Media release
October 29, 2011
HorizonPoll measures Rugby World Cup on Kiwis’ emotions, businesses - and who should be knighted

The first post Rugby World Cup research on how the event affected New Zealanders shows an overwhelming 84.8% think it was good for country.

And 63% said for them and their household it was fun. 51.6% say it caused excitement, 38% that is was good for their community and 25% say it brought them together with friends.

80% feel good about the event overall, according to an October 26-28 RadioLIVE-HorizonPoll of 887 people nationwide. Weight to represent the population it has a maximum margin of error of ± 3.3%.

63% say the event it brought New Zealanders together and 60% say it lifted their pride in New Zealand. Only 5.4% say the event was boring, 2.4% said it was no fun and 3.4% said it made them sad.

How was the cup event for you and your household?

Please select all that apply

A. Fun
63%

B. No fun
2.4%

C. Made me happy
37.4%

D. Made me sad
3.1%

E. Boring
5.4%

F. Exciting
51.5%

G. It did nothing for me
13.9%

H. It brought me together with friends
25.2%

I. It was bad for my family relationships 0.7%

J. It was good for my family relationships 20.2%

K. Good for my community
38.1%

L. Bad for my community
0.9%

M. Allowed me to earn more
1.5%

N. Caused me to earn less
0.9%

O. None of these
2.6%

P. Something else (please tell us what that is) 4.3%

A huge 93.8% of people aged 18+watched a game on television at some time during the six week event. 71.3% (about 2.2 million adults) watched the Final on television.

50.8% of people aged 18+ watched every all Black game on television.

The first measure of the “stadium of four million” claim shows New Zealanders’ embraced teams other than the All Blacks during the event:

• 49.8% supported another team as well as the All Blacks

• 12.5% of adults (about 400,000 people) attended a game in which the All Blacks did not play.

Which of the following did you do, if any, in relation to the cup event?

Please select all that apply

A. Watched a game on television
93.8%

B. Attended a game
15.9%

C. Travelled away from home to attend a game 5.8%

D. Visited a fan zone
27.5%

E. Watched every All Black game
50.8%

F. Watched a game in which the All Blacks did not play 65%

G. Attended a game in which the all Blacks did not play 12.5%

H. Supported another team as well as the All Blacks 49.8%

I. Supported a team other than the All Blacks 13.1%

J. Watched the All Black v France final on television 71.3%

K. Flew a flag on my vehicle
18.8%

L. Flew a flag at my house
19.6%

M. Bought All Blacks merchandise
21.1%

N. Bought other merchandise
7.8%

72.4% want New Zealand to bid to host the event again.

How long will the good feelings last?

For 61% they will wear off within a few days to a few weeks. Only 14.2% think the good feeling will last through till the next world cup in four years’ time.

You say the cup event made you feel good. How long do you think that feeling will last?

A. A few days
28.6%

B. A few weeks
32.3%

C. A few months
15.8%

D. A year
3.9%

E. Four years
14.2%

F. Other (please specify)
5.3%

The impact on business:

The cup made no difference financially for 74% of businesses.

It lifted sales for 7.8% of businesses, with 6.8% of business owners saying that resulted in a lift in profits. However, 5.4% said it decreased sales and 4.1% said it cut their profits.

5.6% say it has created future business opportunities and 9.2% say it had a good effect on staff.

How was the cup event for your business financially?

A. Made no difference financially
74%

B. Increased profits
6.8%

C. Decreased profits
4.2%

D. Increased sales
7.8%

E. Decreased sales
5.4%

F. Created future business opportunities 5.6%

G. Reduced future business opportunities 0.9%

H. Good effect on staff
9.2%

I. Bad effect on staff
0.7%

J. Stressful
4.2%

K. Not stressful
4.4%

L. Something else (please tell us what that is) 2.4%

47% of those in the accommodation, cafe or restaurant sector said it increased their profits.

Knighthoods

Just over a third of New Zealanders think All Black captain Richie McCaw and coach Graham Henry should be knighted to recognise their involvement in the Rugby World Cup.

The two top the poll of possible recipients with 34.5% and 35% respectively, while 22.9% think former New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs, who helped secure the event, should be knighted.

Some 41.7% think none of the list of seven potential candidates should get the honour. The highest of the also-rans was former Prime Minister Helen Clark, at 5.9%, who did away with the honour during her time in office. 2.2% think Prime Minister John Key should be knighted for his involvement with the event.

14. Which of the following people, if any, should be knighted to recognise their involvement in Rugby World Cup 2011?

Please select all that apply

A. All Black captain Richie McCaw
34.5%

B. All Black coach Graham Henry
35%

C. Former NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs
22.9%

D. Prime Minister John Key
2.2%

E. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark
5.1%

F. Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully 1.7%

G. Auckland Mayor Len Brown
3.9%

H. None of these
41.7%

I. Someone else (please tell us who that is) 5.1%

The poll of 887 respondents was taken between 8am Wednesday October 26 and 9.30am Friday October 28. Weighted by age, gender, ethnicity, personal income, region and party vote 2008 to provide a representative sample of the New Zealand population, the maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level is ± 3.3%.

On the web at http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/162/the-rugby-world-cup-and-kiwis-emotions

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