Why?
The latest poll results are showing a progressive decline in the National Party’s support numbers.
It would be pretty hard to go down from their current position but they seem to be doing a good job of trying to sink further in the polls.
Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for March 2026 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 47.5%, down 1% point and effectively tied with the Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori Parliamentary Opposition on 48%, up 1% point.
Amongst the National-led Government support for National dropped 4.5% to 26.5% - its lowest level of support since National was elected to Government in late 2023, support for NZ First was up 1.5% to 11% - its highest level of support since being elected to Government, while support for ACT was up 2% to 10%.
The Real Driver Behind the Decline
When you dig deeper than just the results of the polls, the most important driver behind the drop in their numbers is the failure to action pre-election promises made before the 2023 election.
In my honest opinion, after many years of watching politicians everywhere grab more power while dividing people with fear, race, and ideology; you can’t trust the political class or the media that protects them. They are often deceitful (sometimes even corrupt) and thrive on control, division, and obedience.
This isn’t just happening somewhere else in the world, it’s happening here in NZ.
Coalition Promises vs Reality
The coalition partners made a promise to stop the tribal takeover.
They agreed to prioritise “Ending race-based policies” in their Coalition Agreement.
When it comes to these promises, the Coalition has failed dismally.
Instead of being eliminated, Labour’s He Puapua programme remains embedded within the country’s legislative and regulatory framework.
Three Waters — Removed or Rebranded?
The Prime Minister claims to have stopped Three Waters.
But in reality, the replacement programme “Local Water Done Well” contains the same co-governance structures.
Water as a National Resource
Water is a basic necessity for all life and cannot belong to any one group.
There can be no mature discussion about New Zealand’s future until it is accepted that all citizens have equal rights.
New Governance Structures Emerging
The coalition government has approved Water Services Delivery Plans that explicitly include co-governance.
For example, the Metropolitan Wellington plan was developed “in partnership with mana whenua partners” and approved by government officials.
Governance vs Democratic Control
A co-governed “Partners’ Committee” now sits above water entity boards.
Board members are no longer directly accountable to elected councils, but to this committee.
Iwi Agreements and Authority
A secret iwi partnership agreement in Wellington effectively overrides the constitution of the water entity.
This removes real ownership from councils and ratepayers.
Te Mana o Te Wai — Implications
Directors are required to follow iwi advice regarding the “spiritual health” of water.
These requirements are embedded in law and vary by region.
Control, Cost, and Consequences
Having boards accountable to co-governed committees rather than elected councils will mean:
- Higher costs
- Less accountability
The Wider Policy Framework
Te Mana o Te Wai allows iwi to issue statements that influence water management policy across New Zealand.
There are no defined limits on what these statements may contain.
Ownership, Equality, and Access
Water must be treated as a public good belonging equally to all New Zealanders.
Science vs Spiritual Governance Debate
Water management should be based on science and evidence.
Cultural or spiritual frameworks should not dictate national infrastructure decisions.
Democracy and Equal Citizenship
The coalition government was elected with a mandate to restore democratic processes and remove race-based regulation.
However, current policies suggest otherwise.
The Bigger Concern
The electorate voted for change, but is not seeing it.
Instead, many of the same policies remain in place.
Apartheid by Another Name
The argument presented is that co-governance is not about partnership, but about control and redistribution of authority based on ethnicity.
A Divided System
New Zealand has historically operated under equality before the law.
Current policies risk dividing the country along ethnic lines.
Leadership and Accountability
If Luxon wants to regain support, the solution is simple:
Deliver on pre-election promises.
Final Warning
So given all of the above, we should be very aware of the risks posed by co-governance and demand transparency, accountability, and democratic authority.