Ipsos Issues Monitor - July 2026

New Zealand / Aotearoa, 31 July 2026 - Ipsos New Zealand has released the 33rd edition of the Ipsos Issues Monitor, which tracks the most important issues facing New Zealanders today and which political parties are perceived as best able to manage them. The survey has been running since 2018.

The latest survey of 1,002 New Zealanders reveals that inflation / cost of living remains the country's most pressing issue, with 62% identifying it as a top concern. The top three issues remain unchanged, with healthcare / hospitals (38%) and the economy (34%) retaining second and third place respectively. Meanwhile, unemployment has returned to New Zealanders' top five concerns, rising to 20% and overtaking concerns about petrol prices.

As fieldwork took place during the announced ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict, this wave saw a sharp decline in concern about petrol prices / fuel, which fell ten percentage points from 26% in May to 16% in July, dropping from the fourth most important issue to equal seventh.

The monitor also shows New Zealanders' assessment of government performance has remained steady, with average rating of 4.1 out of 10 (compared to 4.2 in May), while 24% rate the Government's performance positively (7-10 out of 10), this is compared to 27% in May.

Other key findings of the Ipsos Issues Monitor include:

• For younger New Zealanders (18-34), economic concerns dominate, with elevated concern about unemployment (31%), the economy (30%), and housing / price of housing (27%). While, for older New Zealanders (65+), healthcare outweighs cost of living concerns, with healthcare / hospitals (57%) ranking ahead of inflation / cost of living (54%) as the issue of greatest importance.
• Comparison with Australia: Although cost of living concerns are identical on both sides of the Tasman (62%), New Zealanders are focused on healthcare while Australians are focused on housing, highlighting a clear difference in the issues shaping public priorities in each country.
• Labour is now perceived as the political party most capable of managing all five of New Zealanders' top concerns: inflation / cost of living, healthcare / hospitals, the economy, housing / price of housing, and unemployment.
• Cost of living remains the leading concern across every demographic group except those aged 65+, where healthcare / hospitals is the top issue.
• Younger New Zealanders are more focused on economic pressures, with young men showing the highest concern for unemployment (32%), while young women report the highest concerns about housing / price of housing (33%).

Carin Hercock, Country Manager, Ipsos New Zealand, said: “New Zealanders concerns around inflation show no sign of improvement and are now at the same level as they were just prior the 2023 election. The second highest issue, Healthcare, is significantly more important for women, so will be a key issue to address for political parties seeking to secure the votes of women this election.”

Amanda Dudding, Executive Director Public Affairs, Ipsos New Zealand, added: “Younger men aged 18 to 34 have higher concerns about unemployment, petrol prices and immigration than any other age/gender groups, while concerns around taxation, the economy and crime are likely to become more important as males hit the middle age groups.”

See below for a full copy of the 33rd Ipsos Issues monitor, New Zealand edition.