People in cities most enthusiastic about catching wave

There has been a dramatic jump in the public's desire for the country to be known as a knowledge society.

A survey taken soon after the Knowledge Wave Conference showed a 25 per cent increase over a poll taken three months earlier.

In the latest poll by UMR Insight, 49 per cent of respondents said they wanted New Zealand to be most known internationally in 10 years' time for its knowledge, creativity and enterprise. That figure is 10 percentage points higher than in a survey taken after the May Budget.

A majority in Auckland (53 per cent) and Wellington (54 per cent) opt for the knowledge wave while Christchurch (45 per cent) and rural areas (38 per cent) are less enthusiastic.

Half the female respondents were for knowledge and innovation but only 47 per cent of men were in favour.

The knowledge wave lost strength with older respondents. Of those polled, half those under 30 favoured that choice but it reduced to 45 per cent in the 60-plus age group.

The poll was conducted nationally among 750 New Zealanders aged 18 and over and had a margin of error of 3.6 per cent.

Other Herald features

Our turn

The jobs challenge