The 2005
NZES had two main elements. The first was the study’s standard post-election
survey, with questionnaires sent by post to several thousand New Zealanders. The second was more
experimental, and took place on the Internet only, in two waves, one
immediately before the election and another after the final results were
announced. Unlike most Internet surveys, this was based on a random sample of enrolled
voters, to whom postcards were sent during the final week of the campaign. The
first-wave response rate was just over 10%, but it reflected surprisingly well the
age and gender breakdown of the electorate.
