Hold on to your hat: The 2026 election is going to be close

The “don’t know” category for who is best able to handle each of the top five issues has risen. Voters are looking for something different. (Image: Getty)

Cameron Bagrie

Tue, 02 Sep 2025

“Voters losing faith in Government on key issues” was the headline, with the Government assessed as best able to handle three of the top 20 issues according to the August 2025 Ipsos Issues Monitor. The August results are a mirror image of the May survey, which I wrote about in June, when the Government scored three out of 20. Therefore, at face value, there is little new news in the latest results. However, to put three out of 20 in perspective, the National Party was assessed as being best able to handle eight o...

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