NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*I vote negative. NZ'ers are pushed against a wall with the party choices we have, though I really do not think it would of mattered what coalition got in. These guy's have pre-determined agenda's and NZ'ers are going to find themselves having to suck it up & pay.
I read a guy's comment on here, I think his name was Peter who said, 'not enough attention has been given to some big issues'. Peter, I feel EXACTLY the same way! We have BIG issues facing our country and no one is talking about them. NZ'ers could be loosing the foreshore and seabed, our constitution could be turned against us, the economy is falling to piece's and here's the media running around reporting on pathetic polls asking what party leader has the prettiest smile! OH COME ON! The Maori Party are saying they want Maori Corporations to have a chance @ buying the power companies 'to keep it within NZ'. Well, there's our first heads up folks. The ETS IS going to get pushed in which is going to escalate the cost of power. The Maori Party have seen this writing on the wall or already have a deal made, and are going to make sure their IWI are going to benefit out of it while the rest of us suffer.
A lot of people cringe at Winston Peters but he is a awesome watchdog and it was for that reason that I voted NZ First. If he slows things down it will be for very good reason that the media will not tell us, and I for one will be ever so grateful! Trina

*Overall, politically positive, financially on nationals past track record over thev past 3 years not so positive, the bills are piling up and eventually WE will have to pay. Possibly high time to create a really fair tax system, not one in which just 10% pay most of the tax. Lech

*I cannot see John Key changing his spots he cannot always tell the truth and then when he is shown what he said he denies it.
The worst was NO Increse to GST so now we pay more tax, the fuel is continually increasing and no one is doing anything about it. The last time were were paying over $2 litre for fuel the USD was under 70cents now we have had the $NZD over 70 cents and up over 80c plus we are paying more for fuel than ever, More Truck Companies etc will fall over, Everyday items will increase in price such as groceries, fruit veges etc. We have opened the door to far too many with Free Trade deals so ne has great difficulty in "Buy NZ Made: and most from China is rubbish especially clothes so much formaldahyde I have found I have had to wash clothes at least 3 times if I am caught buying Made in China" then one only wears it a few weeks and then its rubbish and thrown away. Our NZ Post increases postage as they cannot compete with the Internet no wonder if they brough the price down more would use Postage....What is happening here is the Golden Goose is falling rapidly and the Government does not care. MARYLIN

*It will now be possible for Maori tribes to claim the beaches and seabeds. I believe that most large tribes have now laid claims. I presume that the smaller tribes will follow suit soon. Laurie

*I'm sitting on the fence on this but would hope to see a lot more action on welfare, Maori nonsense, and govt wastefulness. I voted along with 55000 others for the Conservatives and am disgusted that they didn't get a seat even tho they got more votes than the other 3 minor parties combined, all 3 got into Parliament. What a corrupt system! Just hope Craig is around in 2014 as Key needs a kick in the backside to get him into action. Carolyn

*At least the Rainbow Coalition which would have been needed to govern had the left leaning parties got a majority are not anywhere near the halls of power. A govt of the left would have been absolutely disasterous for the future of NZ. Hopefully John Key and his team will be able to cement enough positive reforms in in the next three years to give NZ hope for the future. The only real negative aspect in the election outcome was the success of NZ First and its corrosive, septic leader Peters. Unfortunately the standard of debate in Parliament will go down rapidly with the negative influence that he has in anything that he touches. Allan

*Really quite amazed how many Winston wacko’s we have out there, fortunately he won’t be able to stuff too much up in opposition, suspect he will make the most of his time in the sun though and the media will lap it up as they always do, Key is not selling the bloody assets, we will still own 51%, think of it as downsizing your car so you can keep your house, you can always buy another car later. Jan

*Positive for NZ if the new Government stops blaming the rest of the world for the failure of their Plan A. Plan B must come back to basic economics something that has been removed from the classrooms over decades of socialist teachings. Those kids are now voting and real political leadership is non-existent at government level – only surfing the political waves for the populist vote using the polls to dictate policy. A modern economy needs consumption on the one hand and production on the other. Free Trades deals have virtually destroyed the countries ability to produce. The gap left by failing production has been filled with Debt to generate a fictitious GDP growth. As in the EU, Chinese predatory trading of manufactured goods has wiped out extensive manufacturers and jobs – all needed to provide real GDP monetary growth. New Zealand’s fate is sealed – the next three years has a high probability of producing another 4 credit rating down grades commiserate with the sale of strategic assets for short term political gain and continuing debt borrowing. Treasury has not produced an actuate forecast for the last 5 years in relation to the path back to balancing the budget - for the government or the country! Frederick

*Positive, thank goodness, although we were disappointed by the results of ACT & the Conservatives. The alternative - the "rainbow coalition" - would have been disastrous! Dave

*Maori will again have too much power. Tony

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*Negative low turn out no publicity on value of FPP or MMP or other systems. No financial discloser of the state of the economy. Mike

*MMP must go. Graham

*Sale of the 'family silver' a terriible loss of bioth sovereignity and income. Piet

*Any further concessions to the Maori will be to the cost of Mr Average NZ. Maurice

*The conservative side is now at the mercy of the smaller radical parties, greens and Maori.National will be pandering to them an in the process divide our nation even further. George

*It's just more of the same and there is no one in power with enough clout to keep National honest. Ronmac

*Negative to have National win but Positive for Winston Peters to be back in Parliament but he can't stop what National plans to do. Most voters are naive and do not look at the policies of each parties only the polls and yet Key is a derivative trader that is bringing in Goldman Sachs to help with the sale of the assets.. they were the big reason of the financial collapse. People don't think! Jack

*I think John Key would have romped in with 65% if he had acted on the results of the referendum on the anti-smacking bill and left the Foreshore and Seabed in Crown ownership. Dianna

*None of the current politicians inspire me at all they have all lost sight of the fact that small business are the driving force of the country, & they need to help them. Also reduce the numbers in Parliment from 120 to 60 that all we need to run NZ & then half the Goverment Employees, this country is on the same path as Greece. Geoff

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*Pity there were no other choices. Also sad that MMP remains. But a labour win would have been fatal in helping New Zealand down the tubes particularly financially. Colleen

*Our system is clearly at fault when a Party gets more votes than 3 others, yet fails to get a seat in Parliament. In this case IO refer to the Conservatives - who's common sense policies have obviously struck a cord with voters. Peter

*However, it is painfully obvious that a party such as ACT is required to fill the role of the political right. National has a problem looming for 2014! Sandra

*The only true option for real change in NZ is the Conservative Party. While not well named IMHO, their policies and philosophies reflect the key things missing from the Beehive, and NZ politics in general: absolute morals (right & wrong, good & bad), personal & government fiscal responsibility, small government, small welfare, no racial privilege.

I think there are 3 main stories of the election: the disappointment that 10.6% of NZers are foolish enough to vote 4 a Party that would destroy our country inside a single term of government and make Helen Clark look like a "greedy capitalist", the surprise (if short-lived) return of Winston & NZ-First, and the outstanding success of the Conservatives to go from 0% to 2.8% after only coming into existence in August this year: an outstanding result for only 3-odd months!

NZ is desperate for REAL, meaningful substantiate change, and leadership with vision & courage. We got none of that: just more UN-sponsored Socialism dressed up shabbily to look like a shadow of the mainstream right-wing world-view most NZers aspire to. The only thing the Nats might do right is the selling of "assets" that the "gummint"/ taxpayer never had any business being party to in the 1st place: business is for the private sector, governance & laws is for the government. Peter

*Except for Nationals favoring the Maori minority over the substantial majority of true New Zealanders. John

*There goes the family silver. We will not all gain from its sale. David

*Overall it must be positive but I was disappointed in Act's poor showing. David

*I saw it as positive on the night but now I see Key rubbing noses and buttering up to a party that has 27000 votes I am most worried. I see he has given the Maori party a week to make decisions. So in other words they are going to act like Winston. Let's see if they get rubbished for this like Winston did. Today, 3days after the Election I already regret my vote. I voted National to keep Labour out but if I was to vote today, after watching the last 3days I would definitely go party vote to NZ First. My memory of Key buttering up to Maori was just too short. Really I think the only winners, as is usual, will be the Racist Maori Party. As for MMP remaining, after talking to friends it is obvious they didn't have a clue about the other choices. I voted FPP as am sick of the scenario where Tail wags dog, and we are about to begin the next round of it. It is true people are going to Aus. I doubted it was as bad as they say, but now I am seeing it in my own neighborhood. Shows how unhappy they are with NZ. Chris

*National has had 3 years to make a difference to the debt and I have seen no sign of it. Will they do anything about it in the next 3 years? Mary

*An outright win would have been preferable without having to rely on any other parties. Steve

*Call me arrogant but I believe this election shows what an ignorant and stupid electorate we are. That such candidates as Peters, Heke, are seen as people who we would wish to govern us appalls me. That a shallow, grinning, Cheshire cat leads the nation is tragic. It is said that democracy elects the government we deserve. Well, if we deserve this lot, we ought to be collectively euthanised. Ron

*But dissapointed the conservatives did not achieve 5%. We need their values in NZ governance. Frank

*But only just. PDM

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*Less negative than a Labour coaltion, but still definitely negative. Peter

*Because of the inevitable pandering to 'maori' interests. ROB

*Thank God for the fact that New Zealand has seen the advantage of having a common sense government in power in our country. Maybe they were trying to have a first past the post system in an MMP system. Laraine

*I wish the conservatives had got in but the 55000 was very encouraging. Janie

*Too many serious issues inadequately addressed. Peter

*More of the same with the Maori party holding the Nats to ransom. TN

*Only just positive. Not happy at mmp outcome. John

*Another 3 yrs of nats and act, The poor will be rioting. Rick

*Slightly positive. It is a pity that the present workings of the MMP system has robbed the Conservative party of possibly 2 - 3 seats in parliament. EJ

*I am concerned about the "foreshore and seabed" and the "sale of assets". Maori are already to pursue these options further and their greed will know no bounds. The so called sell off of SOE's and the investment of the proceeds in Health and Education will certainly no cash into the government coffers and the huge financial loss will go on in perpetuity. NZ will be the loser under the "smirking assassin". Bill

*Borrowing does NOT balance the budget. We need to cut spending dramatically, particularly on health and social welfare. In fact, we do not have a health system, but a sickness system. Most health costs are for symptoms, not the real problems. David

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*I declared negative because of the threat nationals election to power will pose to asset sales. The fact that they will effectively sell off the countrys silverware,allowing foreign nationals to buy up our key assets is alarming. National has been handed to much power and I cannot see the Kiwi battler at the bottom, or midddle, of the heap being any better off. But neither would they have been so under any of the other standing partys. I just wish that the margin had been tighter so there would be checks on nationals juggernaugh to sell New Zealand to the highest bidder. Wendy

*We would be screwed with a labor green coalition. I will be watching out for the conservatives in future. Wily

*Regardless of what is said about MMP, it has delivered a strong and workable majority that should be able to withstand the global climate. We as a country are only just beginning to understand MMP and it only needs tweaking. Peter

*Nobody really provided a well thought vision. The presidential nature of the whole thing made policy a sideline. Would be good if a few politicians read some of Gareth Morgans' ideas on Health, the Big Kahuna etc. Why is it so hard to see that tax and government spending should be kept to a minimum and done in an efficient way? Who really believes WFF, a universal old age only dole (NZ Super), interest free student loans etc are economically good ideas? Ray

*My vote has to be negative because this new government will not be addressing the real issues on economy and individual freedom by way of constitutional rights any time soon, so their negative vote is only slightly better than the alternative which is red spend socialist disaster or green communism shrouded in a beguiling family/environmental cloak. Dont be misled, unless ore individual sovereign rights are embedded irrevocably, they will be bled out by the trickle down-trickle away theory of the wealth redistributors. Vern

*Just. It still worries me that Labour & the Greens can have such a high percentage of the vote. They are both so Socialist. NZ need a Constitution that protects the rights of the Individual & limits Govt's power to Law & Order & Defence. If we have the correct Constitution, then that can be our representative, not Politions who love to promise the world with our (stolen) money. Chris

*We as voters have no control over the parties who did not even get an elected seat. Tom

*No clear answer. Good that Labour was smashed, but bad that the Greens and NZ First did so well. I see both these parties as being rather unconstructive and giving National a tough time. ACT's showing was very disappointing - they need to look at their leadership. Pity about the approval for MMP. Glenn

*The fact that Nat is back again to con NZ'ers with their elitist policies, is a shame. Thank heavens we have Winston back to help keep them honest. Prue

*Apart from NZ First. Karl

*I wish national had won a greater majority to be able to go it alone. Lloyd

*Had expected the Conservatives to win a seat and NZ first doing even better. Peter

*Positive, just, funny how when the left get elected that is a mandate to do anything they like but when the right do it, with all up front, it is not (Mike Smith on Q&A), yes the Green’s did well by moving toward centre but be warned, they will at some time in the future be in government again when the more radical agenda will resurface, not sure what Mr Ambrose is moaning about not having any work now as after single handedly getting Winston First back in with his NOTW play he should expect now to go onto Peters payroll, why was Peters given a spot on minor party leaders debate when Craig was not and both were polling them same at that time? John

*A stable government must be a positive indicator for New Zealand. I feel some discomfort at the support for New Zealand First. For many years I have regarded Winston Peters as a Xenophobic, anti-Asian, narrow minded bigot; perhaps I have been wrong or at least very out of touch with how many New Zealanders think. I would credit him as being one of our cleverest politicians, albeit a lazy one.

The Green Party support is a wake-up call for many of us. I still have major concerns about their green-jobs, anti-business push with little well thought out strategy as to whom will pay for the programs that they would have us embark on.

Something that we all must face is reality that New Zealand has almost nothing in the way of a cash rich group of people who can afford to invest in new business and indirectly perhaps the infrastructure that it requires. It is my view that this country, as with almost all others, has been built by capitalists who took risks; it was not built by socialists. Yes, most capitalists make profits, some of them quite large and there is nothing inherently wrong with that. No country has taxed itself to prosperity and New Zealand will not be the first exception. Therefore the prognosis for New Zealand under a Green dominated government of the future would be bleak indeed. I see no benefit in taxing wealth and job producers into oblivion; that would be as destructive as beneficiary bashing.

It seems that Mr Key has a task ahead and one hopes that he will take strong steps to take us down a visionary path rather than be side tracked into the self deception of ratings and popularity polls. Go to it Mr Key, and be prepared to take decisions for the long term good of the country rather than for short term political gain. Pete

*Mostly positive unless Key gives in to Maori party demands for transfer of state assets to iwi. The media during the election campaign demonised Don Brash to such an extent that the Act party is no longer a force to be reckoned with. If John Banks with his old National beliefs becomes the new leader, it is almost certain that the Conservative party in 2014 will attract Act voters in large numbers. John

This week's poll asks:

Do you see the election result as being positive or negative for New Zealand?

*Positive as far as the economy is concerned but very negative because Key intends to do another deal with the racist Maori Party. Thank goodness Winston Peters will be there. Max

*Thank goodness that awful Labour Party didn't get in. They are a disgrace. I don't agree with everything National does but they are head and shoulders better than Labour. Shelley

*I think the result will be very good for NZ. National has promised austerity and welfare reform, so maybe the country will get back onto a better path. I am sad to see ACT is so weak, but pleased NZ First got back in as National needs parties to hold them to account and Labour have been a hopeless opposition. Graeme

*Yes it is a very good result. National seem to have a plan now. They will reform welfare which is long overdue and reduce government spending. In addition, with Winston Peters there they may not pander quite so much to the Maori Party.

*Shame the Conservatives didn't get in and it's a shame that Colin Craig kept telling everyone he was going to win Rodney when he was clearly just making it up. If he had come clean that are a lot of people who wouldn't have wasted their vote. Pete

*I'm thrilled Winston Peters is back. I believe he will be a very effective opposition MP and will stop all of the pandering to Maori. Bernie

*Yes, pleased National is in and hope they make some of those hard choices this time around like fixing welfare properly. But I hope they don't sell out to the racists again. Stewart