New Zealanders voted in a new government on Saturday amidst a palpable mood of apathy and dread. Voters described the atmosphere as "flat" and "tired," with some expressing a sense of disillusionment that mirrors a broader national sentiment.
A recent study found that more than half of the country no longer views New Zealand as a land of opportunity, while a similar portion fears the future looks even worse. Many Kiwis feel the economy is in ruins, citing a lack of jobs, sky-high living costs, and a breakdown in the sense of community. This sentiment has contributed to a record number of people abandoning the country in search of better futures.
The Saturday election saw a record number of voters desert the two major parties, leaving neither with a clear mandate. However, the results showed new highs for other groups. The left-leaning Greens, the right-wing libertarian Act Party, and the centrist Opportunity Party saw gains. The Opportunity Party, which had never won a seat in parliament before, could now hold the balance of power with seven seats. Quilae Wong, the party's leader, told Kiwis on election night that they had "voted to change New Zealand politics for good," stating she entered politics because she was "frustrated at the slow pace of change."
The country is currently described as being at a crossroads. University of Auckland Prof Robert MacCulloch told the BBC that New Zealand was once viewed as a land of milk and honey for those who worked hard, with its people ranking amongst the most positive in the world. He noted that while people weren't the highest paid, they "could get by nicely."
Many who spoke to the BBC said the country's decline accelerated during the Covid pandemic. Unemployment is now at an 11-year high and rising. For Kiwis under 24, jobs are so scarce that one in three either cannot get enough work or have none at all. Michael Dawson, a 20-year-old who studied a trade, said he has not had a single interview in a year and feels "somewhat cynical with the way I think [about the future] now." Zainab Ali, chief executive of Youth Inspire, reported that waitlists for employment aid workshops stretch into the hundreds, with young people asking, "What's the point?"
Economic pressures include drastically jumped household electricity bills and some of the highest rental and purchase prices on Earth. Despite producing enough food to feed the population eight times over, about a quarter of adults skip meals because of high grocery prices set by a supermarket duopoly. Healthcare is also in crisis, with long waiting lists and crumbling infrastructure. Political scientist Luke Oldfield noted that some segments of the population face "real material hardship" while others are "quite anxious that they could be next."
This "perfect storm" is driving a record-breaking exodus of about 180 people leaving the country every day. Siblings Sam and Emily told the BBC that they find it hard to stay, with Sam stating, "It's not just that you're being rewarded for going to Australia, it's that you're kind of actively being punished for staying here."
While most feel gloom, some areas differ. At a livestock saleyard in Fielding, farmer Stu Morton said the last year was the best he's had in 30 years. He attributed this to the agriculture industry turning a corner under the National Party after struggling under the previous Labour government's emissions reductions scheme.
Former prime minister Helen Clark told the BBC that these issues are causing a "crisis of confidence" about the nation's identity. Her foundation's recent report found that Kiwis, particularly young people, feel more isolated than they did a generation ago, and trust in institutions is low; only two out of five New Zealanders trust the government to do the right thing.
The transition of power has been marked by unfulfilled promises. Many of the transformations promised by Jacinda Ardern in 2017 never eventuated, and some policies were wound back by her successors. The National Party came to power in 2023 promising to "get our country back on track," but political commentator Grant Duncan said they have had "very limited success," noting the government has spent much of its time and effort wrangling its own flank. While both governments claim their plans were stymied by crises like Covid and international conflicts, Duncan argued that this explanation is not sufficient.
