Ticking the right box at election time
Making two small marks on a paper is simple. Freely turning up at a polling booth to place ticks in a box is a big responsibility, an enormous privilege and not something we should ever take for granted.
Low voter turn out at elections amazes me. No snow flake blames itself for an avalanche, but every one of those beautiful uniquely created flakes contributes to the resulting winter scene. Just as every one of our precious individual votes contributes to the resulting political ‘‘landscape’’ .
My vote is always cast seriously after carefully considering party policies and electorate issues. I detest the influence so much media exerts by focussing on drama, negativity and rehashed irrelevant issues.
Every day leading to the election hundreds of candidates spend hours electioneering but from all those speeches and interviews what has the most impact is, unfortunately, the five minutes screened on TV that night . Often more soap opera than ‘‘news’’. It takes discernment not to be swayed by insidious influence from political commentators’ predictions, lightweight interviewers not asking the next question, and fixation on polls, gaffs, and personalities.
Our local candidates meeting attracted a packed hall. People wanted to be better informed and discuss concerns in our local Tasman electorate.
Six candidates spoke, answered questions and later talked informally over a cup of tea. There was respect, candid opinion, good humour and little mention of leadership tussles. An informative, even entertaining, afternoon and we left able to exercise our precious ticks more wisely, although no party has policies ticking all the boxes for me.
I amlooking for a party that isn’t just idealistic but knows how to implement pre-election promises. One that takes into account rural issues, understands they are different to Auckland ones, and isn’t distracted by large numbers of urban voters.
We have 35 government ministries but frustratingly no Ministry for Agriculture or Rural Affairs any more. Farming, forestry, and fishing now lumped together as ‘‘primary industries’’, and no ministry undertaking to support rural communities and how policies impact them. Who will genuinely value farmers and their economic contribution and reinstate these significant cogs in government?
Millions of tax payer dollars have been spent promoting visitors to New Zealand. Boat races received significant public funding.
How about a party which will recognise agriculture and invest finances to strengthen our industry as well? How about investing in research into wool products; improved biosecurity at borders instead of expensive eradication; compensation rather than regulation for landowners with environmental treasures and no tax reduction for high incomes until fair earnings for all return. The conservation estate pays no rates so let’s have assistance for councils to relieve the burden on rural ratepayers.
So many important things but only two ticks to say it with. Still. it’s a valuable opportunity not to be missed.
Joyce Wyllie is a sheep farmer at Kaihoka in Golden Bay.