Govt not behind nuclear ship poll, Key says

Prime Minister John Key

The Government has nothing to do with a poll about whether nuclear-powered ships should be allowed back into New Zealand waters, Prime Minister John Key says.

A Herald on Sunday report said workers for market research company Oceania Customer Interaction Service disclosed the survey and their union, Unite, claimed it was being carried out for the National Party.

ACT leader Rodney Hide said yesterday he knew nothing about the poll and was surprised by the union's claim.

Prime Minister John Key today categorically denied having anything to do with it.

"Never heard of it, if someone was doing it they would be completely wasting their time, money and energy," he told TV One's Breakfast show.

"As far as I am concerned we are not changing our anti-nuclear legislation."

Nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships were banned from New Zealand ports in the 1980s.

National has talked about reversing the ban in the past, but since taking charge, Mr Key has maintained that would not happen.

- NZPA