Over the past quarter century, Acumen have measured our trust in business, NGOs, the government, the media. First time, New Zealand's fallen into the distrust category. Business most trusted of all the institutions, but it has had the most significant decline this past year. Our sense of grievance is also six percent higher than the global average. What's all this mean, Acumen CEO Adel Kelly's with us adele Morning.

Over the past quarter century, Acumen have measured our trust in business, NGOs, the government, the media. First time, New Zealand's fallen into the distrust category. Business most trusted of all the institutions, but it has had the most significant decline this past year. Our sense of grievance is also six percent higher than the global average. What's all this mean, Acumen CEO Adel Kelly's with us adele Morning.

Good Morning Mike.

Good Morning Mike.

Sixty seven percent of us have expressed a moderate or high sense of grievances. Is that an extraordinary number. It strikes me that two thirds of New Zealand is carrying a grievance is not healthy?

Sixty seven percent of us have expressed a moderate or high sense of grievances. Is that an extraordinary number. It strikes me that two thirds of New Zealand is carrying a grievance is not healthy?

Yeah, I think it is. I think when we think about grievance, it's the sense of things are unfair and the system is stacked against us. And when we think about people, that's people's employees, customers, people in the community. And I think what's really driving this is a lack of optimism. So the research also shows that only nineteen percent of New Zealanders thinks the next generation is going to be better off in five years time. There's also people navigating mis and disinformation post pandemic, and there's also a sense that there's a high degree of cynicism in New Zealand around business and government leaders, whether they are intentionally misleading us or not.

Yeah, I think it is. I think when we think about grievance, it's the sense of things are unfair and the system is stacked against us. And when we think about people, that's people's employees, customers, people in the community. And I think what's really driving this is a lack of optimism. So the research also shows that only nineteen percent of New Zealanders thinks the next generation is going to be better off in five years time. There's also people navigating mis and disinformation post pandemic, and there's also a sense that there's a high degree of cynicism in New Zealand around business and government leaders, whether they are intentionally misleading us or not.

Does it worry you because it might be other work I read this week, or it could have been yours, but this business where we believe that the politicians and the media actively lie to us. Now, it's one thing to go yeah, and I don't really trust somebody, but to accuse somebody of actively lying to you is next level, isn't it.

Does it worry you because it might be other work I read this week, or it could have been yours, but this business where we believe that the politicians and the media actively lie to us. Now, it's one thing to go yeah, and I don't really trust somebody, but to accuse somebody of actively lying to you is next level, isn't it.

I agree with you, Mike. The research says mislead or exaggerate. So since we've been doing this research, we know that New Zealanders do have a healthy cynicism. But I do think it's a real concern that people aren't trusting our leaders. What we do see there though, where there's a proximity and a relationship, So you may not trust CEOs in general, but you trust my CEO or my employer. That's where the opportunity lies.

I agree with you, Mike. The research says mislead or exaggerate. So since we've been doing this research, we know that New Zealanders do have a healthy cynicism. But I do think it's a real concern that people aren't trusting our leaders. What we do see there though, where there's a proximity and a relationship, So you may not trust CEOs in general, but you trust my CEO or my employer. That's where the opportunity lies.

I think are we an outlier in terms of our grievance and hate and distrust and all of that.

I think are we an outlier in terms of our grievance and hate and distrust and all of that.

No, we're not. Unfortunately, it's a worldwide trend and in fact, the highest levels the those that feel the highest level of discrimination are actually white Americans. But I think that a lot of people will be surprised to see that level of grievance. AM On New Zealand, we like to think that we're kind of a more fair and inclusive society. So it feels like we're in a fork in the road here. We can see the trajectory and other nations with the direction of travel where we could be going, and I think for a lot of us, that's not where we want to head.

No, we're not. Unfortunately, it's a worldwide trend and in fact, the highest levels the those that feel the highest level of discrimination are actually white Americans. But I think that a lot of people will be surprised to see that level of grievance. AM On New Zealand, we like to think that we're kind of a more fair and inclusive society. So it feels like we're in a fork in the road here. We can see the trajectory and other nations with the direction of travel where we could be going, and I think for a lot of us, that's not where we want to head.

Adele, appreciate your insight very much. Adele Keeley, who's the acumen CEO of white Americans. That's how you win an election, of course, that's how it works. COVID changed everything. In my humble opinion, I thought there was a bubbling, underlying sort of vibe, and then COVID changed everything and we've never been the same since.

Adele, appreciate your insight very much. Adele Keeley, who's the acumen CEO of white Americans. That's how you win an election, of course, that's how it works. COVID changed everything. In my humble opinion, I thought there was a bubbling, underlying sort of vibe, and then COVID changed everything and we've never been the same since.

For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.