NZ Centre for Political Research

At the top of the list would have to be National’s welfare reform programme,
which they claim will produce great benefits including savings of $1 billion
over four years.

At the present time the social welfare system support 550,000 New Zealanders -
328,000 working-age adults and 222,000 children.

This week's poll asks:

Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a government that cuts costs to balance its budget?

*Too many handouts to people who don't want to work for a living. Ian

*Selling our assets (earnings) is the most stupid thing I've heard of! George

*Don't live beyond our means. Louise

*A lot more likely. A little pain now is surely a better option than a lot of pain later, and that is what will happen if the Government fails to act - exactly as has happened in the US and Europe. The overwhelming worry is that no politicians or "experts" in the world seem to have any convincing answers to the current crisis. John

*Almost everyone agrees that a country must balance its budget in the same way as does an individual or family. Therefore I would applaude this government if they took the decision to reduce spending. It requires neither courage nor skill, just common sense. Peter

*This really depends whether you sit on the left or the right. I am a rightie. Desmond

This week's poll asks:

Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a government that cuts costs to balance its budget?

*We all must live within our means! It's time everyone understood that and that goes for the folly of paying people to do nothin and to have babies that they do not want and cannot afford. Both very stupid. We need to get back to a culture of personal responsibility and until we do, nothing will change. Personal responsibility includes only buying what you can afford not what you think you deserve. Dianna

*It's simple, households have trimmed their budgets and so should government. Steve

*Only if I thought 2+2=5, would I vote "less likely". Rod

*Welfare reform is of the essence in this regard. Peter

*It is not rocket science to figure out if you are borrowing 300 million a week, something needs cutting. Sam

*It's only common sense. Barbara

*More likely. But, again the question is, will the govt listen to what the country is saying regarding the marine and coastal bill and will they reign in the greedy maoris or just let them go absolutely where ever they want, and fund it with my money. Neil

*That's why we need the Conservative party in Parliament. Stephen

*Spending has to be reduced to below income, otherwise there is no sustainability. Chris

This week's poll asks:

Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a government that cuts costs to balance its budget?

*Bloody oath get us back on coarse. Clark

*If ever there was an election which called for responsible spending cuts from political parties it was the one we have just had. But apart from Act the other parties still used the spending bribes they have used for decades. Will they still do the same in 2014 when we are probably even worse off? John

*Every resopnsible family has to work within it's earned income; - why not our Government? Ted

*If the government really wants to cut out the CASH economy then instead of beaurocrats in wellington they need to talk with people in the field to see how easy it is to beat the tax system. were i live lots of locals only work in cash, and get benefits as well. Keith

*More debt is the last thing that we need. Rick

*Our household survives by spending no more than our income. Surely the Government has a responsibility to do the same? The fundamental difference is that government is spending someone elses money, so it seems spending more than the country has does not matter. Paul

*We can't go on spending and hoping that things will get better by themselves. We live in a global economy, which means that what happens in other countries affects us directly or indirectly as some of them are our trading partners. Govt spending must be reduced to help our nation. Laurence

*Now's the time!! David

*But how do we stop the next lot undoing any good work this lot does, but we do have Peters to keep them in line - god damn - a pig just flew past my window. John

*And put a stop to the annual pay increases for MPs! Maureen

*There needs to be an oversight panel to assess any spending in excess of $100,000. Christopher

*Has to be the only way to go at this time anyway!! We are expected to be balanced with debt so the Kremlin should do the same!! Geoff

*It's unlikely we will see any government with the courage and leadership / foresight to run this country properly. The fact that all the parties bar the Conservatives are beholden to the UN and their globalist masters is proof enough that we are destined to be indentured slaves until the final end-game plays out (which will be within the next 50 years). Peter

*We have far too many public servants doing too little as a result of Helen Clark's empire building which coupled with a welfare system that has long ago lost its focus means that the Canadian lesson should be rigorously applied to get this Govt back to efficient and true public service. Maurice

*If it doesn't cut costs then Taxes will be increased. Alan

This week's poll asks:

Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a government that cuts costs to balance its budget?

*About bloody time Key & Co got off their comfortable backsides and took the hard measures that the country needs - ie: stop their wasteful spending, chop welfare and public service employees. Just do it NOW. Carolyn

*The election result shows the farce of MMP where people can become MPs without ever having to face the public to aquiore individual votes. No way can this be called democracy. What is even worse they can obstruct a party with overwhelming support from governing as they should. Peter

*We all need to balance our budget yes but we cannot ignore individual payments, and cut these down, as the bill will eventually grow where it becomes unmanageable. Where we can cut cost is by throwing away our need (wants) of credit!! We must pay from within our means. If we can't we must adjust our means. The Government can start to do this by refusing to accept Credit card or any other means of credit transactions, and only accept debit transactions. Rawiri

*As long as they don't cut costs so that they can bribe special interest groups with a lolly scramble near the next election. Tim

*A government that cuts costs shows it is understanding what is happening in the wider world And is prepared to take the short term pain for future gain. EJ

*The Government must have the wisdom to look seriously at cutting costs and the courage to immediately begin implementing such measures. Walter

This week's poll asks:

Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a government that cuts costs to balance its budget?

*A lot depends on what are the proposed cuts and austerity measures? To bring this economy back out of the red will need leadership of a very high order. Together with a political party that is not concentrating upon retaining power at all costs. Leadership starts at the top, cuts have to be deep to have any effect and that means a lower standard of living for us all. Incidentally this will also mean that our working week be extended to 48 hours with no extra payments. Business will have to contribute as well. Pie in the sky? Never happen? Any failure in the end means economic ruin and possible revolutions down the line. The choice lies with the National Party and more importantly with all of us. Brian

*To make the ship go faster Key needs non-racist balls. I doubt he has them! Peter

*income=99c, expenditure=$1.oo
outcome MISERY
income=$1.01
expenditure=$1.00
Outcome HAPPINESS
Willy

*I would definitely give a government that seriously cut spending my vote. But I don't think there is a very chance that it will happen! NZ has become a deeply socialist country as a result of all of the handouts that have been given out. If the handouts were cancelled and people got to keep more of their own money, they would then realise how wasteful governments are and how important it is to curtail their spending. Bruce

*The chance of National having the guts to cut spending is pretty remote! Carol

*Why should government get to spend like wounded bulls when taxpayers are struggling to pay the bills? It doesn't make sense. So yes to austerity measures! Sam

*I don't recall any party campaigning on balancing the budget - yet that should have been the major theme. Ken

*The situation in Europe is looking extremely grim. The government should be tightening its belt from day 1. Yet the coalition parties will all want more spending. What a shame MMP won the referendum - we need FPP at times like this! Sarah