An anonymous telephone questionnaire that included questions to explore perceptions about CAM and cancer treatment was administered to a randomly selected sample of New Zealanders, 20 years and older. A total of 438 New Zealand adults participated in the survey, out of 689 eligible contacts (68% participation). Less than one-third (28%) agreed with the statement ‘CAM for cancer has an equal or better chance of curing cancer as medical treatment’, 34% disagreed, and 38% said they did not know. Most (63%) felt that complementary therapies could be beneficial to people who were also receiving conventional cancer treatment, although only 36% could name one or more such therapies. One-third (32%) said that alternative therapies could be used instead of conventional cancer treatments, but only 16% of the sample could name any alternative therapies. The CAM therapies named most often were nutrition (vitamin and mineral supplements, herbs and diets) and psychosocial therapies (including positive thinking, spiritual therapies and relaxation).