Social Cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand 2026: Trust, Truth, and the Turning Tide

As Aotearoa New Zealand moves through a period of growing social and economic pressure, the question of what holds us together has never felt more urgent.

Presented in partnership with the Helen Clark Foundation, this Connected Leadership event will explore the Foundation's latest Social Cohesion survey and what it reveals about the shifting realities of life in New Zealand.

This conversation will unpack key themes from the report, including:

a softening in social cohesion, driven less by changing values and more by declining trust in institutions
strong and widely shared aspirations for fairness, inclusion, and opportunity, alongside growing frustration that these ideals are not reflected in everyday experience
poverty, financial stress, and inequality as the strongest drivers of differences in social cohesion across Aotearoa New Zealand
a widening gap between the promise of New Zealand as a land of opportunity and the economic realities facing many households
declining trust in government and institutions, particularly among younger and financially stressed New Zealanders

The report also points to a notable shift in awareness among older and more prosperous groups, with growing recognition of the gap between the idea of New Zealand as a land of opportunity and the lived reality for many.

With Rt Hon Helen Clark and economist Shamubeel Eaqub, this event offers an opportunity to reflect on the state of social cohesion in our country in 2026 and what these shifts mean for leaders, communities, and the future we are shaping together.

Please stay after the event for refreshments and networking.

Contact the host of Social Cohesion in Aotearoa 2026: Trust, Truth, and the Turning Tide