Public has little trust in Parliamentary process, survey shows

Most New Zealanders have a low level of trust in the parliamentary process believing it has little influence over what the Government does, a survey indicates.

The findings were revealed in a mail survey conducted by Massey University's department of marketing between September and November 2004 as part of the department's involvement in the International Social Survey Programme.

It included a series of questions concerned with citizenship, democratic rights, republicanism and the role of the public service.

Most people - 87 per cent - rated New Zealand's version of democracy at five out of 10 or better, but only 10 per cent said they believed it was working "very well".

Only 10 per cent of New Zealanders belong to a political party and only 30 per cent have attended a political meeting or rally.

Of the people surveyed, 92 per cent believed good citizens obeyed laws and regulations, 84 per cent voted in elections, and 83 per cent said they tried to understand the reasoning of people with other opinions.

Half of the respondents believed New Zealand should not become a republic and should continue to have the Queen as its head of state.

Another 33 per cent were in favour of a republic with a New Zealander as head of state.

About 40 per cent believed the Government could be trusted to do what was right most of the time, but 30 per cent disagreed.

And 70 per cent believed it was most unlikely that the Government would give serious attention to them if they tried to do something about a law they considered unjust or harmful.

- NZPA