Local Elections Trend Right
October 10, 2022
Recent polling in New Zealand has for months shown the Labour party struggling to form a government. In September, the Labour party had a slight rise in support, up 1% to 34% of the total vote. But even combined with likely coalition partners the Green party, on 9%, and the Māori party, on 2%, the left would fall short of being able to form a government.
The right bloc, made up of the centre-right National party, on 37%, and Libertarian Act party, on 9%, could form a government without needing additional coalition partners. Polling on overall optimism – whether people “think the country is going in the right direction” and its economic outlook have also tracked down, as the government struggles to reign in inflation, housing unaffordability and high costs of living.
Part of the picture that could be emerging locally, Rashbrooke says, is a disillusionment with some of the government’s bigger political promises – where results are either not yet visible, or progress is slow.