Owen Jennings: The Stark Choice – Country before Party

There has never been such a stark choice. Yeah, I know we said that last election and the one before that, but the country has never had the very real prospect of a left-wing coalition that has a recent record of doing huge economic damage and that is now, even more dependent on the sheer insanity represented by Labour’s likely partners.

This is an election for “coalitions” not parties.

It is an election about strategic voting. Like it or lump it voters are going to split their vote. They have done every election since MMP got foisted on us. Heaps of us do it.

You can argue its wrong, dangerous or manipulative till the cows come home. What happens in the confines of the polling booth is no one’s business but yours. Having a party at a top level propose strategies might raise questions, but that isn’t going to happen. There is a mile of difference between John Key’s cup of tea with an ACT candidate and PM Luxon saying anything other than, “two ticks, blue”.

I am in the Papakura electorate. I am going to vote for National’s Emma Chatterton. She looks committed, energetic and saying useful things about local needs. If I also vote National with my Party vote there is a very high chance it will be a wasted vote – have no effect whatsoever. That vote will not help secure the country for a Coalition of the right.

However, if I vote for ACT or NZFirst with my Party vote I increase the chances of keeping the Coalition in power and keeping the crazy policies of the Greens, Te Pati Māori and the nonsense of TOP, out.

For some staunch Nats, voting for another party in the Coalition with their Party vote will be difficult, even unthinkable. But this is an unusual, even unique election. It requires careful analysis and taking a considered step. To increase the likelihood of National being in the next government a split vote becomes pivotal. In this election the “two ticks” would be National’s undoing, having them back in Opposition. It’s about what’s good for the country – not a small number of MP’s who risked going List only.

Holding one’s nose and using one vote – the Party vote – for a party that would work with National, has already proved they can work with National under Christopher Luxon’s steady captaincy is doing yourself and your future generations a massive favour.

The present Coalition may not be doing everything you want. They have missed some important things, some that they even promised. Put that aside for a moment. Figure what enormous damage would be done by having the controlling, damaging socialist extremism of a left-wing coalition taking us into an economic nightmare. Then figure out how you can be part of stopping them. You can make a difference.

It’s simple. Elect as many National party MP’s into electorate seats as possible but use your Party vote, strategically and for the good of the country. It’s a stark choice - country before party.

Former MP Owen Jennings, a former Member of Parliament and President of Federated Farmers, maintains a keen interest in ensuring agricultural policies are sensible and fit for purpose.