In the lead up to the 2020 New Zealand Election, we conducted the YouChoose2020 survey and over 3,500 women, non-binary people, trans women, intersex people, and takatāpui responded. 

The top ten policy issues for YouChoose2020 respondents are set out below. The survey comprised of eight categories; the three most supported issue areas from each category formed the basis of the Election 2020 Scorecard (more on that methodology over here). 

The top ten policy issues for YouChoose2020 respondents

  • 87% of respondents believed Legislation to ensure pay equity i.e. people get the same pay for similar work/work of equal value as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 87% of respondents believed Greater enforcement to ensure the protection of our waterways and rivers as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 86% of respondents believed Healthcare providers understand the dynamics of sexual and whānau/family violence as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 85% of respondents believed Mentoring/leadership programmes and coaching for women and non-binary people (to increase their representation in leadership roles) as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 84% of respondents believed Trained professionals who respond safely and appropriately to women and children who have experienced violence and abuse e.g. policy, social workers, GPs as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 83% of respondents believed Free visits to GPs for children as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 82% of respondents believed Public places that are accessible for people with a disability as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 81% of respondents believed Better access to publicly-available information about what domestic violence is, including controlling behaviours, and how to get help as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 79% of respondents believed Stronger government commitment to protecting our native species as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 78% of respondents believed More legal aid for women who experience violence and abuse as very important to women & non-binary people. 

Check out the Election Scorecard to see how the political parties fared on these issues & more. 

 

Who completed the YouChoose2020 survey? 

The survey was completed by 3,508 people. 

96% of respondents identified as female; 3% as non-binary. 

 

In terms of ethnicities (respondents could choose more than one option), respondents identified as:

  • NZ European/Pākehā, 82%

  • Other European, 11%

  • Māori, 10%

  • Pasifika, 4%

  • Asian, 4%

  • Indian, 2%

  • Other, 3%

 

In terms of getting to know our respondents:

  • 45% identified as living with a disability

  • 75% identified as heterosexual/straight

  • 23% identified as Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual

  • 86% were urban, whilst 14% were rural

 

Total sample of our respondents, by age: 

Total sample of our respondents, by income: