Concern about fuel prices has surged 17 points to become the fourth-biggest issue for New Zealanders, with Labour rated best able to tackle the problem.
The Ipsos Issues Monitor survey showed Labour rated most capable of managing seven of the top 10 concerns, despite a dearth of policy proposals - including on fuel.
The results will be quite a blow to a government that has prioritised supply-side responses to the fuel crisis, though Labour's declining ratings on four of the top five concerns will be some comfort to National.
Labour still leads on nine of the top 20 concerns, while National leads on four - and they are equal on two (drug/alcohol abuse; population/overcrowding).
Ratings of the government remained at 4.2 out of 10 - the same rating achieved in February and just three points up from the record-low 3.9 reported in November last year.
The quarterly survey asked 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.
A total 1001 New Zealanders aged 18+ were surveyed between May 15 and 20, with results weighted by age, gender and region and a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence level.
The study had no external sponsors or partners and was initiated by Ipsos.
Top five concerns
Cost of living remained the top concern, gaining two points to 61%, with Labour rated most capable of managing it - although both major parties dropped two points compared to the previous survey, Labour down to 33% and National to 26%.
The Greens gained 2 points to 8%, with NZ First on 6%, ACT on 4%, and Te Pāti Māori on 1%. Some 12% were not sure and 9% did not respond.
Healthcare remained the second-biggest concern, rising 1 point to 39%, with Labour gaining 1 point to 38% and National remaining steady at 25%.
National regained its lead over Labour on the third-rated concern - the economy - up 1 point to 33% while Labour dropped four points to 28%. The Greens gained a statistically significant three points to 7% - again beating NZ First (6%) and ACT (4%).
Concern about the economy remained steady at 33%.
Fuel - rated 9th-equal in the previous survey in February - shot up 17 points to 26%, becoming the fourth-most pressing concern, with Labour rated at 28% - a 2-point fall - compared to National's 25%, down 1.
Housing was the 5th-biggest concern, falling four points to 21%, with Labour (29%, down 5) rated most capable - although National narrowed the gap, gaining 3 points to 27%, and a statistically significant four-point bump for the Greens to 9%.
Other trends
Crime/Law and order - one of the few concerns National has consistently outrated others on, and previously in the top five - fell a statistically significant four points to 16%, overtaken not only by fuel but by unemployment (19%, steady) and poverty/inequality (17%, up 1 point).
The Greens gained on all of the top-five concerns, as well as unemployment, (up 2 to 7%), Poverty/inequality (up 4 to 12%), Education (up 1 to 7%) and immigration (up 3 to 7%).
New Zealand First has been pushing immigration as an election issue, and at 20% (up 2 points) was rated just below National's 21%, (down 2), gaining on Labour's lead at 27% (down 1).
Of those who chose immigration as a top concern, 20% said NZ First was best able to manage it, but the matter remained a low priority for New Zealanders - at 13th, down 2 points to 6%.
National also narrowed the gap on education, gaining 1 point to 31% - just behind Labour which continued to slide, down 2 points to 32%.
Labour leader responds
Asked about the poll findings on RNZ's Morning Report programme today, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Labour would be waiting until closer to the election on November 7 before it decides what to do on petrol as an "awful lot could" happen in the meantime and it was not able to commit to anything so far out.
Hipkins said the Budget on Thursday was the government's "last chance" to show New Zealand it understood how difficult the cost of living is for Kiwis.
He said Labour would take some time to go through the Budget once it was released.
The party would be releasing its policies for the election in its "own good time" but said there would "certainly" be some policy announcements in June.
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
