New Zealanders' top priority: improve the health system

Improving the health system heads the list of issues New Zealanders think are the most important for the current government to take action on in 2025.

A Horizon Research survey, putting a choice of 37 issues to respondents, finds the top five are:

• Improve the health system - chosen by 62% - this is the equivalent of 2,400,000 adults,

• 57% chose rising food prices – 2,195,000 adults,

• Affordable housing at 50% – 1,933,000 adults,

• Reduce crime at 43% - 1,647,000 adults, and

• Reduce unemployment at 40% - 1,554,000 adults.

The chart below shows the top 10 issues chosen. 

The issues to focus on are similar to 2024, with the top 4 issues being the same, but there has been a significant rise in the numbers wanting action on reducing unemployment.

In February 2024, 26% said the Government should prioritise reducing unemployment. This has risen to 40% and is now ranked fifth.

The average number of issues chosen by respondents was 11.

Across age groups there are differences in which issues are important.

People under 35 years chose on average 9 issues. Rising food prices (50%), affordable housing (48%) and fuel prices (40%) were the top three issues for this group.

People aged 35-54 years chose on average 11 issues. Rising food prices (61%), improve health system (57%) and affordable housing (50%) were the top three issues for this group.

People aged 55+ years chose on average 14 issues. Improve health system (85%), rising food prices (59%) and improve primary and secondary education (56%) were the top three issues for this group.

Respondents were asked which political party they voted for in 2023. Across the main political party voters the top 10 issues are in the tables below.

On average people who voted for Te Pāti Māori chose the most issues (17 on average).

Full results – Issues ranked

The table below lists all issues and their ranking.

Research method

An online survey of adults living in New Zealand aged 18 and older.

Sample sources

Members of two nationwide Horizon Research panels and a third-party panel (used for source diversity).

Fieldwork dates

20^th to 25^th February 2025.

Sample size

1,017 adults.

Weighting

The total sample is weighted on age, gender, ethnicity, region and party vote at the 2023 general election to reflect the New Zealand adult population.

Maximum predicted margin of error

±3.1% at the 95% confidence level.

Population estimates in the report

These are based on the Stats NZ Census 2023 population of 3,865,235 people aged 18 or more. All population numbers are to the nearest thousand.

The survey was self-commissioned by Horizon as part of its public interest research programme, which aims to make New Zealanders heard by those making decisions which affect them.

Contact:

Graeme Colman, Principal, Horizon Research, email gcolman@horizonresearch.co.nz, telephone +64 21 848 576.