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7 entries in the record match “trust in government”, closest first.
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Candidate cause
Policy churn: programmes reversed at and between changes of government
Open 0 of 4 support, 0 against; partly supported needs two more.
A three-year parliamentary term, annual Budgets and three-yearly land-transport policy statements mean large programmes outlast several decision cycles. Programmes are stopped, re-scoped or restarted at changes of government and within terms, which wastes planning spend and raises delivery risk. Te Waihanga says a stop-start approach 'can undermine market confidence and add costs'.
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Symptom of hollowing · Ideology and division
Trust gap: the civil service against political parties
26 pts (2025) Below level
Trust in the civil service minus trust in political parties: 26 percentage points (2025 wave).
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Symptom of hollowing · Ideology and division
Trust in the public service (Kiwis Count)
60% (2026Q2) Below level
60% of Kiwis Count respondents trusted the Public Service in 2026Q2.
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Candidate cause
Under-funded renewal of long-lived public assets
Open 1 of 4 support, 0 against; partly supported needs one more.
Hospitals, schools, water networks and roads are renewed more slowly than they wear out, whether they are funded by central Budgets or by council rates. The shortfall builds up as a hidden deficit in asset condition and surfaces years later as degraded service. Weak asset management and low investment efficiency reduce what each dollar renews.
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Symptom of hollowing · Public goods
Elective treatment within four months
72.6% (2026-06) Watch
72.6% of patients on the elective waitlist had waited under four months at the end of 2026-06. The level was 97.9% in June 2017.
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Capture warning · Accountability
Executive response to adverse independent findings
3 of 3 instances within 3 years Tripped
Three instances in the last three years: Acts in 2024, 2025 and 2026 each ended a live Tribunal, Authority or commission matter before it was decided. The same search of earlier terms found one in 2008–11 and one in 2014–17.
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Capture warning · Law and policy
Donations from beneficiaries of legislation
1 of 3 instances Watch
Entities linked to fast-track applications donated over NZ$1 million to parties since 2022. The Auditor-General found the conflicts system sound but warned the perception erodes trust. No impropriety is alleged.