A new nationwide poll suggests the COVID-19 pandemic continues to influence public attitudes toward healthcare in New Zealand, with almost half of respondents reporting reduced confidence in the country’s routine vaccination programme.
The Curia poll, conducted for Reality Check Radio, found that 46 percent of New Zealanders believe their trust in standard immunisation programmes has declined since the pandemic, pointing to a significant shift in public sentiment several years after the height of COVID-era restrictions and mRNA gene therapy campaigns.
The survey also found that 35 percent of respondents said their trust in doctors, hospitals and health authorities had fallen, indicating that while confidence in health institutions has weakened, many people appear to differentiate between frontline medical professionals and broader policy decisions made during the pandemic response.
The findings come just ahead of the release of Phase 2 of the Government’s COVID Inquiry, which is expected to assess whether pandemic-era decisions delivered outcomes proportionate to their social and economic consequences. The report is likely to revisit contentious issues including mandates, restrictions, public messaging and long-term impacts on public confidence in state institutions.
📊 New nationwide poll finding
46% of Kiwis say their confidence in New Zealand’s routine vaccination programme has declined since COVID.
That’s nearly half the country.
The Curia poll, conducted for RCR, suggests the legacy of pandemic-era decisions may still be shaping… pic.twitter.com/v9NkqAQH0g
— REALITY CHECK RADIO (@RCR_NZ) March 6, 2026
Image credit: Ed Us
