New survey on the Government’s performance
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
New survey on the Government’s performance
The Government gets ticks from the public for its performance in protecting the environment, fighting unemployment and dealing with security threats.
But its performance in providing a decent standard of living for the old and health care for the sick is rated less highly, and it gets the thumbs down for failing to control crime. Taxation is another big source of dissatisfaction.
A new survey, by Massey University’s Department of Marketing, also provides evidence that a decade of MMP has increased satisfaction with New Zealand’s political system, though the report’s author, Professor Phil Gendall, says perceptions of being disenfranchised remain high.
The survey is part of the International Social Survey Programme, which involves leading academic institutions in 40 countries. Surveys cover a different topic every year in a roughly seven-year cycle: The last on the role of government was in 1997.
Key findings include:
Perceptions of the role of
government have changed relatively little over the past 10
years, except for a sharp decline in the expectation that
the Government should provide a job for everyone who wants
one.
Most people favour cuts in Government spending
but there is strong support for more spending in health,
education and law enforcement.
The belief that low
and middle-income earners pay too much tax is widespread and
has increased since 1997, most sharply amongst middle-income
earners.
The introduction of proportional
representation (MMP) has reduced dissatisfaction with the
political system, but the feeling that ordinary people have
little influence over the Government remains
widespread.
New Zealanders have liberal views on
actions designed to challenge the Government. Most believe
organising public meetings, protest marches and
demonstrations should be permitted. Even when people with
extreme views want to overthrow the Government, most believe
they should be allowed to publish books or hold public
meetings to express these views.
Concerns about
terrorism are reflected in widespread support for measures
such as phone tapping, detention without trial and random
stopping and searching, if the Government suspects a
terrorist act is about to happen.
New Zealand is
generally regarded as free of the corruption that
characterises some other countries. But about 15 per cent
believe there is corruption among some politicians and
public officials. And there is a strong perception that the
treatment people get from public officials depends on who
they know.
Concerns about smoking, drinking and
obesity show up in strong support for interventions designed
to reduce the undesirable effects of cigarettes, alcohol and
unhealthy food. Nearly half support extending the smoking
ban to include all public places, and 75 per cent support
returning the drinking age to 20.
- There is strong
support for stricter enforcement of existing liquor laws,
and some support for requiring warning labels on
alcohol.
- There is strong support for removing GST on
fresh fruit and vegetables and for more regulation of food
advertising, particularly advertising to children.
The nationwide mail survey, of 2250 people aged 18 and over selected from the Electoral Roll, was conducted between August and October 2006. The response rate was 60 per cent and the maximum margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
New Zealand has been included in the ISSP surveys since 1991. Data from the surveys is stored in central archives in Madrid and Cologne and allows researchers to monitor differences between countries and changes over time.
The full report is available at http://marketing.massey.ac.nz/issp.asp
ENDS