𝔸𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕪𝕤𝕚𝕤: ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕂𝕚𝕨𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒

𝔸𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕪𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕦𝕝𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕙 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝 ℍ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕠𝕟 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕝 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕜𝕚𝕨𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕪𝕔𝕝𝕖.

A

2025 Horizon poll (conducted February 20–25), paints a bleak picture: only 10% of respondents were "pleased" with the government’s performance, while 38% were "disappointed," 34% "frustrated," and 24% "angry." 

Positive emotions like "hopeful" (22%) and "excited" (5%) were notably lower. This suggests a significant portion of the public is dissatisfied, even among supporters of coalition parties.

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Additional Reading:

𝔸𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕝 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘, 𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕥𝕠 𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕝: 𝕃𝕖𝕗𝕥 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕔 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕥 𝕒𝕤 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕤

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Key Factors Influencing Sentiment 

• Economic Concerns: Economic performance is a major driver of public sentiment. New Zealand is grappling with slow growth (0.1% annual GDP growth to September 2024) and a recessionary environment, as noted in Roy Morgan’s December 2024 analysis. The 1News Verian poll from February 2025 reported optimism about the economy dropping to 36% (down 5 points from December), with economic pessimism rising to 25%. High unemployment and cost-of-living pressures have persisted despite coalition promises to address these issues through policies like tax relief and reduced public spending. The Guardian’s February 11, 2025, article highlights public frustration over the economy, noting that half of Verian poll respondents felt the government was heading in the wrong direction. 
•  Policy Implementation and Public Sector Cuts: The coalition’s "back to basics" approach—reversing previous policies (e.g., smokefree laws, Māori health initiatives) and cutting public sector spending—has sparked discontent. A May 2024 poll cited on X showed 60% of respondents were concerned about public sector cuts, a sentiment likely persisting into 2025 given ongoing austerity measures. The February 2025 Horizon poll’s high "frustration" and "anger" levels may reflect backlash to divisive moves like the ACT party’s Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading in November 2024 and has fueled perceptions of divisiveness. 
• Leadership and Coalition Dynamics: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s personal favorability has declined. The 1News Verian poll showed a 22% drop in his preferred prime minister rating to a record low, while Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins maintained stronger appeal (e.g., 52% favorability vs. Luxon’s 42% in May 2024). Posts on X from January 2025 note National’s party support dipping below Labour’s for the first time since April 2023, signaling potential voter fatigue with Luxon’s leadership. Additionally, coalition tensions—particularly with NZ First and ACT—may erode confidence. Over a third of NZ First voters expressed disappointment in the Horizon poll, posing risks to the coalition’s cohesion. 
• Gender and Age Divide: Roy Morgan’s January 2025 data reveals a stark gender split: men favor the coalition (64% vs. 34% for the opposition), while women back the Labour-Greens-Māori bloc (58.5% vs. 36.5% for the coalition). Older men (50+) strongly support the government (75.5%), but younger men and women lean toward the opposition. This divide suggests policy impacts—like economic cuts or cultural debates—are resonating differently across demographics. 

Specific Sentiments by Group 

• Coalition Supporters: Even among National, ACT, and NZ First voters, satisfaction is waning. The Horizon poll’s finding that over a third of NZ First voters are disappointed indicates internal coalition strain, possibly due to unmet expectations or policy compromises. 
• Opposition Supporters: The Labour-Greens-Māori bloc, with 46.5% support in January, benefits from growing discontent. Labour’s uptick to 28.5% and the opposition’s narrow lead in some polls (e.g., 1News Verian) reflect a shift among voters disillusioned with the coalition. 
•  General Public: Beyond party lines, the net country direction score dropping to negative 14% (53% "wrong direction" vs. 39% "right direction") in January 2025 posts on X underscores widespread pessimism. This aligns with the Verian poll’s 50% "wrong direction" consensus.

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Additional Reading:

𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝔹𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕘: ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜

ℝ𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕦𝕞𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕝 𝕄ā𝕠𝕣𝕚 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 - 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕥

𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒 ℕ𝕖𝕨 ℤ𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕖 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕖 𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕖

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Conclusion 

Kiwis’ feelings about government performance in early 2025 are largely negative, driven by economic stagnation, controversial policies, and declining trust in leadership. 

While the coalition retains a slim electoral edge, public confidence is fragile, with only a minority expressing positive sentiments like pleasure or hope. 

The gender and age divides highlight a polarized electorate, and the coalition’s ability to address economic woes and unify its base will likely determine whether this discontent deepens or reverses by the next election in late 2026. 

For now, frustration and disappointment dominate the national mood.

𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖈𝖊 𝕬𝖑𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖊

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