Poll: Climate change trending up list of top issues for New Zealanders
Concern about climate change is on the rise among New Zealanders asked what issues they care most about, a new Ipsos poll has found. The Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor poll asked 610 Kiwis what the three most important political issues were to them. Climate change was named by 22 per cent of respondents, and the environment was named by 20 per cent. The same poll has been run seven times over the past two years, and both issues have been gradually trending upwards, from 16 and 13 per cent respectively in February 2018. READ MORE: * Quick! Save The Planet! The biggest moments in climate change in the last 12 months * A comprehensive analysis of climate change debate in New Zealand's Parliament New Zealanders aged 18-34 were significantly more likely to consider climate change a top issue compared to other age groups. The Green party was seen as the party most capable of tackling climate change, with 36 per cent support. Labour was second on 23 per cent, and National had 11 per cent. Housing continued to be the top issue, with 42 per cent. It has been the leading issue in all seven polls, though has fallen slightly from its peak of 50 per cent in July 2018. In Australia, 32 per cent of respondents named the environment as their top issue, the first time it has topped the poll.