New Zealand government loses ground in polls as economic concerns grow
New Zealand's National-led coalition government is losing support among voters, new polling shows, amid frustrations over the economy and deepening concern the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary left bloc has taken a narrow lead for the third poll in a row, enough that the opposition would be able to form a government were an election held today.
Prime minister Christopher Luxon's favourability has also dipped to a record low.
A 1News-Verian poll shows Luxon dropped two points to 22% in the preferred prime minister stakes – his lowest result since he became leader. Labour's Chris Hipkins rose two points to 17%.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Luxon said he was not concerned by the results.
'The only poll that matters is 2026 when the New Zealand public will make their decision: has this government made them better off or not over that three-year period?'
The poll, conducted during the country's politically charged Waitangi Day events, showed support for Luxon's National party dropped three points to 34%, while his coalition partners Act had a one-point increase to 9% and New Zealand First dropped one point to 5%.
A second Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, taken between 2–4 February, also had Labour narrowly ahead of National and Luxon's favourability drop just over two points to 24.5%.
The coalition government campaigned on promises to fix New Zealand's economy and has introduced a wave of new policies to try to achieve this, including relaxing immigration settings to attract foreign investment and reducing public spending.
But with country in the midst of a recession and high unemployment rates, the public's confidence in the economy is yet to bounce back.
Of those surveyed in the Verian poll, 36% felt optimistic about the economy – a 5 point drop from the December poll – while there was a three point increase in economic pessimism to 25%. Meanwhile, half of those polled felt the government was going in the wrong direction, with 39% believing it was heading in the right direction.
Luxon said he was under 'no illusion' the public wanted the government to fix the economy.
'New Zealanders are expecting us to get through this economic pain and get to the other side of it, and that requires all of us to embrace growth above everything else.'
Political commentator Ben Thomas said that like many countries around the world, the government inherited a tough economic situation but its promises to lower living costs were yet to quell public malaise.
'If you run on the basis that you're going to fix the economy, and people are still having a tough economic time a year later, it becomes harder to deliver that [promise] credibly.'
Meanwhile, Luxon's inexperience could be affecting his popularity, Thomas said.
'He's come on the back of two generational talents, which are John Key and Jacinda Ardern – they were uniquely skilled communicators and leaders and Luxon does suffer by comparison.'
Further, the ongoing tensions over the minor Act party's controversial treaty principles bill, which many fear will undermine Māori rights, could be fuelling perceptions the country is headed in the wrong direction.
'New Zealanders don't tend to like divisiveness … and I think that does contribute something to the national mood,' Thomas said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Labour at war over spending plans as Number 10 tries to stem threat from Farage
Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to quell mounting Labour tensions over how to deal with the threat from Nigel Farage, as bitter Whitehall negotiations over the Government's Spending Review go down to the wire. Sources describe 'very unpleasant' exchanges between Rachel Reeves and senior Cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner, as the Chancellor prepares to give the NHS a £30billion boost at the expense of the police and local councils. Preparations for Wednesday's announcement have been held against the backdrop of slamming doors and raised voices, as No 10 and the Treasury work out how to divide a limited pot of public money in a way most likely to arrest the surge in support for Mr Farage's Reform UK. Ms Reeves is expected to set out plans for an extra £113billion in spending on infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C nuclear power plant, and an extra 2.8 per cent real-terms increase in the NHS's £200billion-a-year budget, amounting to an extra £30billion by 2028. But with the economy barely growing, other departments have had to take a hit as a result. A source said: 'It turned nasty between Yvette and Rachel. It was just as bad as that between Rachel and Angela, who walked out during her negotiations. 'Yvette was just passing on the concerns of the police, who said that without more money they would be forced to make stark choices about which crimes they prioritise. 'The anger of the police shows they've been briefed by Cooper on how the negotiations are going, and they're not happy.' Reeves plotting £3bn tax raid on pension By CALUM MUIRHEAD Rachel Reeves is planning a £3billion tax raid on millions of pensions. The new Pension Schemes Bill lays out a blueprint for companies to take out 'surplus' cash from certain schemes. The theory behind the plan is that companies can use the money to invest in their business and that would fuel growth. But experts fear this could lead to a repeat of the Robert Maxwell scandal of the early 1990s, when the late tycoon stole £400 million from his staff pension fund to prop up his companies. The Chancellor, who is desperate to raise tax revenues, would benefit because any 'surpluses' released are taxed at 25 per cent, which could raise almost £3billion over a decade. The bill, tabled in Parliament last week, will affect old-style pension schemes where retirement incomes are linked to people's pay packets, which have around nine million members. A minister said: 'The negotiations over the final settlements are still not sorted for some departments. They're going to carry on fighting it out over the weekend.' Another source added: 'Rachel will stand up and promise things she can't deliver. There will be a lot of guff about how she will deliver security for the country. 'But how can you promise to deliver security when Trump's doing what he's doing on tariffs and Putin is so active?' At the heart of the schism is an ideological divide between the party's Blairites, represented in No 10 by Liz Lloyd, Sir Keir's head of policy delivery, and Morgan McSweeney, the Downing Street chief of staff. Mr McSweeney is desperate to tackle small boats migration while Ms Lloyd is encouraging spending more on the NHS. Rachel Reeves is planning a £3billion tax raid on millions of pensions. The new Pension Schemes Bill lays out a blueprint for companies to take out 'surplus' cash from certain schemes. The theory behind the plan is that companies can use the money to invest in their business and that would fuel growth. But experts fear this could lead to a repeat of the Robert Maxwell scandal of the early 1990s, when the late tycoon stole £400 million from his staff pension fund to prop up his companies. The Chancellor, who is desperate to raise tax revenues, would benefit because any 'surpluses' released are taxed at 25 per cent, which could raise almost £3billion over a decade. The bill, tabled in Parliament last week, will affect old-style pension schemes where retirement incomes are linked to people's pay packets, which have around nine million members.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Reform UK are 'chancers' and no friends of working people says GMB chief
The General Secretary is expected to praise Labour's employment bill - but urge the party to 'think again' on other issue Reform UK are 'chancers and bankers' who are no friends of working people, GMB Chief Gary Smith will say in a speech to the union's annual congress today. The General Secretary is expected to praise Labour 's employment bill - but urge the party to 'think again' on other issue. The union's annual congress is taking place in Brighton this week. 'Let's get one thing clear,' Mr Smith will tell union members in a keynote speech today. 'Mr Farage and his ex-Tory soulmates are no friends of workers. They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish.' He'll add: 'By the way, why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes. Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls. And, the first thing they want to do is sack council workers.' Mr Smith will say it was time to call Reform UK out for their 'sneering, snooty attitude' to public sector pensions. 'Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think they're meagre pension is gold-plated,' he will say. 'Reform's abuse and name-calling of low-paid public sector workers is an utter disgrace. 'Of course, Mr Farage has also threatened the NHS. And, he is notoriously weak about Putin." On Labour, Mr Smith will add: 'The new Employment Rights Bill biggest, most positive step in trade union rights in 50 years. 'But, Labour aren't making it easy to rally to their banner. Congress, it is less than a year since Labour won its landslide. There was a feeling of real hope, real change. Where there could be a common endeavour in rebuilding our country. Where GMB was willing to play our part. 'But mistakes have been made. My message to the Government .....is simple – listen. Listen to GMB. Listen and think again.'
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
From creating the NHS to investing in people, Labour are innovators – next week we'll do it again… with £86b for hi-tech
IT has been almost a year since Labour came to power – and in that time we have made tough choices to steady our economy. This government will never forget that the decisions we make impact your family's finances. 4 4 You know what it means to work hard and make sacrifices when times are tough. And while that has not been easy, the tide is beginning to turn. Interest rates have been cut four times — a boost for everyone with a mortgage. We raised the pay of millions of working people by up to £1,400 a year by increasing the national minimum wage. In the last week, we have increased the number of children eligible for free school meals by half a million and announced £15billion to upgrade trains and buses outside London. Now is the time to invest in Britain's future, and that means doing things differently. We are building a new economic model that puts working people first. By investing in the industries of tomorrow, we will create good jobs, boost wages and put more money into people's pockets. Too often, governments get caught firefighting today's problems, neglecting the opportunities of tomorrow. But history shows us a different path. Inside robotic surgery that is revolutionising outcomes on the NHS After a post-war election victory in 1945, a Labour government created the NHS. In the 1960s, we backed science and technology in the age of the 'white heat'. In the 1990s, we invested in people and public services, transforming lives. Today, we must do the same, by backing British ideas and innovation. Next week, the Chancellor will set out our plan to renew Britain's economy by investing in your priorities: health, security and good jobs. As part of that, we are announcing an £86billion investment in the UK's fastest-growing sectors — tech, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and defence. This money will fund cutting-edge medical research to tackle hard-to-treat diseases to help keep families together for longer. It will support defence innovation to keep Britain safe in an increasingly volatile world. 'Foundations for change' And it will power advances in engineering biology that could revolutionise how we produce food, fuel, materials. These investments will more than pay for themselves and will create thousands of well-paid jobs across the country. And the decisions over where to spend the cash will not be made in Whitehall, but in the communities that will benefit, because we know every corner of Great Britain has a part to play. We want to see Liverpool leveraging its expertise in life sciences to accelerate drug discovery; Northern Ireland harnessing its reputation for cutting-edge defence equipment to shore up our national security; and South Wales making the most of its expertise in designing cutting-edge semiconductors that power the devices like mobile phones and electric cars we rely on every day. 4 4 We know the legacy of the past 14 years can't be reversed overnight. But the tough decisions we have made are laying the foundations for lasting change. Now, we are entering a new phase, focused on long-term renewal and economic strength. The principle is simple: invest through tough times to grow stronger. We see this in the business world constantly. Like the American tech company that, in the 1990s, was 90 days from bankruptcy before doubling down on innovation. That company was Apple, and today many of you are reading this on one of their products. Britain has always led the world when we bet on ourselves. Led the world James Watt's steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution. Work at Bletchley Park laid the foundations for modern computing. Tim Berners-Lee invented the worldwide web. Today, we are global leaders in life sciences and among the top three countries for AI development. These strengths are not just academic — they represent opportunity. Industries that generate billions, improve lives and offer quality jobs for the next generation. We believe Britain's best days are still ahead. That's why we are investing in our people, in innovation, in the future. The road won't always be easy, but we are building a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone.
