Summarised by Centrist
A new report from the Helen Clark Foundation warns that New Zealand is falling behind Australia on nearly every measure of social cohesion—including financial satisfaction, happiness, trust in government, and perceived fairness in the justice system.
Co-author Shamubeel Eaqub says 55% of Kiwis describe themselves as happy—compared with 78% of Australians—and only a third are satisfied with their finances.
A quarter report going without meals.
He describes the findings as “a wake-up call,” suggesting New Zealand is shifting from cohesion to fracture and risks heading toward the political polarisation seen in the US and UK.
Trust in government and courts remains low, with only 42% of New Zealanders believing the government acts in their best interests most or all of the time. Eaqub says Covid-19 intensified public discontent, with the early surge in unity quickly collapsing. The report notes that social cohesion is essential to navigating major change: “It’s the glue that holds us together.”
Eaqub believes better public dialogue could help restore cohesion. “Let’s converse and not convert,” he says. He urges New Zealanders not to take social stability for granted and calls for attention to the evidence.
Editor’s note: While the report warns of declining “social cohesion,” it largely avoids addressing potential root causes—economic challenges, rising crime, and polarising identity politics.
Image: OECD/Mariano Bordon
