Over half of NZers believe in psychics

55 percent of Kiwis believe some people have psychic powers. Photo / Thinkstock

More than half of New Zealanders believe some people have psychic powers, a recent survey shows.

Meanwhile a third of Kiwis believe earth has been visited by UFOs from other planets and a quarter believe astrology can predict people's futures.

These are the findings of an online UMR Research poll of 1000 New Zealanders which looked at what Kiwis believe in.

The poll, conducted between September 21 and 28, found 55 percent of Kiwis believe some people have psychic powers such as ESP, with women (67 per cent), over 60 year olds (63 per cent) and Maori (60 per cent) particularly likely to believe that this is true.

Only 24 per cent think astrology can be used to predict people's futures.

More than half believe in God (61 per cent), with 72 per cent of women but only 52 per cent of men believing in God. Just over half believe in life after death (57 per cent), although this declines with age, with 65 per cent of under 30-year-olds believing there's an afterlife, but only 49 per cent of over 60-year-olds.

Wellingtonians (54 per cent) and Cantabrians (57 per cent) are less likely than Aucklanders (67 per cent) to believe in God.

Eight of 10 believe Jesus was a real person who lived 2000 years ago.

- Herald Online Staff