State of the Nation 2026

Foundations of Wellbeing—Poipoia te Kākano

Nineteen years of tracking what matters most for Aotearoa New Zealand. 

In 2025, child poverty gains reversed, rough sleepers doubled in Auckland, and 90,000 young people were left outside work, education or training. Some things improved. Many didn’t. This report examines the evidence across six areas of social wellbeing—and asks how we can do better.

Explore the report

Introducing the State of the Nation Start Here →

Are our kids okay? Children and Youth →

Can families make ends meet? Work and Incomes →

Can people find a home? Housing →

Is our justice system fair? Crime and Punishment →

What’s hurting our communities? Social Hazards →

How is te ao Māori faring? Māori Wellbeing →

Go deeper with the data

Explore all the indicators behind the report in our interactive dashboard. Compare trends and download the underlying data.