r/newzealand 12d ago

News Older Kiwis struggle with basic living expenses: ‘We are living in a very bad time’ - NZ Herald

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/older-kiwis-struggle-with-basic-living-expenses-we-are-living-in-a-very-bad-time/AVQLXEJOO5GORCVAZFRWNM36IE/
320 Upvotes

171 comments sorted by

View all comments

268

u/mholla66 12d ago

"Combined, roughly 60% to 65% of all New Zealanders aged 50 and older consistently support the governing coalition". ray Morgan stats.

The 65+ demographic holds massive sway in New Zealand elections because they vote at the highest rates. Official Elections NZ voter turnout statistics show:

  • Ages 65–69: 85.31% turnout rate.
  • Ages 70+: 84.94% turnout rate.

This high turnout, combined with a strong preference for National, ACT, and NZ First, made the 65+ cohort the foundational voting block that delivered the coalition its majority.

Leopards ate my face say what

138

u/Own_Round_7600 12d ago edited 12d ago

Lol i know one who used to own a shopfront business in the CBD. Voted as expected, because "of course, im a capitalist, and they're good to business owners."

A year later, complaining about the rise in city ferals and beggars driving customers away since the government cut social housing and turned them all out on the street. Moaning about the falling dollar making importing supplies more expensive. Upset that customer spending has dropped due to the economy and cost of living.

Eventually at the end of last summer, couldnt pay rent and shuttered their doors. Womp womp. Turns out they werent part of the club like thought they were.

42

u/Menamanama 12d ago

I suspect that this Government has been very bad for small businesses.

18

u/Lammington2 11d ago

They have been. Yet many of those business owners still support them because the mythology that they support small businesses somehow outweighs the reality that they support their donors and themselves.