Inflation then crime remains biggest concern for Kiwis, survey

Te Whanganui a Tara – New Zealanders are concerned most about inflation, then crime, according to the latestIpsos NZ survey.

Concerns about crime, law and order have increased significantly from 19 to 31 percent but climate change concerns are growing among many Kiwis.

In 2018, Ipsos NZ started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand and in the latest survey they asked 1000 New Zealanders to select from a list of 20, the three most important issues facing the country and to rate the best political parties.

Key findings were:

• The top issues worrying New Zealanders last month were inflation, cost of living, housing, price of housing healthcare, hospitals, crime, law and the economy

• Inflation / cost of living first climbed into the top spot in February and  since then has

continued to trend upwards.

It is now at the highest level of concern since measurement  began in early 2018. The National Party is seen by more New Zealanders (40 percent) than any other political party as being the most capable of handling this issue, well above Labour at 26 percent.

New Zealanders think this issue is here to stay, as it is also the issue felt to be the

most important issue New Zealand will be facing over the next 5 years.

Meanwhile, housing continues to decline in importance, with 33 percent of New Zealanders

placing it in their top three issues, compared with 60 percent at its height in February 2021. While  it remains the second biggest issue, it has dropped to its lowest level, equal to a temporary dip during the height of covid impacts on New Zealand in May 2020.

Concerns about crime and law have also been increasing since February and the issue

now sits in fourth position, the highest level recorded since surveying began in February

2018.

When looking into the future however, crime / law is seen as the second most

important issue New Zealand will be facing over the next 5 years.

While New Zealanders rate climate change as the sixth most important issue facing New

Zealanders now (21 percent), when asked about issues over the next five years, climate change increased to 4th position (29 percent).