Colmar Brunton polling shows strong public support for the Government handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 87% of people saying the approve or strongly approve, with only 9% disapproving.
A poll was done from 3-5 April after the Level 4 lockdown had started, and another has been done from 20-21 April, after the move to Level 3 lockdown was announced on Monday.
The latest poll: How much do you approve or disapprove of how your Government is responding to the Covid-19 pandemic?
- Strongly approve 68% (up from 55%)
- Somewhat approve 19% (down from 29%)
- Total approve 87% (up from 84%)
- Somewhat disapprove 5% (down from 6%
- Strongly disapprove 3% (no change)
- Total disapprove 8% (down from 9%)
- Neither approve nor disapprove 4% (down from 6%)
- Don’t know 1% (up from 0)
Colmar Brunton, Margin of error +/- 4%
The poll was conducted via 601 online interviews with New Zealanders over the age of 18 between April 20 and 21.
Stuff: The Government’s Covid-19 lockdown measures have overwhelming public support, according to a poll
Colmar Brunton pollster Edward Langley said New Zealand seemed to be seeing “something special” in the number of new Covid-19 cases each day.
“People feel there’s light there at the end of the tunnel which other nations haven’t seen”.
“I think we are seeing something special. We are setting aside our party political affiliations and we’re getting behind the Government”.
New Zealand support is much higher than G7 countries:
- Average for G7 countries 50% support their Government (down from 54% two weeks ago)
- Canada 74% support
- France 43% (down from 61%)
- USA 46% support (down from 52%)
France continues with a high death rate currently running at over 500 deaths per day.
USA has the highest total cases (866,148) and deaths (48,868). Deaths increased by 2,341 yesterday. Support there is dropping along with President Trumps approval (and he is publicly arguing with one of his top health officials again today).
Your NZ 
Gezza
/ 24th April 2020We’re still a honeymoon period, I think. One where the cold hard realities of predicted adverse economic impacts, business failures, & job losses haven’t hit home for many big time yet.
It will be interesting to see how mood of the public progresses as the Covid-19 responses do.
Meantime:
A Ministry of Works for post-Covid NZ?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/04/01/1109751/a-ministry-of-works-for-post-covid-nz
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020Yes, a lot of people are going to find themselves “working” for Jacinda under Labour or moving to Australia.
Duker
/ 24th April 2020Unemployment will be just as high in Australia….getting jobs there will be harder.
We will have to be strict on those here for work visas, when the visa runs out no renewals.
Its tough but it is a temporary visa not a continuous renewal and plenty of kiwis will find their job gone overseas or even in Australia with no government support.
Pink David
/ 24th April 2020“We’re still a honeymoon period, I think. One where the cold hard realities of predicted adverse economic impacts, business failures, & job losses haven’t hit home for many big time yet.”
Very few have any understanding of what is coming. Nor do they understand how futile the lockdown has been.
UK Composite Output Index is at 12. That has never been seen before Above 50 is a boom, below 40 is a recession. No one knows what to call a 12.
US unemployment has now risen 26 million in the last 4 weeks. US unemployment offices & systems are crashing across the country. I wonder if anyone has thought about ‘Flattening’ that curve?
Kitty Catkin
/ 24th April 2020I hear and read a lot more from people who are not in favour of the draconian lockdown now.
“Somewhat in favour’ could mean anything. I wouldn’t class it with ‘in favour’.
Wait until the real effects of crushing the economy for a virus that has had 400-500 active cases at a time, 15 at most in hospital and 12 deaths are known.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020It’s going to depend on how many find their 20% pay cut ends with no job.
Blazer
/ 24th April 2020There will be blood.
Here and overseas.
You will be o.k Al…I guess you’ve got to enjoy…’spending other peoples ..money’.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020More lemons, B?
Blazer
/ 24th April 2020you have a surplus?
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020I will do. They are a bit green yet. The mandarins are sweet though.
Blazer
/ 24th April 2020Actually I’ll keep an eye out for your roadside stall, if I have to breach C19 regulations and shoot through to Pahia to see ‘friends’.
I like …mandarins.
Duker
/ 24th April 2020He could put the pip fruit in his little Pahia art shop ..there wont much demand for pricey pictures of dusky south seas maidens for quite a long time.
The kiwi travellors to come cant resist a bit of fruit shop and never bothered with touristy tat.
I imagine the sideline for doing up traditional baches around Russell might hit a roadblock too as I hear Banks arent rolling over housing/investment loans without a very close look at the income can service what might be plain but well located and pricey homes.
You know all those bargains who must have got over the years for sellers who had to get out quick….now you could be the bunny who has to let the capital gain be someone elses. So sad when capitalism eats its own
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020There’ll be enough lemons for you too, Duker, sad little chap you are.
David
/ 24th April 2020Given the bipartisan support for the lockdown the poll makes sense, havent come across a single person who doesn’t support it.
You have to feel for all those countries that are locked down but still have 10s of thousands of infections as well. Distance and being able to watch it unfold from here has been priceless.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020Bipartisan? As for support there has been an appalling paucity of intelligent analysis and criticism given what is at stake. I think the judgement of history will be scathing.
It brings to mind the insanity of the rush to war in 1914.
Blazer
/ 24th April 2020hell you’re older than I thought!
There is plenty of analysis on a daily basis here and around the world.
It does not match your own…that’s the reality.
You are one of those my EconoME people.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020No, I just don’t see human sacrifice as a sensible response to a plague, B.
Duker
/ 24th April 2020Bipartisan is correct Bridges and Seymour were totally in favour of the immediate 1 month level 4 lockdown, urgency was required.
It seems there will be attempts to rewrite history as we have a success but these sort of epidemics can have multiple waves and Bridges and Seymour want to ignore history and science
David
/ 24th April 2020No one is trying to re write history but we should be open now but as per there own report the government are not ready with a decent enough track and tracing system which is a legitimate area for the opposition to go after.
Level 3 restrictions are too harsh in a lot of peoples minds again an area that should be critiqued. The media, thanks to a 50 million cheque, need to put the government under scrutiny because there are many legitimate areas where level 3 makes no sense. The chambers of commerce have got 25 million so they have been hushed.
The brutal way they have gone after Bridges for daring to question things should worry anybody who supports a liberal democracy.
Pete George
/ 24th April 2020I think Bridges is largely just the victim of saying mainly the right things at the wrong time in the wrong place. He is going to struggle to fight against the tide of current public sentiment.
Post: https://yournz.org/2020/04/24/simon-bridges-responds-to-criticism-of-his-criticism/
Pete George
/ 24th April 2020“Level 3 restrictions are too harsh in a lot of peoples minds”
Seems like a small but in some places vocal minority.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th April 2020Bi means two, Duker.
Kitty Catkin
/ 24th April 2020I have been surprised at the number of people who have criticised the lockdown and government recently.
Gezza
/ 24th April 2020Yes it’s odd. All of a sudden – the day before this CB favourable poll is released – a typically Jacinda-fawning 1 News at 6 does a complete turnabout & launches into a newsnight of negative reporting on her & her government. Quite bizarre.
Pete George
/ 24th April 2020Simon Bridges’ leadership questioned after missteps
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/415016/simon-bridges-leadership-questioned-after-missteps
Being Leader of the Opposition is harder than ever in a crisis where the Prime Minister is getting most of the attention andis mostly doing a good job.
Pete George
/ 24th April 2020Bridges has explained to his mailing list: https://homepaddock.wordpress.com/2020/04/24/someone-has-to-ask-the-questions/
Duker
/ 24th April 2020That was my point about the backlash, its was from the Nats own mailing list and facebook followers. And now hes trying to ‘explain’ to the very same outraged. Too late
the Inquisitor -General will be facing his own auto-da-fe
David
/ 24th April 2020No it wasnt and you know it, his Facebook page is open to anyone to comment on and anyone who makes a comment alerts their friends and so on and so on and it becomes an echo chamber pile on.
If it was a National only closed profile then your point would be valid but you are just making it up as usual, and dont quote “Jenny from Invercargill” who has always voted National but wont now because he questioned Jacinda, sheesh.
Duker
/ 24th April 2020Hello reality… most left leaning people dont follow Simon Bridges or national and arent aware of his musings
Matthew Hooton: Simon Bridges’ leadership beyond salvaging
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12327102
In a number of other occasions knowledgeable people say Bridges allies are saying the right thing in a better way than he is… Goldsmith is clearly showing him up
Pete George
/ 24th April 2020Woodhouse is doing a good job too, I don’t think either Goldsmith or Woodhouse are likely to be leadership contenders in the near future at least, but they are operating well as opposition MPs. Their criticisms sound valid and not whiny.