New Zealanders Prioritize Economic Security Over Social Issues

New Zealanders are concerned about affordability and economic security, according to a Gallup poll. The survey of 1,000 New Zealanders found that almost three in ten respondents (29.4%) identified the economy as the country's most important problem. This is not surprising given cost-of-living pressures.

However, social issues such as discrimination, racism, poverty, and inequality came second at 19.9%. Healthcare was next at 9.5%, followed by food and housing at 8.6%, politics and government at 7.4%, and the environment at 5.2%.

The pattern suggests New Zealanders are not just concerned about the economy in the narrow sense, but also about social cohesion, health, and access to basic services.