A new poll reveals which issues New Zealanders are most worried about and which political parties are best placed to deal with them, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in The Bulletin.
Cost of living tops list of concerns
It’s right there in the image and is probably the least surprising thing you’ve read this month but inflation/cost of living is the issue concerning New Zealanders the most. That’s according to the latest Ipsos issues monitor which we’ve summarised here. Concerns about crime/law and order have increased from 19% in February this year to 31%. The Ipsos poll is not a party poll per se, but instead polls on issues and then which parties people believe are best equipped to handle them. It gives us early insight into the ground on which next year’s election might be fought. This morning Stuff’s Anna Whyte looks at the likelihood of increasing industrial action as the cost of living continues to bite.
Concern about cost of petrol falls but not for long
Concern about petrol prices have dropped 11% since May, because, well petrol prices have dropped. Yesterday the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, more colloquially known as OPEC, said they would slash oil production by two million barrels per day. The AA says the move would have little impact on petrol prices in the short term, but has outlines why “serious pain at the pump” would arrive early next year.
National best placed to deal with four of top five issues
According to the poll, National is best placed to deal with cost of living, housing, crime/law and order and the economy. It’s the reverse in the UK right now following the mini-Budget announced by chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. A YouGovt poll revealed Britons are much more likely to think that Labour would do a better job on the cost of living and delivering economic growth than the Conservative party. We started the week with everyone talking about the tax cut proposal in the UK and seem to have ended it talking about tax cuts in New Zealand.
Tax cut talk back on agenda
The tax cut talk here started on Monday with the prime minister leveraging the disaster in the UK to warn that National’s tax cut proposal would lead to more inflation and potentially British-style market chaos. The release of Crown accounts on Wednesday had National and Act renewing their calls for tax cuts after it was revealed that the government books were in better shape than expected. This morning Stuff’s Susan Edmunds looks at how much tax we pay and how that compares to other countries. The Herald’s Jenée Tibshraeny has a very good analysis (paywalled) of whether we can afford tax cuts.