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A US Navy nuclear powered supercarrier - Source: Getty Images -
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Over three-quarters of adult New Zealanders are supportive of visits here by American warships that are not nuclear armed or powered, a poll shows.
The Research New Zealand poll follows comments this month by former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer , who said the ships should be allowed to return here as long as they did not breach New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation.
Under that legislation, the prime minister has to approve that any visiting warship is not carrying any nuclear explosive device, and is not nuclear-powered.
Prime Minister John Key, who met recently with United States Vice-President Joe Biden, said afterwards that Zealand and the United States were on strong terms and the warship issue was relatively minor. Such vessels were not likely to be visiting here any time soon anyway, he said.
The poll showed support for such visits was strongest among those 55 years and older (81%), while those aged 35 to 54 had similar views with 80% in favour.
Sixty four percent of people under 35 years were in favour, but 9% of that group said they didn't know.
Overall, 75% of the 510 people polled were in favour of warship visits and 20% opposed.
Maori and Pacific New Zealanders were less supportive with 64% in favour and 31% not in favour.
The poll had a margin of error of 4.9%.
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