A majority of New Zealanders oppose men who identify as women using single-sex spaces designated for women and girls, according to a Curia Poll released today.
The poll, conducted between Thursday, 4 June, and Monday, 8 June, found that 55% of adults aged 18+ who live in New Zealand and are eligible to vote, said “No” to a question included from the Women’s Rights Party:
Should men who identify as women (often called “transwomen”) be allowed to have open entry into all designated single-sex spaces for women and girls.
This is an increase from a Curia poll question conducted for the Women’s Rights Party in 2023 when 47% said “No” to the same question.
Only 24% of respondents included in the latest poll supported men who identify as women being allowed in women’s and girls’ single-sex spaces. This is significantly fewer than the level of support in 2023 – 34% at the time.
There has been a big increase in men who are opposed to men who identify as women being allowed in women’s and girls’ spaces (from 44% in 2023 to 61% saying “No” in 2026). In 2023 more women than men opposed men who identify as women entering women’s and girls’ single-sex spaces.
Now it is the other way round with 61% of men saying “No” to the question and more women than men who are supportive (26% compared with 22%). Still, a majority of women (51% of women) are opposed.
Younger respondents’ opposition to men being allowed in women’s spaces has grown in the last three years with 48% of 18- to 39-year-olds saying “No” compared with 36% in 2023. Only 30% of younger respondents now supported the question (down from 44% in 2023).
Older respondents have hardened their opposition with a large majority saying “No” (59% and 60% respectively, up from 48% and 54% respectively in 2023).
Opposition has increased in all major cities with Aucklanders now 53% opposed (was 38%), Wellington now 47% opposed (was 39%), and Christchurch now 62% opposed (was 35%). Opposition in provincial cities is now 59% (was 51%), towns now 51% (was 55%), and rural areas now 63% (was 54%).
When probed as to which Party they were likely to vote for in the 2026 Election, respondents across all political party affiliations were more likely to oppose than to support men who identify as women being allowed in women’s and girls’ spaces. The one exception was Te Pāti Māori voters despite a recent poll showing that a majority of Te Pāti Māori voters support defining women and men in law.
In both the 2023 and 2026 polls, 1000 respondents participated from a random selection of phone numbers (landlines and cellphones) and an on-line panel. Those who said they were unlikely to vote were excluded.
Based on this sample of 1,000 respondents, the maximum sampling error (for a result of 50%) is +/- 3.1%, at the 95% confidence level. Results for sub-groups such as age and area will have a much higher margin of error and are less precise.