Kiwis Now Put Water and Sewage Ahead of Housing as Top Infrastructure Priority

Water supply and sewage has overtaken housing as New Zealanders' number one infrastructure priority, according to a new survey from research company Ipsos, released on 24 August 2026. Forty-seven percent of New Zealanders ranked water supply and sewage as the most important thing to invest in, followed by solar energy at 40 percent and flood protection at 39 percent. (Ipsos; RNZ)

That is a big change from two years ago, when housing was the top concern. Ipsos country manager Carin Hercock said the results showed a shift from 2024, when housing supply had been number one. Housing has since dropped to sixth place. In that 2024 survey, 55 percent of New Zealanders had ranked building new housing as the key priority, with water supply second. (Ipsos, 2024 edition)

Solar energy also jumped sharply, moving from sixth place two years ago to second in the latest survey, Hercock said. An earlier Ipsos survey in 2023 had found 57 percent of respondents rated water supply and sewerage as a priority. (Ipsos, 2023)

The survey found 41 percent of New Zealanders were unhappy with the state of the country's infrastructure, while 31 percent were satisfied. The global average for satisfaction was 38 percent. Hercock said satisfaction in New Zealand was "quite high" before Cyclone Gabrielle hit in early 2023, but dropped after that event and had not fully recovered. (RNZ)

Sixty-nine percent of New Zealanders felt the country was not doing enough to meet its infrastructure needs. Only 21 percent believed New Zealand had a good track record of delivering infrastructure projects. The Ipsos press release said New Zealanders see a growing need for infrastructure investment, but confidence in getting things built remains low. (Ipsos)

When it comes to paying for it, 41 percent of New Zealanders supported higher taxes or consumer costs to fund infrastructure. Sixty-six percent said they were comfortable with private companies investing in infrastructure, as long as it meant improvements.

Ipsos runs this survey every two years to track how New Zealanders feel about infrastructure investment. The full results were published on 24 August 2026.

The water and sewage trend is worth noting. In 2023, 57 percent ranked it as a priority. In 2024, it sat second behind housing. Now, at 47 percent, it leads outright. That suggests the pipes, treatment plants and pumping stations that deliver drinking water and carry away wastewater stay on people's minds, no matter what politicians are debating about water reforms.

Solar's rise from sixth to second is the bigger surprise. The survey does not break down whether that reflects people putting solar panels on their roofs, large-scale solar farms being consented, or worry about power prices. What is clear is that renewable energy infrastructure has become a top-tier concern in a single survey cycle.

The satisfaction numbers tell their own story. A 31 percent satisfaction rate, seven points below the global average, points to a real confidence problem. Hercock links the drop to Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused widespread damage to roads, bridges and water systems. When 69 percent say the country is not doing enough and only 21 percent rate the delivery record as good, the gap between what people want and what they think the country can deliver is wide.

The broader context here is what these funding numbers might mean for government and councils. Forty-one percent support for higher taxes or consumer costs is a notable figure for any government deciding how to pay for infrastructure. Two-thirds being okay with private investment, as long as things actually improve, gives policymakers room to try different funding approaches. But the public's message is conditional: they are open to paying more and to private money coming in, but only if results follow.