On the day [Wednesday, 20 May] of the first reading of NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft’s Private Member Bill to define sex in law in biological terms, a new Curia poll has shown more New Zealand voters agree than disagree across all political parties.
Support from Left-leaning Party voters has shifted markedly from a poll conducted by Curia for Family First a year ago, between 30 April and 4 May 2025, and a poll conducted for Speak Up for Women between 14 and 19 May 2026, also by Curia.
This time last year, Labour, Greens and Te Pati Maori voters were more likely to oppose than to support defining women and men in biological terms.
| May 2025 | Labour | Greens | Te Pati Māori |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | 35% | 33% | 28% |
| Oppose | 44% | 48% | 41% |
In the latest poll these voters were more likely to support than oppose these definitions:
| May 2026 | Labour | Greens | Te Pati Māori |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | 42% | 40% | 53% |
| Oppose | 21% | 34% | 25% |
The biggest shift has been amongst Te Pati Māori voters – a majority now support defining women and men in sex-realist terms.
National and ACT are supporting the Bill through its First Reading with a National spokesperson saying the National Caucus wants to hear from the public through the
Select Committee process.
The Coalition parties needn’t worry about offending their voters. Support for the Bill remains strong:
| May 2026 | National | NZ First | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | 65% | 71% | 72% |
| Oppose | 14% | 14% | 8% |
The SUFW question asked: “A Member of Parliament has proposed a law defining a woman as an adult human female and a man as an adult human male on the grounds of fairness and safety in single-sex spaces. Do you support or oppose this proposed law?”
The question in the Family First poll was similar: “A Member of Parliament has proposed a law that would defined a woman as an adult human biological female and a man as an adult human biological male regardless of gender identity. Would you support or oppose this proposed law?”
The reference to “gender identity” in the Family First poll is in the proposed legislation being debated tonight.
The latest poll of 1000 respondents who agreed to participate, found 51% in favour and 19% opposed. Men overwhelmingly supported such a law (58% compared with
16% opposed, a net +42% in favour). Women were less likely than men to support enshrining the definitions in law, though more women were supportive than opposing the Bill (44% with 22% opposed, a net +22% in favour).
Support was strongest among those aged 55 – 64 (55%, with just 13% opposed, a net 42%) and strongest in provincial cities 55%.
The Family First poll last year showed similar results with 52% in favour and 29% opposed. Support by women at the time was 39% and is now 44%.
To most New Zealanders, it is self-evident — a woman is an adult human female, and a man is an adult human male.