Labour Leads in Public Perception as New Zealanders' Top Concerns Remain

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor has revealed that New Zealanders believe Labour is best equipped to handle their top five concerns, including the economy and cost of living. This comes as the average rating of government performance remained low, with a score of 4.1 out of 10.

The top five issues facing New Zealanders are: the cost of living (62%), healthcare/hospitals (38%), the economy (34%), housing (22%), and unemployment (20%). Labour is seen as most capable of managing all of these concerns, with a significant lead in the perception of its ability to tackle healthcare.

National leads on just one issue: crime/law and order. The Greens are trusted with climate change and environmental concerns, while Te Pāti Māori is seen as best placed to handle issues facing Māori.