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Party Vote

‘Trump fatigue’ is putting Kiwis off the news

15 Apr 25 – The news media is doing its best to keep everyone up to speed with the pace of Donald Trump’s radical changes to the world order. But in Aotearoa New Zealand, where avoiding news is more common than in other countries, many of us are...
9% support lowering corporate tax

19 Mar 25 – While the government is considering lowering corporate tax, a new survey finds only 9% of adults support this, while 25% want it increased. A new Horizon Research survey finds the most popular tax reform would be...
Poll finds 10% lead for four year Parliamentary term

21 Jan 25 – If a referendum were held today the country would vote 40% to 30% for extending the term of Parliament from three to four years. A Horizon Research survey also finds 30% are not sure how they would vote on the issue. ...
New Zealanders prefer rail enabled ferries

10 Jan 25 – New Zealanders prefer new Cook Strait ferries which are rail enabled. A Horizon Research nationwide surveys finds 48% want new ferries capable of taking roll-on, roll-off rail...
Kiwis tell government what to focus on

15 Mar 24 – Kiwis are telling the government to focus most on improving health, rising food prices and affordable housing. Horizon Research presented a list of 42 issues and asked respondents which were the most important for the current government to take action on in 2024. ...
Donations run risk of affecting MPs on fishing policy

19 Feb 24 – 57% (2,298,000 adults) believe donations from commercial interests run a risk of influencing decisions made by Members of Parliament. Only 7% think they are unlikely to influence decisions, a Horizon...
Poll: Ban mobile phones during class, but not breaks

29 Nov 23 – New Zealanders most support a ban on mobile phones at school during class time, but not during breaks. A Horizon Research poll of four possible policy options finds: 61% support and 20% oppose banning mobile...
The ethnic and political divide opening over co-governance

29 Sep 23 – A new study shows the extent to which New Zealanders’ party voting choices are divided on co-governance, Treaty of Waitangi, and racial harmony. While accusations of playing the race card have emerged in election debates, the Horizon Research study finds that...
Fisheries policy having 100% influence on 194,000 party votes

27 Sep 23 – Policies which help conserve ocean fisheries will be a top priority for many people casting their votes in the October general election. A nationwide ...
A word on our political polling methods...

2 Aug 23 – An Aucklander with a keen intrest in political polls has been asking some questions about how Horizon conducts its voter surveys. Here's our response on June 2, 2023. It may answer some of his queries: Thanks for your queries...
80% say imports should respect NZ animal welfare standards

20 Jul 23 – 83% of Kiwis agree that imported products from outside New Zealand should respect the same animal welfare standards as those applied in New Zealand, according to a new poll released by non-profit organisation Animal Policy International. Results were...
73% want war wreck inspected for oil pollution risk

26 Jun 23 – 73% of New Zealanders want the potential risks of a major oil spill from a shipwreck in the Hauraki Gulf to be investigated. A Horizon Researhc survey for the Hauraki Gulf Forum finds: 73% think the wreck should be...
New Zealanders feeling more positive about Hipkins than Luxon

21 Jun 23 – New Zealanders are feeling more positively about Labour leader Chris Hipkins than National leader Christopher Luxon. The latest Horizon Research Political Feelings Study, comparing how the two main parties’ current leaders are making New Zealanders feel,...
7% say don’t compensate disaster victims who must move

25 May 23 – New Zealanders think insurance companies and local and central government should help compensate home owners whose homes or areas can no longer be lived in because natural disasters will occur there again. A special Horizon Research surveys finds 64% of...
Te Pāti Māori support needed to form government

13 Feb 23 – Neither Labour nor National-led coalitions can form a government without support from Te Pāti Māori, according to the latest Horizon Research political poll. Labour and Green would together have 59 seats and National and ACT 57 seats. 61 are needed for a majority in a 120...
PM change could put more than 700,000 votes put into play

26 Jan 23 – A HorizonPoll survey finds the party votes of hundreds of thousands of voters could be put into play by the choice of a new Prime Minister. This could determine the outcome of the October 14 2023 general election. The January 19-21, 2023 survey of...
Hipkins most preferred as new Prime Minister

21 Jan 23 – Chris Hipkins is the runaway favourite among New Zealanders to become the country’s next Prime Minister. A snap Horizon Research poll conducted overnight between 4.30pm January 19 and 10am January 20, 2023, finds 26% of adults would prefer him to be...
Ardern disappoints, Luxon making people nervous

5 Nov 22 – A new Horizon Research poll, measuring how the two main parties’ leaders are making New Zealanders feel, finds Jacinda Ardern making twice as many angry than in 2020. She is making 28% angry, compared with 13% when last measured in January 2020....
HorizonPoll: NZ First support over 5%, could determine who governs

31 Oct 22 – The latest political poll by Horizon Research finds New Zealand First with 6.75% support – and in a position to decide which parties would form a government. This result would deliver the party 9 seats in a 120-seat Parliament. ...
Among registered, definite voters election too close to call

9 Aug 22 – The latest Horizon Research party vote poll finds a Labour-Greens collation with 44% of voters who are currently registered to vote – and 100% likely to vote. A National-Act coalition has 42% support. ...
Life not looking so bright for Kiwis

9 Aug 22 – Four out of ten New Zealanders think the financial position of their households is worse than a year ago. 17% think it is better than a year ago. 37% think it’s about the same, according to the latest economic and political support polling...
Māori support for Labour falls, Ardern preferred PM

15 Mar 22 – An exclusive HorizonPoll of Māori for The Hui television programme finds party vote support for Labour has gone soft, Jacinda Ardern is preferred Prime Minister and the cost of living is the top issue likely to influence party choice next year. Key findings from the...
64% support COVID-19 mandates policy

18 Feb 22 – New Zealanders have strongly held views about the current protest at Parliament – and policies which mandate vaccination for some occupations and places. The Government’s vaccine mandate policy has 64% support, according to a snap poll...
Health the top factor driving New Zealanders’ party vote choices

6 Oct 20 – Health is the issue most driving New Zealanders’ choice of party vote in this election. New polling by Horizon Research finds five issues rank above all others in overall importance. Health, a factor for 54%, equivalent...
Stark differences between how Ardern and Collins make people feel

12 Sep 20 – One poll question might indicate who wins the general election. It is about how leaders are making New Zealanders feel. It is well proven in the United States that perceived positive traits influence voters’ choice of leaders. ...
Second COVID-19 wave and lockdowns reduce trust in Government by 3%

27 Aug 20 – Overall trust and confidence in the Ministry of Health and Government’s response to managing COVID-19 has fallen 3% following the second wave of infection and lockdowns. Overall trust was 82% in mid-July 2020. It is 79% in late August...
Ardern seen as best to manage pandemic, economic recovery

27 Aug 20 – Jacinda Ardern continues to be seen as the best leader to manage the COVID-19 pandemic response. 64% rate her as the best leader on the response, compared with 18% for Judith Collins. The next...
Overall, 82% trust pandemic’s management – down from 91%

7 Aug 20 – New Zealanders’ overall trust in the Ministry of Health and Government to manage the COVID-19 pandemic is at 82%, down from 91% during April. Overall distrust that the Ministry and Government will manage it in...
A week is a long time in politics...

6 Aug 20 – By Grant McInman, Manager, Horizon Research Horizon Research includes questions on voting from time to time in its surveys – for both forthcoming referenda and general elections. For general elections, we have a high interest in switching...
Maori stay strongly for cannabis reform

1 Jul 20 – Maori support for legalising the personal use of cannabis and controlling its use is consistently high. In March 2019 a special survey of Maori only for the THREE television programme The Hui, found 75% for...
Yes vote 56% for cannabis law reform

29 Jun 20 – Less than three months out from the General Election, an independent survey of nearly 1,600 Kiwis shows 56% will vote for legalising the personal use of cannabis at the referendum – up from 54% in February. 43% will vote against...
Large majorities think Ardern best to manage pandemic, economy

20 Jun 20 – Jacinda Ardern is seen by large majorities of New Zealanders as the best parliamentary party leader to manage both the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recovery from it. She is favoured by 66% of adult New...
73% want unrushed and considered move to Level 2

3 May 20 – New Zealanders want an evidence-based and unrushed decision on the move to COVID-19 Alert Level 2. A nationwide Horizon Research survey during the first three days at Level 3 finds a nett 73% of adults think both “we shouldn’t rush into...
Cannabis referendum vote: lead builds for reform

31 Mar 20 – An independent Horizon Research survey of nearly 2,000 New Zealanders reveals 83% don’t believe the prohibition of personal cannabis use is working, and 72% say having controls for growing and selling cannabis for personal use would be better for society. The large...
Most important issues for Kiwis: Health and affordable housing

13 Feb 20 – Health and affordable housing are the two main issues New Zealanders think are most important when it comes to deciding how they will cast their Party Vote in the September 19 general election. Of 27 issues, the 5 top-ranked in a nationwide Horizon Research survey in...
Ardern making more New Zealanders feel positive than Bridges

5 Feb 20 – Prime Minister and Labour leader Jacinda Ardern is making New Zealanders feel far more...
The enduring euthanasia majority

8 Jan 20 – Across 7 years of Horizon Research polling on end of life choice, public support has never been below 63%. In fact, 63% was where it started in June 2012. It rose to 65% in May 2018. Since then it has been 70% or higher. ...
Large majority will currently vote to enact End of Life Choice Act

4 Jan 20 – Currently 70% of New Zealanders think they will cast a referendum vote in favour of the End of Life Choice Act becoming law. 30% will vote No to it becoming law, according to the first nationwide poll of eligible voters on referendum...
Turnout a key to referenda results

2 Dec 19 – The 2020 referendum on whether personal use of cannabis should be made legal will pit younger against older New Zealanders. Increasingly it also pits National and New Zealand First voters against Labour and Green ones. Horizon's ...
Potential market for medicinal cannabis: 1 million adults

20 May 19 – Over 400,000 New Zealanders say they would definitely seek out medicinal cannabis products when they become widely available from 2020, according to a first of its kind survey by Horizon Research. Gearing up to meet such significant demand, the country’s largest...
Kiwis say stop live-streaming terror until there is a fix

14 May 19 – New Zealanders want social media to stop live streaming services until they have ways of immediately screening out violent or other harmful content. As the Prime Minister prepares to meet world leaders and social media executives to discuss violent content controls, New...
74% say yes to end of life choice law

10 May 19 – As Parliament prepares to vote on the End of Life Choice Bill this month, a new poll shows a clear majority of New Zealanders want to allow doctors to help the terminally ill, enduring unbearable suffering, to die. A Horizon Research poll confirms consistent surveys...
Cannabis referendum will pass, gap narrows

9 May 19 – Horizon polling shows the Government's 2020 referendum on the personal use of recreational cannabis would pass - but the result might be closer than was indicated six months earlier. The new independent survey of over 1,100 New Zealanders, commissioned by Helius...
44% for capital gains tax, 35% against overall

28 Mar 19 – 44% of new Zealand adults support introducing a capital gains tax. 35% oppose. A Horizon Research February 28-March 15, 2019 nationwide poll finds 16% are neutral on a new tax, while 6% do not know. ...
75% of Maori will vote to legalise personal use of cannabis

4 Mar 19 – TV3 programme, The Hui, has revealed the results of a special Horizon Research poll of 620 Māori, providing interesting insights into Māori attitudes towards cannabis. Seventy-five percent of Māori participating in the survey said...
60% indicate they'll vote to legalise personal cannabis use

14 Jan 19 – An independent survey of nearly 1,000 New Zealanders reveals the Government's 2020 referendum on recreational cannabis use would gain 60% support. New Zealand's largest licensed medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has released the result after commissioning...
68% want binding referendum on medical aid in dying

3 Oct 18 – New Zealanders want a binding referendum on proposed End of Life Choice law. A HorizonPoll finds 68% say yes to having a binding referendum, 33% say no. The result overwhelmingly supports a New Zealand First proposal...
Pledging solar subsidies could be a vote winner

27 Aug 18 – Government subsidies for residential solar power appeals most to New Zealanders as a way of reducing global warming. Some 71% of adults say this is the best way of tackling climate change. A policy, like one just ...
Support for helping first home buyers with deposits

18 Jun 18 – More New Zealanders support than oppose the idea of a shared equity scheme to help people buy their first homes. 41% would support a scheme under which the Government and others might put money in as a deposit for first home buyers who are...
New poll: strong support for medical aid in dying

24 May 18 – A Horizon Research survey finds 65% of respondents - equivalent to 2,102,000 adults 18+ - supported the legalisation of some form of medical aid in dying in New Zealand – with 38% (equivalent to 1,164,000 adults 18+) rating their support as...
Majority feel too many cows for waterways to cope

8 May 18 – A Horizon opinion poll commissioned by Greenpeace reveals that 52 percent of Kiwis think there are too many cows for our waterways to cope with. ...
Climate concern levels growing again

26 Apr 18 – Concern that climate change is an urgent problem or one to be managed now is at its highest level in six years. 64% of adults nationwide believe climate change is a problem, 29% of them saying it is urgent. 30% say it is a problem for later or not a problem,...
What Kiwis really want from Sky TV

24 Apr 18 – A new HorizonPoll finds what New Zealanders would most want to buy from Sky TV - if the company didn't require them to have a basic package. A national survey by Horizon Research in Feruary 2018 finds adults would most buy movies, documentaries and sports content. ...
National MPs face difficult leadership choices

23 Feb 18 – National MPs face a difficult choice on who should lead the party. A February 20-21 nationwide Horizon Research survey of 1,059 adults finds Amy Adams has broadest appeal overall, but Judith Collins is favoured by those who voted National at the 2017 general election...
Who’s going on honeymoon with the new Government

9 Nov 17 – Nearly twice as many New Zealanders are feeling positive rather than negative about the effect the new Labour-led government will have on them personally. A Horizon Research survey of 1,068 adults nationwide between October 24 and November 1, 2017, finds overall that ...
National best party, Ardern best leader

21 Sep 17 – The National Party is seen as the best party for their future by 36% of adult New Zealanders, marginally ahead of Labour, on 35%, according to a Horizon Research poll. When asked “which party leader do you think will...
Ardern monopolises hope, English safety

20 Sep 17 – Rarely published polling on how main party leaders are making New Zealanders feel may reveal what’s behind “Jacindamania”. Jacinda Ardern’s appointment as Labour leader has...
Main parties in dead heat

16 Sep 17 – National and Labour are almost dead even in the latest Horizon party vote poll. Among those who are registered, have made up their minds and will definitely vote, National has 38.5% support. Labour has 38.2%. ...
Ardern preferred Prime Minister with 6% lead

1 Sep 17 – Jacinda Ardern has a 6% lead over Bill English as preferred Prime Minister among definite voters. Among the 860 adult respondents who are both registered to vote and 100% likely to...
New Zealand First voters equally split over coalition options

31 Aug 17 – New Zealand First’s intending voters are split equally when asked which of three coalition options they prefer. An August 11-15 poll by Horizon Research asked respondents what advice on...
Ardern drives vote switch: nett 10% leave National for Labour

30 Aug 17 – Labour’s leadership change has potentially shifted 11% of the 2014 National Party vote to Labour, while 2% of Labour's 2014 voters are switching to National. The choice of...
When conscience counts

19 Jun 17 – The assisted dying debate is heating up and Horizon’s polling indicates Members of Parliament will be on solid ground with large majorities of their voters if they support a law change. In the current survey...
75% support medical assistance to die

18 Jun 17 – Three-quarters of New Zealand voters support a law change to allow the terminally ill and people with irreversible unbearable suffering to be helped to end their lives peacefully. These are the findings of an Horizon poll conducted nationwide between ...
Winston's choice: 77% of his voters prefer Labour-led Government

2 Apr 17 – More would prefer Labour to lead than National if a colaition government is needed later this year. In 2014,...
Who do New Zealanders prefer to lead the country?

10 Dec 16 – The day after John Key’s announcement that he was resigning as Prime Minister, Horizon Research asked New Zealanders who they preferred the National Party to choose as the next Prime Minister of New Zealand. They were also asked who they did no...
Goff 27% ahead of nearest Mayoral rival

14 Sep 16 – Surveying of eligible voters within Auckland City finds Phil Goff has 38% support, 27% ahead of his nearest rival Vic Crone on 11%. ...
Why run a Mayoral poll?

14 Sep 16 – Derek Handley says why his charitable foundation commissioned Auckland Mayoral election polling... At the last general election I was really keen to get young voters engaged and backed the concept of the ...
Surveillance: 75% want to know what the Government is doing

22 Apr 15 – New Zealanders overwhelmingly want the companies providing them with technical services to protect their personal information from interception by governments. 75% also would like to know whether New Zealand Government agencies are gathering personal communications...
HorizonPoll accurately forecasts voting increase

3 Oct 14 – A Horizon Research poll conducted two weeks before the general election accurately forecast the increase in voter turnout. The August 28 - September 8 HorizonPoll found turnout could increase by about...
Dirty Politics voting impact

3 Oct 14 – National may have suffered the loss of support over the dirty politics issue which was forecast in an August 18-25 HorizonPoll of 1,752 adults nationwide. The poll, conducted during in first 12 days of...
59% support factory farming ban

15 Sep 14 – A HorizonPoll survey finds adult New Zealanders agree, by large majorities, that factory farming should be banned. The survey of 1,799 respondents aged 18+, conducted between August 18 and 23, 2014,...
Poll finds Cunliffe more impressive in debates so far

10 Sep 14 – While the two main political parties’ leaders prepare for another election campaign debate tonight, a poll finds the Labour leader has impressed more than National’s leader in debates so far. ...
Large majorities of NZ First voters would prefer coalition deal with Labour

2 Sep 14 – 67% of those who voted for New Zealand First at the 2011 general election would prefer Labour to lead a coalition government if one is needed after September 20’s general election. ...
Significant fallout from Dirty Politics allegations

28 Aug 14 – Large numbers of New Zealanders are aware of and talking about the issues raised as a result of the publication of Nicky Hager’s book, Dirty Politics, according to results of an August 18-25 HorizonPoll of 1,752 adults nationwide. By large majorities they find dirty...
How users rank their media's failure to act impartially on content from bloggers

28 Aug 14 – National Radio is the mainstream medium with most of its users believing it has failed to act impartially in relation to material provided by bloggers, according to a HorizonPoll on issues arising from the publication of the book “Dirty Politics”....
59% of intending NZ First voters prefer a Labour-led coalition

7 Aug 14 – Winston Peters faces the prospect of going against the wishes of nearly 59% of those who intend to vote for his party if he decides to support a National-led government after the September 20 general election. ...
Focus on younger votes

20 Jun 14 – Horizon polling on likely voter turnout is illustrating the urgency of some groups' efforts to have younger New Zealanders vote at the September 20 general election. ...
Close run result on preferences for change of coalition government

19 Jun 14 – The close run nature of support for National and Labour led coalitions, if one is needed after the September 20 election, is confirmed in Horizon and Ipsos polls out today. A Horizon poll of 1,925 adults nationwide between May 23 and June 16 (maximum margin of error +/-...
Majority think National will lead after election, but would prefer Labour

4 Apr 14 – 66.5% of New Zealand voters think National will lead a coalition government if one is needed after the September 20 general election. However, 51.5% would prefer Labour to lead a coalition if...
Sugar poll: don't tax, reduce serving sizes

18 Feb 14 – More than 850,000 adult New Zealanders believe they or someone in their household have developed health problems as a result of consuming sugar. However, they prefer reducing the amount of sugar in drinks and reducing the size of sugar-containing drinks to imposing a sugar...
57% say completely cancel asset sales after “No” vote

14 Dec 13 – A Horizon Research poll which correctly called the result of the asset sales referendum also found that 57% of New Zealanders wanted all future sales cancelled if the referendum result opposed sales. The official preliminary referendum result is 67.2% against and 32.5% for...
89% want cosmetic testing on animals banned

12 Nov 13 – 89% of adult New Zealanders do not support testing cosmetics on animals. And 89.2% support banning the practice in this country. A HorizonPoll of 2,826 adults nationwide in October finds solid support among the voters for all major parties for...
Referendum poll: 69.3% against partial state asset sales

24 Oct 13 – A poll using the question being asked in the November-December referendum finds 69.3% will vote against partial sale of state assets. 30.7% say yes when asked “do you support the Government selling up to 49% of Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power, Genesis Power,...
Brown-Palino gap 15.8%: Horizon's call 14%

3 Oct 13 – Horizon's mid voting poll for all voters found a 14% gap likely between candidates Len Brown and John Palino. The official provisional final result was a 15.8% gap. Our earlier story regarding these results, looking at different scenarios,...
SOE sales projected to raise more than $4.4 billion+

26 Mar 13 – New Zealand adults at this stage intend to definitely invest about $4.4 billion in state owned enterprise shares being offered for sale, or likely sale, by the Government. Further sales could be made to a significant group of adults who say they are...
Employment forecast to rise for 2013

20 Dec 12 – There will be a nett rise in jobs created during the next year, according to a new HorizonPoll survey. 23.8% of adults in work think the organisations employing them will increase staff in the next 12 months, 16.6% will decrease staff and 43.9% will keep number the same...
Coalition options on knife edge: National, Labour enjoy strong support rises

2 Dec 12 – National and Labour have enjoyed significant increases in support among eligible voters. There would be a knife edge choice between potential National and Labour led coalitions if an election were held now. New Zealand First, with control of the...
80.7% want independent investigation of complaints against police

16 Oct 12 – A Horizon Research survey over the weekend finds 80.7% of New Zealanders want all complaints about the police to be investigated independently. The survey also finds: 76.3% think the Independent Police Conduct Authority should have the power...
National, Labour slip in party vote poll

25 Sep 12 – National and Labour have both lost support among the 18+ population as a whole in the latest Horizon Research poll. News of job losses and illegal intelligence gathering do not appear to have driven any statistically significant changes in voting overnight, with a...
62.9% support end of life choice

15 Sep 12 – A HorizonPoll of 2,969 adult New Zealanders finds 62.9% support proposed end of life choice law changes. A private member’s bill may come before the New Zealand Parliament in 2012 which would aim to give all New Zealand citizens or permanent...
Survey shows Maori unhappy with economy, iwi - point to policy priorities

10 Sep 12 – Horizon Research has released its Maori Viewpoint 2012 report, tracking the views of Maori nationwide on issues ranging from their personal household financial position to their iwis' performance. Maori are sending clear signals to their iwi and other policy makers on what...
Public deeply split on carbon pricing

24 Aug 12 – Changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme have gone into Parliament as a new poll shows that New Zealanders are evenly split over whether we should even have a price on carbon. Carbon News reports that Climate Change Minister Tim...
Most Kiwis back a green revolution

20 Aug 12 – New Zealanders are willing to put their hands in their pockets to encourage clean industries and technologies. The survey, of 2829 New Zealanders aged 18-plus, taken between July 5 and 16, 2012, asked recipients about their attitude toward incentives to encourage...
22% slump in climate change concern

3 Aug 12 – The number of New Zealanders who think climate change is an urgent and immediate problem has slumped, according to a new poll. A HorizonPoll for Carbon News, finds that just over half of adult New Zealanders consider it urgent or a...
Kiwis believe new research saying they will live longer

29 Jun 12 – 64% of New Zealanders believe new research which finds that they are living longer after age 65, a key factor driving the need to review the country’s retirement income systems. In remarks prepared for delivery at a conference of leading economists at Palmerston...
Public back compulsory savings policy idea

22 Jun 12 – New Zealanders are firmly in favour of making contributions to employees’ personal retirement savings accounts compulsory. The Financial Services Council (FSC) has released results of a HorizonPoll, saying it has not taken a position on whether savings contributions...
National vote slips further 1.5%

6 Jun 12 – 6 June 2012 National’s party vote support among the total adult population has slipped a further 1.5% in the past month. A HorizonPoll survey of 2,814 New Zealanders aged 18+, conducted between May 18 and June 6, 2012, finds...
National down 4.2%, Labour up 4.6%

10 May 12 – National’s 18+ population support has fallen 4.21% compared with the last general election. Labour’s has risen 4.63% but is still below the 25% it had when it lost the 2008 general election to National. ...
71.5% say media people less credible when they accept non-media cash

6 May 12 – 71.5% of New Zealanders think media people who accept cash or other benefits from a non-media organisation are less credible when doing their news work. 66.6% of NewstalkZB listeners think this way. The radio station’s...
Public back Shearer over Cunliffe for Labour leadership

9 Dec 11 – David Shearer has twice as much public support to be Labour leader than David Cuncliffe. 35.4% of adult New Zealanders would prefer Shearer as Labour leader, 16.9% Cunliffe. Shearer is also seen to better represent the sort of things respondents...
Election results close to forecasts

27 Nov 11 – Horizon’s final pre-election poll indicated National’s probable share of definite voters would be 32.6% of the 18+population or 1.06 million votes. ...
Election results confirm six-way race held for Maori party vote

27 Nov 11 – A specialist Horizon Research Maori Panel survey between November 15 and 21, 2011, found a six-way split could occur for the party votes of Maori nationwide at the November 26 general election. The survey covered 779 Maori respondents who intended to cast a party vote....
Commentary: Predictions for the 2011 general election

24 Nov 11 – Here are Horizon's predictions for the 2011 General Election. We've waited until the last minute to post them, so as to take into account the latest polls by Horizon, Reid Research, Colmar Brunton, DigiPoll and other polling companies. Polling the...
Kiwis back action to secure $1 trillion in new trade

23 Nov 11 – Pure Advantage, the organisation championing a move to a green growth economy, says the latest polling by independent research company Horizon shows there is widespread public support for New Zealand to secure its share of the $6 trillion global opportunity that green growth promises by 2050....
Six-way contest for Maori vote, Labour preferred as coalition leader

22 Nov 11 – Results of a poll conducted by the specialist Horizon Research Maori Panel finds a six-way contest now occurring for Maori votes. In contrast with a mainly two-party Labour and Maori Party contest in 2008, there is now a six-way contest occurring for party votes among...
Public: don't release tea tape

20 Nov 11 – The country is highly polarised over the unauthorised recording of a meeting between the Prime Minister, John Key, and the Act party’s Epsom candidate, John Banks. 53% say that neither Mr Key nor Mr Banks, as parties to the conversation, should authorise the public...
NZ First 10% and set to hold balance of power

20 Nov 11 – An HorizonPoll shows New Zealand First making significant gains in the past week. New Zealand First now has 10.5% of people 18+ who have decided their party vote, or are undecided but indicate a preference and who are...
Country evenly split on preferred main party coalition leader

19 Nov 11 – The country is now evenly split on which main party is preferred to lead a coalition government if one is required after Saturday’s general election. A 5.5% preference lead for National has closed completely since October 29. 41.5% now want a Labour-led government,...
Six out of 100 will decide party vote in polling booth

16 Nov 11 – A RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll finds four of out 10 people aged 18+ have yet to make a final decision on which party to vote for in the November 26 general election – and 5.8% will leave it until they are actually in the polling booth. The last weeks of the campaign...
Neck and neck on November 1-5 campaign performance

8 Nov 11 – National and Labour's campaign performances between November 1and 5 are rated almost neck and neck. A RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll of 1636 respondents nationwide finds the parties' campaigns rating just 2% apart. Labour’s election...
Support for lifting retirement age, close call on KiwiSaver policies

6 Nov 11 – More New Zealanders support raising the age of eligibility for NZ Super from 65 to 67 years old than oppose. However, it is a close call when people are asked which of the main parties' KiwiSaver policies they support and whether or not the country should...
Leaders' debate final result: Goff wins by 7.4%

2 Nov 11 – Labour leader Phil Goff won the first major televised debate with John Key by 7.4%. Mr Goff scores 41%, Mr Key 33.6% in a nationwide poll of New Zealanders who were asked who won the debate. The RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll survey of 534 debate viewers,...
Labour up 4.1%, Winston king maker

2 Nov 11 – The first nationwide post-leaders’ debate party vote poll shows significant changes in support for National and Labour. A RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll yesterday of 1,147 registered electors who intend to vote at the November general election, shows: ...
Interim: Goff leads debate winner poll

1 Nov 11 – Labour leader Phil Goff is 7.4% ahead of National’s John Key in a new nationwide poll asking New Zealanders who won last night’s televised leaders’ debate. Mr Goff scores 39.1%, Mr Key 31.7% when people...
Election cliff hanger – new Conservatives could play vital role

31 Oct 11 – Act support is sliding and the new Conservative party’s support rising in the latest RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll. When the results for both decided voters and undecided voters with a preference are considered, the current National-led coalition would have...
5.5% gap between preferred National-Labour coalition options

29 Oct 11 – The first poll of the 2011 election campaign shows 42.1% of voters would prefer a National-led government after the November 26 general election. A Labour-led government is preferred by 36.6% (a 5.5% gap). However, 21.3% are undecided. The...
Rugby world Cup: 65% say "do it again"

23 Oct 11 – 83% back the All Blacks, 57% will be in front of telly, up to 112,000 downtown - and 65% say do it again The All Blacks go onto Eden Park tonight with 83% of New Zealanders thinking they will win. ...
Don’t know voters and minor parties will determine who governs

22 Oct 11 – New Zealand is currently heading for a close election result. Which main party will have an opportunity to form the next Government may depend on the New Zealand First and the Mana parties, and who 6.9% of undecided voters support. An...
New Zealanders judge Rena wreck management as poor

20 Oct 11 – 65% of New Zealanders feel more could have been done earlier to avoid the loss of fuel from the wreck of the container ship Rena and resulting pollution. New Zealanders are also giving the Government, Prime Minister, the Transport Minister and Tauranga-Bay of Plenty...
Business decision makers approve Government's performance

14 Oct 11 – Business leaders are more likely to postively rate the government than general voters. A Horizon Research poll, a conducted between September 12-30, shows the National-led government’s overall performance met the expectations of 51.8% of the country’s business...
Overwhelming opposition to battery hen cages

27 Sep 11 – New Zealanders are as united in their support of the All Blacks as they are opposed to battery cages. A comprehensive opinion poll, released today by animal advocacy group SAFE, reveals a consensus across all sectors of the population that battery hen cages should be...
HorizonPoll: Minor parties may decide who governs

25 Sep 11 – National’s support is up 2.2% and 79% think it is most likely to lead the next government. However, the latest Horizon Research poll of 2,295 registered and intending voters nationwide shows National does not have enough support to govern alone – and will rely...
Why not disclose full political poll results?

31 Jul 11 – Ex-patriate political scientist Rob Salmond has told Radio New Zealand's Media Watch programme Horizon Research is making good moves in polling undecided voters. On the July 31 programme Mr Salmond was...
Capital gains tax attracts more support than opposition

24 Jul 11 – More New Zealanders support than oppose a capital gains tax. The first nationwide poll conducted since the policy announcement finds 40.9% support Labour’s capital gains tax (CGT) proposal , 34.1% oppose, 17.9% are...
Less than 1% separates potential coalitions

24 Jul 11 – The two potential coalitions which could govern New Zealand after November's general election are less than 1% apart. The latest HorizonPoll of 1201 people on Friday (July 22) finds the current governing coalition (National, Act, Maori Party, United...
Sunday Star Times on deals in high places

24 Jul 11 – Deals being done in high-profile seats such as Ohariu and Epsom will be critical to the next government, the Sunday Star Times reports. Ohariu, in Wellington, is held by United...
Maori post election government preferences

10 Jul 11 – Maori most want the Mana and Maori parties, if they have seats in Parliament after the election, not to enter a National cabinet. They prefer them to join a Labour cabinet, or support a government on an issue by issue basis, according to a specialist Horizon Research Maori...
Political scientist: tracking undecided voters "critical"

12 Jun 11 – HorizonPoll’s party vote research is seen as going to tell a better story between now and the November general election. In this TVNZ Media7 broadcast, political economist Keith Rankin, who...
Political poll results may exclude 30%?

28 May 11 – The Electoral Commission might be well advised to see if some research companies are excluding up to 30% of respondents before they publish party vote poll results. The commission in 2008 allocated $3.2 million to political parties to fund election broadcasting. ...
Slight support fall for National in post-Budget poll

24 May 11 – National has lost 1.1% party vote support in the four days since the Government presented its Budget. A post-Budget HorizonPoll covering 1,758 respondents nationwide shows the potential centre left and centre right coalitions neck and neck. The...
40%+ of middle income households plan to cut spending

23 May 11 – The intention to cut back spending after the Budget is highest among middle-income New Zealand households. HorizonPoll post-Budget research finds 35% of households say they will spend less as a result of the Budget. It particularly affects spending...
Public mandates one of four major Budget policy proposals

22 May 11 – The first nationwide post-Budget HorizonPoll shows the Government would not get a mandate to make changes to KiwiSaver, sell up to 49% of state-owned energy company shares or reduce its shareholding in Air New Zealand. It would get a mandate to make changes to the Working...
Budget forecasts unrealistic, households feel worse off

22 May 11 – The economic growth forecasts which underpin this week’s Budget are seen as unrealistic by 49% of New Zealanders. The first nationwide post-Budget HorizonPoll of 1,154 people, conducted between 11.5am Friday May 20 and 6.30am Saturday May 21 (maximum...
Kiwis enter Budget week feeling country on wrong track

16 May 11 – A new poll shows New Zealanders head into Budget week thinking the country is generally off on the wrong track – but with individuals rating National as being much better than Labour to advance their own economic interests. A Horizon Research survey of 1,864 people...
Act breaks through 5% support threshold

15 May 11 – The Act Party now has 5.3% voter support. A new HorizonPoll conducted between Thursday and Friday shows Act is up from 3.7% in April after making Don Brash its leader. The first result for the new Mana Party shows it has 2.3% party vote support...
Comparing polls

14 May 11 – Some bloggers supporting various political parties are asking why Horizon's party vote poll results differ from other polls. They point out that other polls, mainly conducted by phone, have National about 20% ahead of Labour. Horizon's polls show a lesser margin, for...
New Mana Party splits Maori Party support

8 May 11 – The new Mana Party could split Maori voting, allowing Labour to edge out the Maori Party in both electorate and party vote contests. A May 3 to 7 poll of 517 Maori nationwide by Horizon Research finds the Mana Party could win 12.6% of electorate and 15.1% of party votes...
Party vote: 3.7% gap between competing coalitions

24 Apr 11 – National has shed a lift in support it enjoyed following the February 22 Canterbury earthquakes. A nationwide HorizonPoll survey of registered voters, who intend to turn out at this year’s general election, and who...
89% oppose having to prove innocence over internet downloads

24 Apr 11 – Only 1.6% of New Zealanders support a new law’s provision requiring people to prove their innocence, or face penalties of up to $15,000 and internet disconnection, if accused of breaching copyright when transferring files. Some 89% think authorities should have to...
Star Times: National's Epsom problem

24 Apr 11 – The Sunday Star Times says Horizon polling indicates National still faces a problem in the Epsom electorate, where it has stood down to allow Act leader Rodney Hide to win, taking his party to Wellington. The Star Times says John Key's coalition will again need that...
Jones closes in on Sharples

1 Apr 11 – Maori Party co-leader leader Pita Sharples’ 7,540 majority in the Tamaki Makaurau electorate appears to have eroded to about 1,140. An Horizon Research Maori Panel poll shows Sharples would get 47.8% of candidate votes in the largely...
More believe economy will decline this year

27 Mar 11 – A majority of business people think the economy will decline this year, according to a new HorizonPoll. More than 50% of business proprietors, managers and executives think the economy will decline this year. By party vote, those who most expect an...
Post quake poll: National-led coalition ahead

20 Mar 11 – The current governing coalition would stay in power according to a new HorizonPoll. The National led coalition would secure 46.2% of the party vote. A Labour-Green-New Zealand First coalition would...
Poll reveals scale of Canterbury's post quake employment issues

18 Mar 11 – Up to half a million workers are prepared to go to Christchurch if there’s a guaranteed job, the money’s right and they are given a place to stay. That’s the finding of an Allied Work Force-HorizonPoll conducted between March 12 and 15, 2011. ...
New Zealanders not confident Government has adequate economic plans

13 Mar 11 – The Government suffers a series of poor economic management and policy confidence results in a new HorizonPoll nationwide survey. New Zealanders, by large majorities, are not confident the Government has adequate plans to reduce unemployment, achieve economic growth,...
Only 11% of Maori find foreshore and seabed solution acceptable

10 Mar 11 – First results from a new nationwide specialist Maori research service show only 11% of Maori think the current foreshore and seabed policy solution is acceptable. A nationwide poll of 1021 Maori by the Horizon Research Maori Panel, conducted between Tuesday and Thursday...
So how are Radio NZ listeners voting?

18 Feb 11 – How do Radio New Zealand's National Programme listeners actually vote? New Zealand Herald media columnist John Drinnan reported this morning Prime Minister John...
People feel worse off, locking wallets in 2011

16 Jan 11 – New-found austerity is revealed in an HorizonPoll survey commissioned by the Sunday Star-Times. The HorizonPoll, covering 2055 respondents between January 7 and 13, 2011, finds many are worrying over their personal finances and job prospects: ...
Sunday Star Times-HorizonPoll shows election close call

9 Jan 11 – This year's general election could result in a close call, according to a major new Sunday Star Times-HorizonPoll. The Sunday Star Times reports results...
Auditor General inquiry into Wong spending wanted by 67%

19 Dec 10 – New Zealanders think the main reason National MP Pansy Wong resigned was because there is information on the issue which, if published, would have made it impossible for her to continue in Parliament. 40.7% cite this as the reason they believed she resigned, while 34.3%...
HorizonPoll shows National’s vote up on 2008

6 Dec 10 – The HorizonPoll which shows New Zealand First may determine which of the main parties governs after the next election also shows National’s vote is higher than at the 2008 election. HorizonPoll says people interpreting the poll should bear in mind it expresses...
New Zealand First may decide who governs

5 Dec 10 – New Zealand First now has enough support to decide which of the main two parties governs after next year’s general election. The Winston Peters-led party now has 6% support among people who say they will vote, according to the latest nationwide ...
Strong public backing for new surveillance powers, curbs to media freedom

26 Nov 10 – Eight out of 10 New Zealanders support a proposed law which will require people to provide information to police or face penalties of up to $40,000 or a year in jail. Although only 29.5% have heard of the Search and Surveillance Bill now before Parliament, 79.5% support...
Final exit poll indicates Brown will be super city Mayor

8 Oct 10 – A final HorizonPoll survey indicates Len Brown will comfortably win the Auckland super city Mayoralty. Mr Brown has 53.7% support among those who have cast votes. John Banks has 23.8%, Colin Craig 10.4%, others 6.4% and 4.6% will...
Banks failing to carry National vote, Auckland and business

2 Oct 10 – The latest HorizonPoll tracking survey finds Len Brown continuing to gain over John Banks in the Auckland super city Mayoralty race. Among those who have already voted, Brown’s lead over Banks has increased from 27% to a 32%, and he leads Banks by...
Parker 19% ahead of Anderton in Christchurch Mayoral race

28 Sep 10 – Bob Parker has a 19% lead over Jim Anderton as preferred Mayor of Christchurch, according to HorizonPoll. Parker attracts 46% of voters, Anderton 27% in the special poll of 321 Christchurch City residents between September 23 and 26. Weighted, the survey has a maximum...
More detail: HorizonPoll Canterbury quake impact survey

27 Sep 10 – Here is more deail from the survey of the people of Canterbury on how they're managing the impact of the September 4 and after -shock earthquakes. HorizonPoll survey of 378 residents of Christchurch City and Waimakariri and Ashburton district...
Exit poll puts Brown well ahead of Banks

26 Sep 10 – Auckland Mayoral candidate Len Brown has a strong lead over rival John Banks in the first HorizonPoll survey of those who have so far voted in the first super city elections. The weighted survey of 570 city voters, conducted on Thursday and Friday (September 23-24), shows...
Majority of super city voters don’t know mailing deadline

26 Sep 10 – HorizonPoll reveals majority of people yet to vote in Auckland’s first super city elections don’t know when to return ballot papers. Fifty one per cent don’t know voting closes at noon, Saturday October 9, 2010. More...
National has 8% lead over Labour, 20% undecided

21 Sep 10 – National has an 8% lead over Labour in the latest HorizonPoll voting intentions survey covering 3,673 New Zealanders. National has 30% of voters (3% down on its 2008 share of all adult New Zealanders). ...
Country split on Government handling of economy

19 Sep 10 – The country is evenly split over the Government’s handling of the economy: 29% disapprove, 28% approve. An HorizonPoll survey of 3,655 New Zealanders shows 35% neither approve nor disapprove, while 8% don’t know. Weighted to represent the...
Brown beating Banks in race for Aucklanders' hearts

15 Sep 10 – Aucklanders are more likely to have positive feelings about Mayoral candidate Len Brown than his main rival John Banks, according to the first research probing super city voters’ feelings. Brown leads Banks by 12% among decided voters in the latest HorizonPoll survey...
Trade Me, banks, Facebook top net ratings

28 Aug 10 – Trade Me rates as the country’s most visited web site in the past 30 days. An HorizonPoll of 3179 New Zealanders nationwide between August 23 and 28 shows 83% have visited or used Trade Me. Online banking comes second with 73% and Facebook...