“If you compare Auckland to the rest of the country, there is a lower level of support for a continuation of the lockdown. In Auckland it’s 66%, compared to Wellington where it’s 79% for example.”

There was also less support in Canterbury for the blocks, at 67%.

Nineteen percent of those polled were against the closures but still wanted some precautions, according to the survey.

“While they say they don’t want to continue the blockades, many of them want to have strict rules regarding mask wearing, testing and MIQ,” he said.

When it comes to opening New Zealand’s borders, 79% of those polled thought they should only be opened to people with a vaccination passport and a recent negative COVID-19 test.

As for compulsory vaccinations, the results vary considerably depending on the people we are talking about. When it comes to frontline healthcare and quarantine workers, 85% said they should be required.

But when it comes to other sectors such as teachers and childcare workers, 78% said vaccination should be compulsory.

The results generally left a core of around 10-15% who did not want mandatory vaccinations, Kalafatelis said.

“Some people will obviously be upset by this particular result. One in five is not a number to be laughed at.”

When asked if companies should be able to require vaccination of their employees, the supporting numbers dropped dramatically to just 57%.

There was “a lot less support for this,” Kalafatelis said.

“About one in two said companies should be able to decide whether to make vaccination and testing a requirement for job retention.”

Only 50 percent agreed that restaurants and bars should serve only vaccinated customers, 32 against and 18 percent uncertain.

“The result is polarized, I think it would be a lot fairer to say it, and we have a lot of people who disagree with that.”

When asked if New Zealand should drop all restrictions – masks, quarantine and everything else – 7 percent of those polled agreed. Although it is a small number, “it is not negligible”. said Kalafatelis.

“We could have a hardcore anti-vaccine group and they can be represented in the seven percent – but we also know, given some of our other results, that one-third of people will support people who aren’t. vaccinated.

“They won’t expect the country to impose restrictions on what they can do and where they can go just because they are not vaccinated.”

Australia has seen violent protests in recent weeks against the lockdown restrictions, but Kalafatelis has said he hopes New Zealanders don’t behave this way.

“I just hope New Zealanders are a little more reasonable and controlled in terms of emotions and reactions.”

Research NZ will conduct another survey in the future as vaccination rates change, Kalafatelis said.

RNZ