What New Zealanders say about war in Iraq

Most New Zealanders back the Government in believing the United States should not attack Iraq without United Nations approval.

A Herald-DigiPoll survey found that 58.3 per cent of those questioned want the UN to sanction any American strike.

However, almost a third - 32.3 per cent - do not believe the US should attack at all.

And just 7.5 per cent believe New Zealand should send soldiers to Iraq as part of an unsanctioned attack.

The findings come as US President George W. Bush looks to set a deadline for Iraq's disarmament.

With thousands of American troops pouring into the Gulf region, he is meeting allied leaders in a last-ditch attempt to avert a seemingly inevitable war with President Saddam Hussein.

Prime Minister Helen Clark last night said it was time for New Zealanders to get out of Iraq. An exception would be the eight members of the UN weapons inspection team.

"If mid-month the US says, 'Look, we're going in,' obviously there has got to be time for foreigners to be allowed to leave - but will they be allowed to leave?"

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said 23 New Zealanders were listed as working with the UN or other agencies.

The ministry was not aware of any New Zealand civilians living in Iraq.

The Herald-DigiPoll is the first comprehensive survey of national opinion since US pressure on Iraq intensified in the past few weeks and chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix criticised Baghdad for failing to fully disclose its arms programmes.

The poll, taken between January 23 and 28, surveyed New Zealanders' response to war, the possibilityof exile for Saddam, and thereasons for the conflict.

A substantial minority, 31.3 per cent, in a separate question about New Zealand's response to an unsanctioned war, believe the country should send medical support to the fighting forces.

Only 13 per cent of respondents believe New Zealand should do nothing if an attack takes place without UN sanction.

Most, 45 per cent, prefer the option of sending humanitarian aid after the war is over.

Asked if they believed the campaign against Saddam was "mainly an American interest", 69.8 per cent said yes and 26.3 per cent said no.

Helen Clark said it was "very significant" that the constituency for an attack without UN approval was in single figures.

Likewise, a small number of people wanted New Zealand to provide a fighting force if the UN did not approve.

"That's the Act position - 'Get in there. Get in there now. To hell with the UN.' It is staggeringly low."

She said the Government's position seemed to reflect mainstream opinion, "though I hasten to add we have done no polling on this".

"My gut feeling is that people do see war as a last resort.

"There is an appreciation of the problems that action outside the UN poses."

The polling indicated little difference between the views of Labour and National supporters on whether an attack should take place.

When asked if the US should attack Iraq with UN approval, 62 per cent of Labour supporters and 57.6 per cent of National supporters agreed.

Attacking without UN approval had the backing of just 5.4 per cent of Labour supporters and 6.4 per cent of National supporters.

And 30.4 per cent of Labour and 33.1 per cent of National supporters believed the US should not attack Iraq at all.

There was greater difference between the views of Aucklanders and the rest of New Zealand.

Aucklanders appear to be a little more hawkish: 27.8 per cent believed there should be no attack at all, compared with 35 per cent for the rest of the country.

The poll has a margin of error of 3.5 per cent.


Herald feature: Iraq

January 30, 2003:
George Bush's State of the Union speech

January 28, 2003: