Concern around unemployment is at its highest level since November 2020, the latest Ipsos NZ Issues Monitor survey has found, pushing up into the top four most important issues.
The survey also looked at the support around different taxes, with a wealth tax bringing in 64% suggested support.
Inflation/cost of living remained the most important issue (63%), at its highest level since May 2023, followed by healthcare/hospitals (44% - rising from 38% in July), the economy at 34%, and unemployment at 21%.
Concern around unemployment rose to levels last seen in November 2020.
Those surveyed rated the Government's performance 4.1/10, which was stable since the last survey. Labour was the party seen as the most capable of managing the top five issues.
Tax
While tax was only at the 10th equal rated issue with immigration, concern around tax has been increasing since October last year, rising up to 8%.
Those surveyed were asked about the level of tax they paid. Forty-four per cent felt they should pay less tax, 45% said they paid the right amount of tax, 4% said they should pay more and 7% did not know.
They were also asked about different types of taxes.
Asked about a wealth tax, at 2.5% on an individual’s net assets above $10 million with an exemption for family homes, 64% were in support, 26% were against and 10% did not know.
Forty-five per cent supported a capital gains tax, at 28% percent tax on any profit made on property (excluding the family home) sold after July 1, 2027, 40% were against and 16% did not know.
Less than a quarter (24%) supported a land value tax, a yearly tax unimproved value of all urban land set at 1.75% and on rural land set at 0.5%, 50% did not support the tax, and 26% did not know.
Amanda Dudding, Ipsos NZ's Executive Director of Public Affairs, said responses to the questions on tax reveal an interesting contrast in public opinion.
"While New Zealanders are divided on whether they personally pay too much tax, there is relatively strong support for taxes focused on wealth and capital gains. These findings suggest New Zealanders continue to distinguish between personal tax burdens and how they believe the overall tax system should operate," Dudding said.
The survey took place via online panels between September 3-11 with 1003 New Zealanders surveyed, and a credibility interval of +/- 3.5 percentage points.
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