Recent polls suggest a significant portion of New Zealanders favour direct input via referendum over decisions made by Parliament, the courts, or other institutions.
This is despite divided opinions on the Treaty Principles Bill itself.
An ACT-commissioned Curia poll found 39% supported the bill, 36% opposed, and 25% were unsure. The poll asked respondents whether they supported “Parliament passing the Treaty Principles Bill that would trigger a referendum.”
When asked about ACT’s proposed principles, support ranged from 42% to 62%, with significant portions (24-34%) unsure.
In contrast, the Post/Freshwater poll recorded 40% opposition, 30% support, 17% neutral, and 13% unsure responses when asked about David Seymour’s proposal to reinterpret the Treaty principles.
This poll also revealed strong demographic divides, with older voters and men more likely to support the legislation than younger voters and women.
Importantly, when respondents were asked how Treaty principles should be determined, 40% favoured a referendum, compared to 29% for Parliament or courts, with 31% unsure.
The recent Hobson’s Pledge poll similarly showed the public’s preference for direct input, with 54% supporting a referendum or parliamentary decision-making on Treaty principles. Just 8% backed the Judiciary and 19% the Waitangi Tribunal.
A high percentage of respondents across all polls remain unsure about the bill or its implications.
Centrist Ltd. 2024