(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-07 09:08

WELLINGTON - Nearly one in five New Zealanders appeared to believe nuclear power is a viable energy source, even though politicians have put it off limits, according to a survey released on Monday.

Nineteen percent of 3,546 polled in a New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development internet survey said nuclear power was the best electricity option for the next 10 years.

Business Council chief executive Peter Neilson said on Monday the popularity of the nuclear option was surprising, and he believed it was because people were searching for solutions to climate change.

The council is a business advocacy group which lobbies on sustainable development issues. It has 71 member companies, including BP Oil, Mighty River Power, Resene and The Warehouse.

The survey was conducted over six weeks in February and March.