NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*We arrived here in 1949 after having lived 5 years under German occupation. Our children were born & raised in New Zealand when it was still a democratic country They love NZ, have worked hard & done well in their respective fields. I doubt that their children and offspring will continue to live here for much longer and that hurts. Eneka

*Never, ever would I have considered voting for Winston Peters for PM but I absolutely support his resolution to treat all New Zealanders as equal - I don't want to live in a country where a few are given huge privileges thatthe rest of us never dreamed of. Jasmine

*I don't think they ever have...I constantly feel as though I'm in some "invisible" group! Peter

*Never hear his name mentioned at all. Anette

*Well, John Key is my electorate MP and he dosen't give a toss what anyone else says or thinks. Certainly has not got the necessaries to stand up to these maoris. My bet is that when he is tossed out of government, he will be off, and take all his backhanders and bribes, funded by the tax payer, with him to another country. By then the ship will have sunk. But he dosen't give a toss. Neil

*There is too much giving in to votes, which is nothing but fear. Maori are using manipulation and control over politicians, which is fundamentally wrong. Jane

*Why are they there? they don't listen to what we (who put them there). Allan

*MMP represents government by Political consensus. It is NOT representative because minority Politics become the policy pivot for majority Politics. This is fundamentally unrepresentative. MMP leads instead to a travesty of Political leadership with insufficient electoral audit - that is, the audit of politicians and the representation of their electorate's interests. As a system for rule by Party, it makes a mockery of the true values of the Westminster Parliamentary process. Christopher

*Most MPs ignore the views of their electors. For example asset sales, gay marriage and list MP Finlayson's unbridled generosity to Maori. Peter

*My views are completely ignored. I am simply here to pay for them and their uselessness. What a mess this country is in. Who is running this country anyway? Pix

*Sick of "Our People" from maori parties. We are all our people. KIWI"S. Allan

*"Not well" is a gross understatement. They do not serve the country at all - they only serve themselves. But they even serve themselves appallingly badly because they are selling the nation down the drain of apartite. Auntie Podes

*Politicians live in a bubble that does not equate to reality. They think they are modern & trendy by voting in the Marriage Equality bill to the 1st reading but are plunging the country into racial backwardness by clinging to an old treaty called Waitangi. Monica

*What is their average IQ? David

*They get issued a propaganda script.eg foreshore and seabed; or Maori owning water. They are then required to memorise that hard hearted drivle and vomit it out whenever the masses need to be silenced. eg "The govt is to undertake a shot period of consultation with iwi on "share plus" to ensure we have considered all possible aspects of the concept" In other words obey the Maori sovereignty militants as they are the rulers of NZ Bow down to them and appease them at all times. Alastair

*My reading of the Treaty clearly shows that maori are not complying with the terms of the treaty of waitangi.!!!!!
Article One states That Maori Cede to her Majesty abosolutly and without reservation all the rights and powers of soveriegnty.

after the 3 Articles the chiefs also signed that they fully understood what they were signing in cedeing this authority to her Majesty Queen Victoria of England

It is my belief that Maori should be held to account for not compling with the Treaty and that all claims stopped until a complete reviewn is held on the Teaty so There is only one interpretation which can be understood by every citizen.
How can any society exist where where two peoples claiming different intepretaions of the same document and proposing to make laws to live by. As long as this situation exists the growing confrontation will only get worse. The Lawyers who have and are promoting the Maori grievance policy are simply dishonest and simply funding thier bussiness at the expence of the taxpayer.
The Polititions Past and present share this dishonesty and show they do not have the courage to confront this issue for the for the good of all citizens of our Country

I believe that those of us who care about ours and our countries future have to stand up and be counted. All the words and discusions mean nothing if we cannot stand up publicly and show that we too have a voice. Henry

*Especially in Canterbury where there is no democracy, and we are heading toward anarchy. Alistair

*Democracy died in the mid eighties. I don't see it being ressucitated now. David

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*I have no confidence at all in our current political system. Most of the MPs vote as directed by the Party Bosses irrespective of the wishes of their constituents.
The antismacking law was a case in point. My local National MP knew that the majority of his constituents were against it. He had carried out his own survey. Nevertheless he went ahead and voted for the Bill.
As I've said on other posts the only way ahead is to reform our political system so that the people can block unmandated legislation and intitiate binding referendums. The Swiss have done it and so could we. Wringing our hands about the curent situation is going to get us nowhere. We need to take action and my suggestion is to support only those Parties who will promote Direct Democracy and true representation. Denis

*There are about 4 requirements to become an MP.
1. Have the right connections.
2. Have the gift of the gab.
3. Be prepared to make promises he/she as a new MP will be unable to action, i.e.
be a hypocrite.
4. Once elected, be prepared to toe the party line whatever your electorate thinks and personal feelings.
However in this democratic society, at least we are safe and not likely to experience a revolution. Ron

*I believe that we are heading to a dictatorship state as the Government refuses to take into account the views expressed by the people. If they were sincere, they would encourage binding referendi. I note that small towns are to be virtually forced to amagamate. Obviously the fewer independent Bodies will make the State's job easier to control - it is a frightening prospect. Peter

*I was under the impression that the 'quid pro quo' of the ToW was that there was one law for all New Zealanders(?) So it is in part that part of the ToW that is being ignored in this grab grab grab approach by iwi elite. Andrew

*Although we elect MPs to represent us we do not give them carte blanche to represent their own views -much more consultation is needed. Graham

*Give us one nation, not divided, we dont want to become a South Africa of old. Tony

*They pay lip service to the public generally, and bombard us with their political spin in an attempt to justify their decisions. In general, we need to be more skeptical towards their rhetoric and much more critical of their actions. Ivan

*The party line....Keys orders is followed absolutely.....our democracy has been totally compromised. Ronmac

*Who is he/she? Noever heard of or from. Mike

*We employ them, employers have the final say! David

*All the maori nonsence should be stopped. Louise

*Expedience seems the way they go, not what is good for NZ. Bee

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*… and that is putting it in the kindest possible way. Rob

*No MP is adequately representing his or her constituents except of course the Maori party. All MPs represent Maori, the special people. I am sick of smoke screens like the John banks one going on at the moment. For an amount of $50,000, it's all we hear about and yet the Government is handing out millions of our hard earned Tax dollars to one race and no one seems to care. And we are stuck with MMP so there is no end in sight. As they say, you get the Government you deserve. I wish people like Muriel, Mike, Steve and David would form a political party and give us decent candidates to vote for. I will not vote at the next election, not while there is only goons to choose from. Chris

*Consecutive Govts of all colours have betrayed the majority of NZ's population, particularly in regard to the Maori situation. Bruce

*They just follow the leader, and Key is lack luster. John

*When I see that grinning snake Finlayson on the TV news, I feel sick. This traitor is not a treaty negotiator at all, he is more like a maori father xmas. Traitors in most countries receive a blindfold followed by a projectile between the eyes but my bet is he'll get a knighthood. Politicians, especially the likes of Finlayson and the nodding Simon Bridges and co totally disgust me. Derejk

*It's easy for politicians to give away money that's not theirs to give away. Tony

*Apart from ignoring their campaign promise to abolish Maori seats the Nats also went against the clearly expressed will of the people in ignoring 87% referendum results on the "anti smacking bill. Not impressed. Mike

*He's a party hack who ignores his constituents! Mike

*I have written to Mr Sabin expressing absolute dissapointment with this and the previous National Government. Roger

*Not bad for some issues but treaty related they seem to bend over backwards for a small percentage of the population. David

*The biggest scam the world has seen! Ron

*I will qualify my answer. I believe politicians represent us in day to day functioning of the country. When it comes to matters of social significance or my personal rights, the collective rights of us all, matters where politicians were never elected to decide upon, then I believe a binding referendum is preferred. Chris

*They are uesless as the bureaucracy runs them so they can not make a decision themselves. Geoff

*But better than alternatives! David

*We don't have MMP. We have 1st past the post 2nd past the post 3rd past the post. And no binding referendum. Bob

*They are completely out of touch with the people they are supposed t represent and do not take on board any of their points of view. George

*All the MPs in the local area have been infected with the PC bug which means they bow to every "liberal" fad that's going. They cave in to the pressure brought to bear through an overwhelmingly left, "liberal" news media of whom TVNZ and Radio New Zealand are the worst. Where are the men and women with the moral backbone to stand up and say, "The emporer has no clothes on!" It is unbelievable how rapidly our nation is abandoning the principles, values and integrity of the past. At present as a nation we would support Neville Chamberlain and reject Churchill. Will it take warfare to wake us up to reality? Duncan

*Only dead fish swim with the current, they are dead fish. They are too weak to take a stand and swim against the flow. Sue

*The current (and past) politicians can be summed up as "the pathetic backside-licking by which our craven political class ~ Labour, National, the whole pack of useless cowardly swine, our smiling members of parliament, lovely people every last one of them, always ready with a smile and a kind word ~ has sold us down the river for a generation. Down with them all." Maurice

*My MP Simon Bridges is a sham, just following the party line with aspirations of one day being PM and not taking heed of the wishes of his electorate. Tony

*Our new MP is just a muppet. He never makes a stand on matters, important or otherwise. When approached he just repeats the party line. He got in because the previous MP was willing to speak his mind and had good support here in Rodney (which doesnt exist officialy). Simon

*Gutless when it comes to Maori issues. Bill

*They don`t care a dam, there for their own ego and Maori to stay in power. Robert

*How can they when they don't bother to find out what we think. Dianne

*The governance of this country is clearly for the sustainability of individual political power and/or longevity, and clearly has nothing whatsoever to do with democracy. A month of promises followed by thirty five months of breaking those promises. Fred

*Chris Finlayson needs to be sacked from his portfolio. Laurie

*They talk the talk but rarely walk the walk and in this country there is the survival mentality, ie., do what is needed to be done to stay in power regardless of whether it is what the publis want or require. John

*Politicians by nature seem to be interested in issues that win them votes to stay in power. Power only has value when used for the common good not personal gain, I can only name a few that I have any time or respect for at all. Glen

*~ a recent example was the spineless inaction in regard to the 'drinking age' where I'm sure most sensible people wanted a simple law eg: 20yrs and over ~ not surprisingly they had to fudge it'. TERRY

*Never had a visit (he lives within 4km and I have voted for him for years) or been consulted over any matter what so ever. Went his oun way with the recent Gay Marrige business, with wich I did not agree. Bill

*We no longer have "Government by the people, for the people!" We are dictated to by politicians who are at times far from honest, too busy pushing their own barrows, or too easily influenced by minority groups. I fear for the future of NZ if it continues the way we are now. Might be a good time to consider Australia? Wayne

*Since I am more Conservative than Liberal, I do not feel that I am represented at all by our MP's. They are constantly engaged in the most idiotic policy making, punishing the industrious and stable and favouring the pathetic excuse makers, while still not caring adequately for those who cannot care for themselves, even though they are extracting billions of dollars more every year from additional taxes and fees from petrol, vehicle registrations, taxes of all types that make the lives of small business owners a nightmare. Nope. MP's do not represent me at all. Dianna

*John Key is our MP and I wish that he would resign. I thought Helen clarke was bad but he is proving to be a spineless indidual. Patrick

*I did not vote for the lack of intestinal fortitude displayed by the so called leaders that govern this country. Stan

*As a lifetime supporter of national I am distressed at the lack of guts of our reps in relation to race based demands. Absolutely a gutless approach. I no longer support National. Murray

*MPs do not consider thier publics wishes, they do what is best for thier own political and financial benefit. Enough already! Stop giving our countries assets and funds to a racist minority, that being Maori. I now look upon politicians and maori with utter disgust! You can educate them, but you cant stop them from thieving, even amongst themselves. Nick

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*Political expediency takes precedence over basic common sense Michael
Was it the Maori King (a contradiction in itself) who said the other day “Maori and water are inseparable” without adding “but we will happily separate after suitable payment” John
Our member says he thinks one thing privately but but goes with the flow when it comes to the crunch. Gutless as are most MPs. tim
I think John Banks still being in Office, is surely, the best indication of how this poll will pan out.If ever there was a figure in the would pile ,it is this miscreant. I still would like to know how this Quirky Chap, got away with the problem he ran into over the Police Flack Jacket Tender inquiry. Maybe that too was done with the other politicians in the National Party at that time. Ergo the answer to the above poll question. Wiremu

*MPs and potical parties are out of touch with constituents. Bill

*The now defunct Kaipara District Council and the angst it has caused is a fair indication that the Minister of Local government and the Auditor General has let the side badly down. They should be called to account. Ralph

*I remember interviewing a party leader on the radio many years ago and asking he he would vote against his principles if 90% of his electorate demanded he do so. His answer was "absolutely not". I don't think he was any different to the MP's we have now. Rob

*Finlayson should be reined in before it is too late. Les

*Self serving mongrels. Wayne

*Two things our Napier representative is pushing through are council amalgamation and asset sales. Leo

*Unless we stand up and be counted nd shed our apathy the Key government will continue to govern by appeasement. Harry

*Especially re part-horis - this sham of a govt appeases them and crawls to them and gives in to them. Barry

*The 7% of the Population i.e. Maori have a more clout than the 70% of New Zealanders. It is time that this country became 0ne, not 2 nations and worked together rather than against each other. Muriel

*He stood at our door and said he would vote for Northland not the party line. So far he has done everything Key tells him and to hell with what is good for Northland. Garry

*A politician's only purpose in life is to keep out of the way. K

*Appears to be led by the nose and does what he's told despite having other views of his own. Don

*How long will it take for the list MP Chris Finlayson to stay free of "conflict of interest" implications stemming from previous professional advocasy? Edgar

*Constituants tend to be irrelevant. Stuart

*They virtually ignore the greater public - apart from the Maori race! Jocelyn

*MPs shaw a mental inability to grasp what the electors are thinking. Malcolm

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*They listen to what you have to say then do the opposite. James

*They are not doing the job they were voted in for. Douglas

*Within the confines of political realities which they have to live in. Hugh

*We do need the Swiss type peoples veto on legislation. Ian

*So long as the RMA can usurp property rates without compensation and we head toward a racist society, we are not represented. Willy

*As soon as MP's get elected, they seem to forget that they are supposed to be representing the views of the people that voted for them. Then adopt views from their own private agendas. Edwin

*Too much activist social reconstruction. Mal

*Bring back Guy Fawkes but tell him not to fail this time. Bruce

*Hopelessly would better describe it. I saw our MP, Chris Tremain, prior to the election on an issue. I found all he wanted to do was greet others coming into the cafe where he had arranged to meet. He focused on himself and his activities and did not want to hear my concerns at all. This is despite my earlier meeting with him where he said he would research the topic so we could discuss it in depth. I came away thinking it was a total waste of time and shocked that a person in such a position could be so ignorant of world events. John

*NZ is reaching a point of "Critical/ Crisis Time" in our history and if the momentum of these ridiculous claims Maori iwi corporations are making over "WATER" & "WIND" and we as New Zealanders have to STOP this insidious move maori have been making over a long period of time now with the entrenchment of the Treaty of Waitangi into NZ Law.....it MUST STOP NOW! Bruce

*Their personal gravy train of political survival destroys integrity. Barry

*Safe seats like Rodney are the quietist in the land.Not a word about one people one vote. The elected MP's have sold out to Maori,are only interested in knit picking and ther own fat arses. The right of elector were taken away,eg. Amalgamation of Auckland councils. the inclusion of free bee's. 29 unelected members,nine of which are Maori. Need I say more. Brian

*After getting into Parliament they seem to forget they represent all NZers not just those with the loudest voice. Mary

*I have no confidence at all in our current political system. Most of the MPs vote as directed by the Party Bosses irrespective of the wishes of their constituents.
The antismacking law was a case in point. My local National MP knew that the majority of his constituents were against it. He had carried out his own survey. Nevertheless he went ahead and voted for the Bill.
As I've said on other posts the only way ahead is to reform our political system so that the people can block unmandated legislation and intitiate binding referendums. The Swiss have done it and so could we. Wringing our hands about the curent situation is going to get us nowhere. We need to take action and my suggestion is to support only those Parties who will promote Direct Democracy and true representation. Denis

This week's poll asks:

How well do you feel your MPs represent your views?

*With our form of Government (MMP) our MPs represent the party not any electorate. party political dogma and vote buying rule the day. Our MPs have become dumb, corrupt puppets and should be subject to treason laws!! Peter

*How can they ? At election time promises are just that...mere promises. Overriding individual M.P.'s is the fact that whatever they think will count for nothing.

It is what the Cabinet wants, or rather in these MMP days what is required for the Political Party to retain power.

So we have the spin doctors deciding our future, not our small body of elected members. Plus the non-elected appointed representatives whose loyalty (If they ever heard of the word) is suspect on two issues.

1. Follow the party line
2. Eyes on the next election only.

Our N.Z. way of governing can be sum up very simply:-

"Great Empires and small minds, go ill together".

- Brian

*There are two problems that work in conjunction to cause this:
1) The MMP system
2) People have forgotten WHY parliament exists.

Parliament was originally a meeting of ALL citizens to discuss how to run affairs and formulate laws, obtain justice etc. In small, non industrial societies that was sufficient to ensure that everyone had their say.

In complex societies where people could not take time off work to attend parliament, a REPRESENTATIVE was elected to set forth the views of the people and becam the Member of Parliament.

I think that this basis has been twisted beyond recognition into the systems that exist nowadays. I think that a parliamentarian should set out his stance on issued and IN THE ABSENCE OF INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE OTHERWISE he votes along theose principles.

The MMP system with nn accountable list Mps, Parties where the representatives are merely herded along like cattle to make uop the numbers and the timescale between elections works against the wishes of the population being enacted.

However there IS a way to return to the original intention of what a parliament sould be and that is by EVERYTHING being put to a referendum – both locally and nationally.

This can easily be done (after all, log onto any newspaper website of this website) and the option to vote is available.

All that needs to be done is to set up an electronic voting system and list the topics that are to br voted on that week/month and if you are bothered, then vote.

Will it happen? Do ducks vote for the opening day of the duck season?

- Phil

*MP's of almost all the major political parties would claim to support the idea of all New Zealanders being equal under the law. In practice, like most of the media, they go along with the idea that maoris are superior, either because “they were here first” or “their standard of living is below the rest of us” or “their culture is superior to all others”. What a shame New Zealand never got to see what a Don Brash led National government could have achieved in the way of racial equality. John

*They listen to what you have to say then do the opposite! James