talk about constitutional reform, but we think that if that’s happening, it should be for the benefit of this country and right now, I cannot see a clear problem definition.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said her party didn’t have a position on the policy but indicated she supported the status quo.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he did not support the policy.
National Party justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith wouldn’t give a view, saying National’s caucus hadn’t discussed it.
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
