4 May 2011
Wedding Breathes Life Into the Monarchy Expectations That NZ Will Become a Republic Fade as Approval of Royal Family
Surges
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton have had a dramatic impact on approval of the Royal family and whether
people expect New Zealand to become a republic according to a UMR Research poll carried out in the past week .
Approval of the Royal family has leaped to 74% from the 60% it stood at back in July 2002 when the question was last
asked.
There has also been a massive turn-around in expectations about whether New Zealand will become a republic in the next
20 years. Back in 2005, a clear majority (58%) expected the country to become one in that time with less than one-third
(29%) saying it would not. Today, 52% don’t expect New Zealand to become a republic and only 33% expect it will.
Not surprisingly, opposition to New Zealand becoming a republic is stronger than it has been for over decade. Today,
only 24% support the country becoming a republic and 58% are opposed with 18% unsure.
The survey also showed that about half of adult New Zealanders (53%) watched the wedding closely. Women were by far the
most interested with 62% watching it closely compared 43% of men. Although interest was strongest among those over 60
with 64% watching it closely, half of those under 30 years of age (53%) also watched it closely.
Interestingly, one-third (32%) of those who disapprove of the Royal family and 42% of Republicans also watched the
wedding closely.
Support for New Zealand becoming a republic varies relatively little by age, but 31% of men are Republicans compared to
only 19% of women.
ENDS