What do NZ voters really care about? A global comparison reveals some surprises
Like people everywhere, New Zealanders are worried about living standards, costs and wages. But a global poll reveal some less obvious priorities.
In the lead-up to New Zealand's upcoming general election, political parties and candidates are focusing on the issues they believe will resonate with voters. To gain insight into what New Zealanders truly care about, the Gallup polling and analytics company conducted its 2025 World Poll, asking respondents what they consider the most pressing issue facing their country. The results provide an international perspective on public concerns at the time.
New Zealanders' top concern was the economy, with 29.4% of respondents identifying living standards, high prices, or low wages as the country's most important problem. This aligns with the current cost-of-living pressures in the country. However, other social issues also emerged as significant concerns, ranking second at 19.9%. These included discrimination, racism, poverty, and inequality.
Healthcare (cost and quality) came in third at 9.5%, followed by food and housing at 8.6%. Politics and government concerns accounted for 7.4%, while environmental issues like pollution, air, water, climate change, and weather ranked fifth at 5.2%. Only 3.4% of respondents identified crime, violence, or public safety as their primary concern.
When comparing New Zealand's results to other countries, it's clear that the issues mattering to New Zealanders differ from those in other nations. In Australia, for instance, food and shelter (housing availability and affordability) topped the list at 28.7%, followed by the economy at 21.8%. The environment was also more prominent in Australia, with 11.1% of respondents prioritizing it, compared to 5.2% in New Zealand. Social issues ranked lower in Australia at 6.2%, while crime and public safety were at 6.6%.
On a global scale, the economy emerged as the most frequently cited problem, with 28.5% of respondents across the sample pointing to it as their top concern. Work came second at 13.5%, followed by law and order at 12.5%, and politics and government at 11.2%. Food and shelter accounted for 6.1%, while the environment ranked fourth at 4.0%, and social issues at 3.7%. Health was the sixth most frequently mentioned concern, with 3.2% of respondents mentioning it.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
