Govt public rating hits new low, survey shows

By Russell Palmer of RNZ

Public ratings of government performance have reached another new low in the latest IPSOS Issues Monitor survey.

The government rating of 3.9 out of 10 is the lowest since the survey began in September 2017, and reflects about 45% of respondents giving between 0 and 3.

Another 31% gave a rating of 4-6, while 23% gave 7-10, and 2% said they didn't know.

The government previously dipped to 4.2 in the February survey, hovering around the same level in May and August.

The Ipsos New Zealand survey released to RNZ was carried out between October 21 and 30, although the rating of government performance was taken separately from November 5-10.

The survey asked 1004 New Zealanders what they thought were the top three most important issues facing the country today, and which party was best able to manage them.

Labour was rated best able to handle 15 of the top 20 concerns. National was rated best able on two: Crime/Law and order (fifth equal), and Defence/Foreign affairs (20th).

Labour continued to increase its lead over National as the party considered most able to handle inflation/cost of living, which remains the top-rated issue at 61%, a 1 percentage point increase over the previous survey in August.

Healthcare decreased two points but remains the second-highest concern, with Labour also increasing its lead over National on that issue - 40% of New Zealanders rating it most able, compared to National's 21%. Healthcare remained the top concern for those aged 65 and up.

Labour also overtook National (33% vs 29%) on the economy, which remains the third-placed concern, rising two points to 32%.

Housing dropped four points as a concern, from 26% to 22%, Labour again increasing its lead over National (32% vs 21%).

Three issues took out the fifth-equal rated concern, with crime/law and order dropping 3 points to 19%, putting it in line with unemployment and poverty/inequality (both steady at 19%).

Labour was rated best able to handle unemployment (39% vs 22%) and poverty/inequality (41% vs 16%), while National retained pole position on crime/law and order (30% vs 25%).

Labour gained 2 percentage points in handling unemployment and 6 points in handling poverty, while National dropped 1 point in handling crime.

The Greens rated best on climate change (sixth-highest rated issue) and environmental/pollution/water (10th), while Te Pāti Māori rated best on issues facing Māori (9th).

The gap between those who think the country on the wrong track (63%) versus the right track (37%) narrowed by two percentage points.

Results for the survey are weighted by age, gender and region, and the survey has a maximum margin of error of +/-3.1% at a 95% confidence level.