N-armed ships still opposed

Press, 11 September 1985, Page 1

N-armed ships still opposed

New Zealanders are still as strongly opposed to the visits of nuclear-armed ships as they were a year ago — two to one against. However, they are even more firmly in favour of New Zealand remaining a member of the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance than they were last December, according to a survey conducted by the “New Zealand Herald”National Research Bureau last month. Support for visits by nuclear-propelled but not nuclear-armed ships remains almost exactly as it was a year ago, with two to one in favour. The results of the survey, which indicate strong support for the Government’s policy of banning nucleararmed ships from New Zealand ports while still remaining a member of A.N.Z.U.S. came on the eve of the departure of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, for the United States. Mr Palmer will have talks in Washington aimed at finding ways to reconcile his Government’s policies, which the United States Administration says are irreconcilable. He will also discuss proposed legislation aimed at enforcing the Government’s ban on nuclear weapons. The survey shows that in spite of debate within New Zealand and reaction from the United States over the nuclear policy during the last 12 months, New Zealand public opinion has not shifted on the issue. It covered 2000 men and

women aged 16 and over selected on a random probability basis from New Zealand’s 20 main population centres. It was done between August 17 and 21. In reply to the question, "Do you support or oppose visits to New Zealand ports by nuclear-armed warships?” results were: Oppose, 59 per cent, August 1985, 58 per cent, August 1984; support, 30, 30; no opinion, 11, 12. Opposition was highest (67 per cent) among those aged from 16 to 34, and lowest (44 per cent) among those older than 55. Women (63 per cent) remain more united in their opposition than men (55 per cent). In terms of the party most often supported in the past, opposition was highest among Labour supporters (72 per cent), New Zealand Party (76 per cent), and Democrat (65 per cent). Those who generally supported the National Party, on the other hand, favoured visits of nuclear-armed ships (47 per cent, to 42 per cent opposed). In reply to the question, “Do you support or oppose visits to New Zealand ports by nuclear-propelled but not nuclear-armed warships?” results were: Support, 59 per cent, August 1985, 59 per cent, August 1984; oppose, 30, 29; no opinion, 11, 12. Support varied from a high of 68 per cent among those aged over 55 down to 52 per cent of those between 16 and 34. Men were more in favour of visits (63 per

cent) than were women (55 per cent). In terms of party support, visits were favoured most by National supporters (76 per cent, to 15 per cent opposed), followed by New Zealand Party (56 per cent to 44 per cent), Democrat (55 per cent to 37 per cent), and Labour (49 per cent to 41 per cent). In reply to the question, “Do you wish New Zealand to remain a member of the A.N.Z.U.S. military alliance?" results were: Yes, 71 per cent, August 1985, 60 per cent, December, 1984; no, 14, 22; no opinion, 15, 18. Support for New Zealand’s continuing to play a role in A.N.Z.U.S. was fairly consistent in three of the main metropolitan areas (Auckland, 75 per cent; Wellington, 68 per cent; Christchurch, 71 per cent). But in Dunedin, only 56 per cent supported continuing membership. Once again, age was a factor in responses. Of those aged over 55, 79 per cent were in favour, compared with 65 per cent for those between 16 and 34. In terms of party support, responses were: Labour, 63 per cent for, 19 per cent against; National, 85 per cent for, 7 per cent against; New Zealand, 61 per cent for, 32 per cent against; Democrat, 62 per cent for, 26 per cent against. The figures are subject to a maximum statistical sampling error of plus or minus 2 per cent. Copyright, 1985 - “New Zealand Herald”