Approval plummets despite easing inflation, Ipsos survey shows
In the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey, the New Zealand government has received its lowest approval rating since mid-2017, scoring just 4.2 out of 10.
Although concerns about inflation have decreased—the lowest in three years at 50%—this has not been enough to improve the government’s standing among New Zealanders.
Persistent housing and health concerns
The survey, which included responses from 1,002 New Zealanders from Feb. 24 to March 2, highlighted that while health remains a major concern at 41%, housing issues are increasingly pressing, now worrying 27% of respondents, RNZ reported.
This comes as economic worries intensify, overtaking crime in national concern rankings.
Record low in government performance
From October’s rating of 4.7, the government’s performance has seen a significant drop to 4.2, with over 40% of participants rating it three or less.
“The previous lowest rating was 4.5 in August 2023, just before the election that shifted Labor out of power,” Ipsos said.
This decline in approval coincides with persistent issues in housing accessibility and affordability.
While the latest CoreLogic NZ Housing Affordability Report for Q4 2024 noted improvements, driven by falling property values, rising incomes, and lower mortgage rates, housing affordability remains historically tight.
Housing at the forefront of voter concerns
Housing remains a critical issue, with Labour recently overtaking National in perceived ability to manage housing policies effectively.
This shift occurs as both parties witnessed a decrease in confidence from the public regarding their capability to address housing and price issues effectively.
Economic and housing outlook
Despite the fall in inflation worries, with the inflation rate holding steady—Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures indicated a 2.2% rise over the December quarter—the economic outlook is tarnished by potential global trade conflicts, noted as a growing concern by the public.
The survey indicated that economic and housing issues are closely tied, with a robust call for more effective governmental intervention in these areas to support growth and stability.
