New Zealanders’ Satisfaction with Housing Supply second-lowest of 28 countries surveyed

• Results now released from the second Global Infrastructure Index survey conducted by Ipsos across 28 countries.

• Only 28% of New Zealanders think the country’s housing supply is ‘good’; Sweden is the only country ranking lower at 25%.

• By comparison, the United States, Colombia, Turkey and Serbia all have 60% or more approving of their countries’ housing supply.

• At 43%, the proportion of Australians satisfied with their housing supply is 15% higher than in New Zealand.

• Housing infrastructure is the New Zealand public’s top priority for infrastructure investment.

• More than half (54%) of New Zealanders agree that the country is not doing enough to meet its infrastructure needs.

• At 65% satisfaction, New Zealanders are the most-satisfied with their energy-generation infrastructure of all countries surveyed.

Auckland, 26 October 2017 – Ipsos publishes new research which finds new housing supply to be the highest priority for the New Zealand public, and of significantly higher priority than in other countries surveyed.

The survey – conducted across 28 countries including New Zealand and undertaken last month - comes as a vindication of the new government’s policy to build 100,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years.

When asked which types of infrastructure that respondents think should be made a priority for investment for New Zealand – New housing supply was at the forefront of people’s minds, with 65% citing this issue, followed by major road networks (46%) and rail infrastructure (45%).

With 66% of New Zealanders dissatisfied with current levels of housing, a mere 28% are satisfied, much lower than the global average of 45% satisfaction. Despite media coverage tending to focus on the Auckland housing crisis, there were similar levels of dissatisfaction with new housing supply across the country.

As well as investment in New Zealand housing, roading infrastructure is also of high importance, with successes such as the Waterview tunnel link no doubt undermined by ongoing nationwide road closures over the course of a wet, slip-prone winter. Understandably, those in Manawatu were significantly more likely to be ‘dissatisfied’ (42%), affected no doubt by the Manawatu Gorge problems.

Aucklanders and Northlanders least satisfied with their roads

More than two thirds of respondents were satisfied with the local road network in their region. Respondents in Auckland and Northland were significantly more likely to rate the current quality of their roads as poor (63% and 56% respectively).

New Zealand not doing enough to meet infrastructure needs, especially in Northland

More than half (54%) of New Zealanders agree that the country is not doing enough to meet infrastructure needs. When asked whether or not their local area gets its fair share of local investment, Northlanders were especially scathing, with 81% of Northland people disagreeing that “their area gets its fair share in infrastructure investment”.

New Zealanders the most satisfied globally with their energy-generation infrastructure

More than two thirds of respondents were satisfied with the local road network in their region. Respondents

ENDS

Notes

Full results available from www.ipsos-mori.com

• Ipsos MORI interviewed 501 adults aged 16-65 across New Zealand (21,043 globally), online, in early September 2017. Data is weighted to the known population profile.

• The global study involved the same survey being conducted via Ipsos Global @dvisor in 28 countries including New Zealand (samples sizes were either 500 or 1,000 in each country): Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States. Data is weighted to known population profiles.

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