New Zealanders were more concerned than ever about the cost of living, health care, the economy, housing costs and unemployment in early July, according to the latest Ipsos Monitor survey of over 1,000 potential voters that was released this morning.

The survey found more voters thought Labour would manage the economy, health care, the cost of living, housing costs and unemployment better than National. This is only the second time in the survey’s history since 2018 that Labour has beaten National on the economy, having briefly been ahead in October last year.

The survey also found confidence in the Government (right track/wrong track) fell to its second lowest level ever in the survey’s eight0-year history, just above its record-low in October of last year. (See more analysis, charts and detail below, and in the video above.)

Elsewhere in the news around Aotearoa’s political economy of housing, climate and poverty this morning:

* Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department is in crisis this morning. An ED doctor said yesterday the hospital plans to pitch a tent outside as corridors fill up with patients in beds, with some already being angled in corridors in order to fit more in.

* In my view, this case again highlights the dangers of ongoing under-investment and skimping on staff and maintenance to keep pressing the size of Government down under 30% of GDP in an aging, fast-growing and less healthy population. The population of Greater Christchurch has grown by 150,000 to 577,000 in the last decade, which was faster than projected or invested for. (See charts of the day below)

* New Zealand First has revealed it plans to sell the retail arms of the Government-controlled gentailers, Meridian, Mercury and Genesis, to the private sector to fund extra generation by their wholesale arms, Tom Pullar-Strecker reports this morning for The Post-$.

* ANZ’s Business Outlook survey through the month of July found an improvement in confidence about the economy and business’ own outlooks from June, but stagnant experienced activity, a contraction in hiring and a worsening outlook as the month went on and fuel prices rose ever higher.

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National sags again on economy in Ipsos poll

It is turning into a long winter of discontent for the Government, across all the measures that drive voter support for the Coalition overall, and National in particular.

Today’s Ipsos NZ poll results show voters even grumpier about the economy, the hospital system and unemployment than they were in October last year, when for the first time Labour was judged better on the economy than National.

Here’s the key charts to tell the story:

My Top Pick n’ Mix Six

* Deep-dive by Amanda Gillies for RNZ/Newsroom’s The Detail: Deaths, delays and a health system under extraordinary pressure

* Scoop by Sammy Carter for RNZ: Missed rent cases jump the Tenancy Tribunal queue - but is it favouring landlords?

* Scoop by Nicholas Jones for Stuff: Top surgeon quit NZ for Australia after twice falling asleep at the wheel

* Scoop by Glenn McConnell, Jenna Lynch & Emma Ricketts for Stuff: Revealed: Military choppers and bulletproof car on call to protect Seymour and Luxon on Waitangi Day; Stuff: The five times Luxon caught the air force express to the Beehive; Stuff: An Air Force chopper had to be flown up from Ohakea to take PM from Auckland to Hamilton

* Interview with Quilae Wong by Mandy Te & Anna Whyte for Interest: Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong talks coalition dealbreakers & more

* Explainer by Susan Edmunds for RNZ: How Consumer NZ wants to fix the electricity market

Charts of the day: Christchurch population above forecasts

Christchurch city population and forecast

Selwyn and Waimakariri districts population and forecasts

Front Page of the Day: Labour beating National

Cartoon of the Day: A special water fountain

cheers.

Bernard

PS: I update this post online later in the morning for paying subscribers, including more detailed Picks n’ Mixes on housing, climate and poverty, a chart pack and more cartoons below the paywall fold. It is only available to paying subscribers, who are also enabled to comment and use The Kākā’s chat room.

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