NEW ZEALANDERS’ PRIORITIES
1 Improving hospitals and the health care system .............................................. 90%
2 Improving education standards and outcomes ................................................... 85%
3 Keeping the national economy strong ............................................................ 84%
4 Addressing Domestic and Family Violence ....................................................... 83%
5 Improving employment opportunities ........................................... 83%
6 More funding for health and medical research .................................. 82%
7 Managing the Government budget ........................................................... 81%
8 Improving national infrastructure, including roads, rail, ports, airports and water quality and supply ..... 81%
9 Creating more skilled jobs and apprenticeships ..................................... 80%
10 Increasing funding and programs for preventive health care ............ 80%
11 Reducing crime and improving law and order ................................................... 79%
12 Helping the environment in practical ways .......................................... 75% 13 Providing strong leadership . 73% 14 Doing more to keep prices and the cost of living down .............................. 73%
15 Communicating definite plans and goals for New Zealand’s future ... 71%
16 Maintaining a strong focus on domestic border control, including security at ports and airports .... 70%
17 Improving New Zealand’s overseas trade and exports ................................ 69%
18 Having policies and programs for the aged and ageing, including for pensioners and self-funded retirees ......................................................... 67%
19 More focus and funding for scientific research and development ........................................... 64%
20 Taking action to address climate change .......................................................... 63%
21 Providing more help and assistance for families with children ......................................................... 61%
22 Doing more for regional and rural New Zealand ............................................. 61%
23 Keeping home mortgage and business interest rates low .......... 60%
24 Strong defence force for military and peace-keeping operations ... 45%
25 In cooperation with allies, helping to fight the global war on terror 43%
26 Lowering taxes .............................. 39% Source: Roy Morgan survey of 504 New Zealanders, aged 18+, commissioned by New Zealanders for Health Research.