Inflation and cost of living continue to be ranked as the most important issue facing New Zealand, a new report has found.
The Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor, released on Sunday, asks New Zealanders what they are most concerned about and analyses how this changes over time. A total 1002 respondents were interviewed online in February and were asked, among other things, what the three most important issues facing New Zealand today were.
Concern for inflation is 7 percent higher than the previous report released in September and is sitting at 65 percent, Ipsos said. Although concern for inflation is lower among people who are retired, at just 52 percent.
"Concern for inflation/cost of living continues to climb, with roughly 2 in 3 New Zealanders considering it to be a top issue they are facing today," the Ipsos report said. "This is the highest level of any issue since surveying began in 2018."
Housing and the prices of houses, as well as crime and law and order, are in second-equal place. The level of concern for housing remains unchanged since September's report, still sitting at 33 percent, while concern for crime is up 2 percent to 33 percent.
And in fourth-equal place is healthcare and hospitals, which is down 5 percent from the previous report to 27 percent, and climate change, which is sitting at 27 percent.
In terms of noteworthy issues, concern for petrol prices has remained steady since September 2022 at 16 percent as the Government re-extended its tax reduction until June 30, 2023, Ipsos said.
Concern for the economy has also stabilised and is currently at its lowest point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, now at 22 percent.
Ipsos added that New Zealanders are also significantly less focused on environmental and water concerns and the issue has dropped by 4 percent from the last report.
Also analysed in the report was the political party seen as the "most capable" of managing issues. Ipsos said that in contrast to the previous three reports, the National Party was viewed as most capable of managing two of the top five issues, down from four.
"Labour's perceived ability to handle inflation/cost of living has significantly increased (5 percentage points)," Ipsos said. "While the proportion of those who believe National is most capable of managing this issue has significantly decreased (6 percentage points), closing the gap between the two parties to just 3 percentage points."
Additionally, Labour replaced National as the party seen to be most capable of managing housing and the price of housing, and remains the party seen to be most capable of managing healthcare and hospitals. The survey respondents also placed the most confidence in the Green Party's capability to manage climate change.
Labour is currently perceived to be best placed to tackle 11 of the top 20 issues, while National is viewed as the best party to face six of the top 20 problems.
Comparing New Zealand and Australia, both countries placed cost of living as their number one issue. Whereas across the Tasman, healthcare was number two, housing was number three, the economy was number four, and petrol prices was number five.
