Two-Thirds of New Zealanders Back Public Ownership of Essential Services

A new survey conducted by New Zealanders for a Democratic Economy (NZDE) reveals strong public support for retaining and expanding public ownership of essential services and infrastructure in New Zealand. The findings indicate that two-thirds of respondents (66%) believe the government should own more assets, such as electricity companies, ports, and public transport, to ensure better value for money, fairer pricing, and services focused on public benefit rather than private profit.

The survey also highlighted concerns about corporate influence, with 85% of respondents believing large businesses and wealthy individuals have significant sway over government decisions. Meanwhile, 62% felt ordinary working people have little to no influence. Additionally, 73% expressed concern about the impact of large political donations, with 34% very concerned, more than the 31% who supported selling public assets to reduce government debt.

In response to these findings, NZDE and Keep Our Assets (KOA) have launched the National Keep Our Assets Pledge, urging political parties to commit to retaining full public ownership of current government assets. The pledge aims to rule out any coalition agreements involving asset sales in the next parliamentary term. KOA convenor Murray Horton emphasized that corporate influence often distorts government decisions to favor private interests over the public good.

NZDE co-chair Dr. Nathan McCluskey noted that the pledge would help voters make informed choices, as 44% of respondents said they would be more likely to support a party that signs the pledge. The survey underscores the public’s desire for greater agency over economic decisions and cost-of-living issues, reinforcing the importance of a robust public realm in New Zealand.