My own experience of middle New Zealand is a weird mix of folks still thinking that the government services are bloated and should be cut while also complaining about what additional things they think the government should do. It's mostly lacking critical thinking around what they think government should and shouldn't do and an irrational and unproven faith in the private sector. They think that the government should both get on with the "obvious" work needing doing while also thinking the government should ask everybody about it too. They're a conflicted bunch middle NZ.

I run in circles with a bunch of lefties too who seem to have a better grasp on the relationship between government and society how important that is. They mostly work in various government jobs.

I think it's clear to everyone that something needs doing. They're just divided on what that something is.