Unemployment and Healthcare Top New Zealanders' Concerns as Inflation Remains Dominant Issue

New Zealanders are increasingly worried about unemployment and healthcare as their most pressing issues, according to the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor. The survey of over a thousand New Zealanders found that inflation / cost of living remains the top concern, with 63% identifying it as a major issue.

However, concern about unemployment has risen to become the country's fourth most important issue, overtaking housing for only the second time since Ipsos began tracking issues in 2018. Meanwhile, healthcare has increased significantly this wave, returning to levels last seen in August 2025.

New Zealanders' assessment of government performance remains stable at an average rating of 4.1 out of 10, unchanged from July 2026. Just over a quarter of New Zealanders (26%) rate the government's performance positively (7-10 out of 10).