Voters want politicians to sort this, this and this
And Tour to Invercargill on Saturday. took the Kingswood Election
Politicians know you can’t please everybody all of the time. But even pleasing some of the people some of the time is hard.
The second day of the Kingswood Election Tour brought out such a range of issues and concerns that political parties of whatever stripe would struggle to have all the answers.
The silver rocket, on its voyage to discover the nation’s mood before the election, went from Oamaru to Invercargill on Saturday.
The day started under a big blue sky in Oamaru but as the Holden Kingswood sped through the rolling countryside with snowy peaks in the distance, the weather deteriorated. It was a bitter day for tuning in to regular folks but the temperatures did not prevent some accurate readings of the political climate.
So far the feedback hasn’t suggested Bill English should start packing his bags just yet but the Jacinda effect is showing itself in more energised Labour support and is waking up lethargic voters and the undecided.
The Kingswood tour again came across many people who were still looking for the winning pitch and those who didn’t care about the election.
The sheer range of issues raised, from family values to 1080 poisoning, showed that parties need to fire many arrows to score.
The first stop on Saturday was Dunedin, where the obvious target for testing the waters was students.
First-year law and science student Jienwern Cook said she was interested in immigration. How many people the Government would let in and what they were doing to look after those immigrants already in the country. A clean environment was also very important, she said.
Nicola Williams, who is studying health science, said Labour’s first-year-free tertiary education policy was too late for her cohort and even the increased student allowance would miss out many students.
‘‘I watched the debates. Jacinda speaks well and is genuine but I wonder how much will be carried out.’’
She didn’t need help financially and was more concerned about green issues and clean water, she said.
Kate Hollings, a third-year politics student, said Labour’s free tertiary education policy and the $50 increase in the student allowance was popular and she was sensing a mood for a change of government.
Third-year physical education student Jordie Bungard said he and his social group were more inclined to vote National.
‘‘I come from a farm in Waihola and the big issue for us is the water tax Labour is proposing.’’
The cost of housing was much on his mind as he came from Auckland, politics and law student Alistair Dykes said. He didn’t think any of the parties were truly addressing the issue.
He detected a lot of student interest in The Opportunities Party and thought Jacinda Ardern was having a big impact on undecided voters and people ‘‘not really into politics’’.
Labour supporter Liz Garraway, selling honey at the Otago Farmer’s Market said the big issues in Dunedin were building the new hospital and jobs, especially after the coming Cadbury factory closure.
‘‘National has delayed and delayed building the hospital and we need better mental health services. Hell yes, I think Jacinda might just do it,’’ she said.
In Milton, Moira Hastie, retired, was going for her Saturday shop at the Four Square. She said she struggled on her pension and was looking for a party to increase superannuation.
‘‘Jacinda is certainly pushing things but are they solid enough?’’ the undecided voter said.
She was also worried about hospital waiting lists and healthcare for the elderly.
The Kingswood next arrived in Gore, where the busiest shop was Paper Plus selling last-minute Lotto tickets.
Anne (she did not want her last name used), an early education teacher, who normally voted National, said she was starting to lean towards Labour and believed it might be time for a change.
‘‘I believe in children and want them all to have a stable home and be well looked after.’’
Deer farmer Mike McBride said his most pressing concern was the deterioration of family values in New Zealand.
‘‘The country really needs a shake-up,’’ he said. He wasn’t sure who he would vote for.
‘‘Farmers have also been getting a bad rap. We love and respect the land and we are trying to improve but the load must be spread evenly.’’
Doing her shopping in Pak ’n’ Save, in Invercargill, Sarah-Jane Davis, also a teacher, said Labour would get her vote because it was consistently better for education.
Keen hunters Chris Legg and Brett Allison were putting the poles in for a fence at the front of Allison’s section. Neither were regular voters but both said they were concerned about the effect of 1080 poisoning.
‘‘We just want to make sure we can take our kids hunting,’’ Legg said.