Prime Minister John Key has all but confirmed that McCaw (35) has been offered a knighthood or other high honour after he led the All Blacks this year to a second consecutive Rugby World Cup win.
On New Year's Eve the country will learn whether the recently retired McCaw has accepted the offer, after ruling it out in 2011 because he did not feel it was appropriate while still playing.
In a Herald-DigiPoll survey, 55% said McCaw should accept a knighthood now and only 11% said he should reject it.
A further 19% said he should wait until he was older, while 14.5% did not know.
After the 2011 RWC tournament, Mr Key revealed he discussed a knighthood but McCaw did not want to take it while his playing career was under way.
This month's poll shows a large increase in support for a knighthood for McCaw since then.
In a Herald-DigiPoll survey after the All Blacks won that tournament, only 39% said they believed McCaw should be knighted for winning the RWC.
Labour leader Andrew Little said the case could be made for McCaw to get the highest honour in the land and made a member of the Order of New Zealand.
That is limited to 20 living New Zealanders at any time and there are at present 18 Ordinary members, leaving two places open.
‘‘I think given the scale of his achievements and what he has come to represent, it would be more fitting for him to be considered for membership of the Order of New Zealand.''
