Terrorist fear real for many, poll finds

By EUGENE BINGHAM

One in three New Zealanders is worried about the possibility of terrorists striking the country in a major attack, a survey suggests.

After four hijacked planes shook the world's confidence on September 11, a UMR Research survey for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner found that 31 per cent of people across the country were concerned about the possibility of a major terrorist attack, including 20 per cent who were very concerned.

The figure in Auckland was higher - 36 per cent.

Nearly half of self-employed and unemployed people were concerned about an attack.

Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane said the survey of 750 people was conducted in the five days after the blitz on the United States.

The question was asked as part of an exercise to discover how concerned people were about various issues.

Health services and the level of crime worried 80 per cent of those surveyed, education 74 per cent and the economy 59 per cent.

Individual privacy was of concern to 44 per cent.

Public concern about the risks of terrorism is matched by official assessments that there has been a "modest" increase in the overall threat to the country's security.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said in the week after the US attack that there was an increased risk, particularly for aircraft and the American and Israeli embassies in Wellington.

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