19 April 2013

NZers Choose ANZAC Day over Waitangi Day

A clear majority of New Zealanders say that ANZAC Day means more to them than Waitangi Day, according to a poll released today by UMR Research.

• The poll asked New Zealanders which meant more to them personally – ANZAC Day or Waitangi Day.

• 60% of New Zealanders said that ANZAC Day meant more to them than Waitangi Day, while only 8% said that Waitangi Day was the more important. 29% think that both are equally meaningful to them.

• Maori expressed very different views on this topic, with 29% saying ANZAC Day meant more to them, 14% that Waitangi Day meant more and 56% that both days were equally meaningful.

• National voters (78%), those whose highest qualification is from high school (67%) and over 60 year olds are particularly likely to say that ANZAC Day is the more meaningful for them.

• People with postgraduate qualifications (39%), Green voters (39%), Labour voters (34%) and under 30 year olds (33%) are relatively likely to say that both days are equally important.

• Green voters (21%) and people with postgraduate qualifications (17%) are clearly the most likely to say that Waitangi Day means more to them than ANZAC Day.

UMR Research Director Gavin White said, “the poll almost certainly reflects the ongoing tensions over Waitangi Day and how it should be acknowledged, with ANZAC Day being relatively uncontroversial.”

Results are from questions included in the UMR Online Omnibus Survey which was conducted 28 March to 8 April 2013. It has a nationally representative sample of 1,000 New Zealanders 18 years and over. The margin of error for a 50% figure at the ‘95% confidence level’ is +/- 3.1%.

ENDS

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