We want world peace and our own homes

New Zealanders would rather win a Nobel Peace Prize than the Rugby World Cup and say that home ownership remains the number-one dream.

Almost everyone dreams of spending more time with families and friends, but very few care whether we win at soccer, basketball or cricket and hardly anyone wants to spend time with a movie star.

The insights are among findings from a Telecom-commissioned survey which aims to paint a picture of New Zealanders' dreams for the future.

The survey, thought to be the largest outside the Census, involved interviews from almost 10,000 people.

It revealed that safety, security, open spaces, family time, good health, and success on the world stage were top priorities for the average Kiwi.

Meanwhile, just under 80 per cent said home ownership was the ultimate Kiwi dream. Although that was the top answer overall, among the 15-29 age-group only 65 per cent said it was their dream.

Telecom said that could indicate it was a less realistic option for the younger generation.

The survey also revealed that New Zealanders are most proud of their beaches and empty spaces, of being nuclear-free and of the way New Zealand is often the first to accomplish important things in the world.

Sir Edmund Hillary also made an appearance in the survey when people were asked to vote for their top dream achievers.

He topped the list with 75 per cent, followed by Peter Jackson (69 per cent) and Sir Peter Blake (60 per cent).

Prime Minister Helen Clark made the list with 24 per cent, Rachel Hunter with 16 per cent and Scribe with 14 per cent.

And while many had the individual dream of winning a Nobel Peace Prize, rugby aficionados need not panic - to see the All Blacks win the World Cup was at the heart of sporting dreams for more than a third of people.

The survey was carried out between November 1 and 21 last year, online and in shopping malls.

* New Zealand has been voted the world's most honest country in a survey of national identity.

The results are part of a "nation branding" survey of more than 25,000 people by global market research company Anholt-GMI.

The Anholt Nations Brand Index was created to gauge perceptions of 35 countries in key areas including culture and heritage, people, governance, investment and sport.

The 2006 index shows New Zealand topping the honesty poll. Turkey is seen as the most dishonest.

The British were seen as the most boring people on the planet, the Japanese as the most intelligent, the French as the most rude, Canadians as the most trustworthy and the Germans as the most skilful.

Asked which attribute best described Americans, most people said "ignorant".


Top dreams

* Remain safe and secure for our families.
* Best health system in the world.
* Own our own home.
* Continue to stand up for ourselves.
* Best education system in the world.
* 53 per cent dreamed of winning the Nobel Peace Prize - double those who wanted to win the Rugby World Cup.