UMR have published a 42 page mood of the nation for 2009. Some extracts:

• 68% say 2010 will be better than 2009, with 20% disagreeing
• At year end 61% expect economy to get better, and 22% worse
• 41% expect their family’s living standards to get better, and 22% worse
• 49% expect unemployment to go up, and 26% down
• 64% expect interest rates to increase and 11% decrease
• In ten years time, respondents expect the economy (net +22%) to be better, race relations (+16%), transport (+6%), policing (+11%), education (+4%) and the environment (+1%). A net 9% think the health system will be worse.
• 59% say country heading on right track and 30% wrong track. average for yeas was 65% to 23%.
• Corporate net favourable ratings were NZ Post +84%, Telecom +27%, Air NZ +67%, TVNZ +60%
• Bank favourability ratings are Kiwibank 65%, National 55%, ASB 55%, Westpac 55%, BNZ 49%, ANZ 45% and TSB 34%
• Net favourability for Govt agencies are Fire Service +86%, Police +57%, Customs +63%, DOC +57%, MAF +36%, MOD +31%, Nat Lib +44%, MFish +34%, IRD +5%, MOT +5%, NZFSA +19%, Min Ed -4%, Min Health -7%, Treasury -6%, MOJ – 14%, DOL – 5%, Corrections -27%, ACC -37%, MSD -13% and TPK -7%
• Confidence in institutions is Police +30%, GPs +29%, Unis +27%, primary schools +26%, military +6%, small business +5%, sec schools +3%, TV News -10%, banks -13%, public health system -18%, courts -16%, public service -29%, newspapers -33%, religion -34%, Parliament -43%, big business -40%, unions -42%, media generally -55%
• Party Vote Dec 2009 is Nat 48%, Lab 35%, Greens 7.5%
• Net favourability for John Key +54%, Phil Goff +9%,
• Top five issues are economy 33%, unemployment 14%, crime 11%, health care 4%, politics/govt 4%

UMR polled 482 Aucklanders on who they thought would be a better Mayor for the new Auckland Council.

42% said Len Brown and 31% John Banks

UMR did a poll of 750 New Zealanders from 22 to 27 October 2009.

Favoured alternatives to MMP:

• FPP 29%
• STV 20%
• SM 9%
• Not Know enough 32%
• Unsure 9%

Retain MMP:

• Retain 48%
• Change 40%
• Unsure 11%

Hold $20 million referendum:

• Yes 32%
• No 60%
• Unsure 8%

Success of MMP (net ratings)

• More Maori MPs +31%
• More co-operation +27%
• Prlt more representative +24%
• More women MPs +22%
• Legislation consulted more +9%
• Stable Govt +7%
• Make MPs listen +1%
• Harder for parties to break word -2%
• Foster national unity -5%
• Sound economic policies -5%

Marae has published the results of a poll done by Digipoll between 18 October and 3 November 2009. It is of 1,002 voters of Maori descent – 700 on the Maori Roll, and 302 on the General Roll.

Party Vote

Maori Party 48%
Labour 26%
National 20%

Electorate Vote (Maori roll only)

Maori Party 57%
Labour 33%
National 7%

Preferred PM

John Key 30%
Helen Clark 11%
Pita Sharples 9%
Tariana Turia 6%
Phil Goff 4%
Winston Peters 4%

PM Approval

Approve 55%
Disapprove 36%

Most Favoured Maori MP

Pita Sharples   31.9%
Tariana Turia   16.7%
Hone Harawira  8.2%
Te Ururoa Flavell  3.3%
Parekura Horomia  3.2%

Most Effective Maori MP

Pita Sharples   31.9%
Tariana Turia   16.7%
Hone Harawira  8.2%
Te Ururoa Flavell  3.3%
Parekura Horomia  3.2%

Government Approval

Approve 45%
Disapprove 45%

Direction

Right 40%
Wrong 44%

Maori Party Supporters

68% support decision to join the Government and think they made right decision
Only 33% support the arrangement where Maori Party Ministers sit outside Cabinet

Top Issues

Jobs / Unemployment 22.5%
Health   12.6%
Education   10.5%
Family / Whanau  8.9%
Cost of Living  8.7%
Economy   5.6%
Housing   4.1%
Child Care  3.9%
Law and Order  3.7%
Environmental Issues 1.8%
Treaty Claims  1.2%