Our trust bust: what it means for the election

Tim Wilson, Maxim Instituteexecutive director

Opinion

Elections are a contest not solely for power but also for trust. Politicians know this. That’s why National has portrayed the Government as profligate (translation: untrustworthy with money). Here’s leader Chris Luxon: “For six years, Labour has mismanaged the economy and relied on extra taxation and borrowing to pay for its wasteful spending . . .”

And that’s why Labour has deemed National, Act and New Zealand First prone to culture war agendas (code: don’t believe them). The Prime Minister: “Labour’s message this election will not be fighting imported culture wars but fighting economic wars against inflation.”

That’s also why the media often frames political offerings in trust terminology. Sample headline: “How Labour’s ‘no-frills’ Budget can earn voters’ trust”.

So far, so familiar . . .

The somewhat intangible nature of trust is so crucial because it produces numerous tangible goods. As Oxford academic Tom Simpson notes, “There are many societal benefits that come from high trust . . .” Economist Cameron Bagrie has also connected the dots. At a recent public discussion, he observed that political polarisation causes poor economic consequences. Without trust, collaboration simply cannot happen. This is not only true for small businesses but for the entire economy as well.

Of course, our economy is suffering at present. And sadly (but unsurprisingly), trust in institutions is declining in Aotearoa New Zealand. The bad news is that this isn’t new news. We can’t wholly blame Covid (though the pandemic hasn’t helped). A survey from 2016 said that only 8 percent of New Zealanders trusted MPs. Ouch.

Want more ouch? The last Edelman Trust Barometer survey showed that New Zealanders trust businesses more than the government. As for the media, a recent survey of that landscape found “alarming” declines in trust over recent years because, well, the Government has been propping it up.

The causes are hydra-headed, but structural issues are also at play. In a recent radio interview, ex-Speaker of the House Sir Lockwood Smith noted that he spent much of his time as an electorate MP helping people who probably didn’t vote for him. A virtue, but also a case of opposites being united; trust is built personally as well as organisationally.

Sir Lockwood says MMP has meant that a politician’s first loyalty is often to her or his party rather than a community. That doesn’t build cohesion; it builds partisanship.

Though social cohesion is “straining at the seams”, fortunately our nation is historically a high-trust environment; alarming trends can be reversed. No one wants to end up like the Disunited States of America.

Tom Simpson again: “There’s a very strong correlation between high-trust societies and economic growth, and governments in these societies tend to be effective, with low levels of corruption.” It’s a correlation we need to strengthen right here, right now.

The election looms. When you vote, ask yourself: How much do I trust this person? How much are they contributing to an atmosphere of trust? Are they building or destroying?

Much hinges on your answer.