Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

No Nuclear Ships, Say New Zealanders

October 04, 2003
Abstract: (CPOD) Oct. 4, 2003 - Residents of New Zealand do not want nuclear vessels in their ports, according to a poll by UMR Research for Phillips Fox and the National Business Review. 72 per cent of respondents reject changing laws to allow nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships in the country.

(CPOD) Oct. 4, 2003 - Residents of New Zealand do not want nuclear vessels in their ports, according to a poll by UMR Research for Phillips Fox and the National Business Review. 72 per cent of respondents reject changing laws to allow nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships in the country.

United States commerce undersecretary Grant Aldones recently chided New Zealand for its anti-nuclear stance, claiming American warships must be allowed to fight terrorism all over the world.

Polling Data

A U.S. government official has recently stated that the U.S. wants New Zealand to relax its ban on nuclear-powered warships, saying U.S. ships need the freedom to use our ports as part of the global war on terrorism. Having heard that, do you think New Zealand law should be changed to allow nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered U.S. ships in New Zealand ports?

Yes

21%

No

72%


Source: UMR Research / Phillips Fox / National Business Review
Methodology: Interviews to 750 New Zealanders, conducted from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15, 2003. Margin of error is 3.6 per cent.