First question... Why is Bill English waiting for the results in the Pullman Hotel in Auckland instead of Wellington?

Labour demolishing the Maori Party vote but has this been at the cost of annoying some of their traditional blue collar (redneck) voters who do not want a whole lot of Maori members in Parliament.     Labour has run a strong campaign against the Maori party.    For example the TV ad fronted by Willie Jackson.

freitasm:

First question... Why is Bill English waiting for the results in the Pullman Hotel in Auckland instead of Wellington?

I'd love to see something like single transferable vote where there were no wasted votes. I'd be more willing to consider a party such as TOP if I knew my vote would still count if they couldn't get 5%.

Aredwood: The party vote threshold should be reduced to 2%. That will make it far easier for the minor parties.

Why?

Does the ban on discussion run for the entire day (i.e. midnight to midnight) or just whilst the polling booths are open (on the basis that you cannot influence anyone's vote after they are shut)?

It will be weeks before we have a result I say its 50/50 right now

MikeB4:

 

It will be weeks before we have a result I say its 50/50 right now

 

Agreed. I dislike this voting system. It seems to permit government by a committee that most voters did not vote for and potentially takes far too long. FPP may have some flaws but at least it is over and done with in short order. 

Does the biggest party (in percentage terms) get first dibs on trying to sort out an agreement, or is it just a free for all?

MMP gives more people a say in the outcome and the next 3 years will see the MP's held accountable. There will need to be considerable compromise and that's a good thing.

Geektastic:

 

MikeB4:

 

It will be weeks before we have a result I say its 50/50 right now

 

 

 

 

Agreed. I dislike this voting system. It seems to permit government by a committee that most voters did not vote for and potentially takes far too long. FPP may have some flaws but at least it is over and done with in short order. 

 

Does the biggest party (in percentage terms) get first dibs on trying to sort out an agreement, or is it just a free for all?

 

It is the group that can show the Governor General that they have the ability to form a Government. That at this point could be a National et al coalition or a Labour et al coalition.

MikeB4:

 

MMP gives more people a say in the outcome and the next 3 years will see the MP's held accountable. There will need to be considerable compromise and that's a good thing.

 

Giving people a say too much is part of why so little actually happens in NZ. They spend far too much time "consulting" and not enough time doing. A little more autocracy is required.

The MP's would be accountable regardless of MMP, of course, just as they were before MMP and are elsewhere where they still use FPP.

Geektastic:

 

MikeB4:

 

MMP gives more people a say in the outcome and the next 3 years will see the MP's held accountable. There will need to be considerable compromise and that's a good thing.

 

 

 

 

Giving people a say too much is part of why so little actually happens in NZ. They spend far too much time "consulting" and not enough time doing. A little more autocracy is required.

 

The MP's would be accountable regardless of MMP, of course, just as they were before MMP and are elsewhere where they still use FPP.

 

It's called democracy and I disagree with you about what happens in New Zealand we are young, small and vibrant country and way better than most of the old countries elsewhere. 

MikeB4:

 

MMP gives more people a say in the outcome and the next 3 years will see the MP's held accountable. There will need to be considerable compromise and that's a good thing.

 

I am not sure that's entirely right. I think you should have said.. "and that *could* be a good thing. 

Depending on what Winston demands, we could see a lot of NZ'rs get less than they were expecting/hoping for overall.

If National can also form with Greens then perhaps they might be able to pare back some of the inevitable ransom type demands made by WP.

I wonder what Maori party not getting in, will do to race relations in NZ?

networkn:

MikeB4:

MMP gives more people a say in the outcome and the next 3 years will see the MP's held accountable. There will need to be considerable compromise and that's a good thing.

I am not sure that's entirely right. I think you should have said.. "and that *could* be a good thing. 

Depending on what Winston demands, we could see a lot of NZ'rs get less than they were expecting/hoping for overall.

If National can also form with Greens then perhaps they might be able to pare back some of the inevitable ransom type demands made by WP.

I wonder what Maori party not getting in, will do to race relations in NZ?