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.
9 comments:
Similarly, it's bloody hard voting anything National.
They are even more woke and left than they've ever been, Luxon is useless but they smell just slightly less than their twin sister Labour.
So, I'll very grudgingly vote for my local Nat MP and cleanse my soul and give ACT my party vote.
In the very least we may end up with a better Finance Minister if Willis is forced out if, as is expected, their list vanishes.
I will have to hold my nose and give National my electoral vote but there is not a cat in hell's chance they would ever get my party vote. I want the 'numpties in Cabinet' (that Luxon finds annoying) in force to make National deal with Matike Mai and He Puapua once and for all.
The primary risk of a Left coaliton is not the inevitable economic disaster but the other certainty; race based nation wide mayhem
If it’s so wrong to vote for different parties (electorate and party) why were we given.two votes?
Great article, Owen. If traditional National voters do not vote strategically, the left will win.
Precisely , NZ will win if Electorate Vote National when appropriate and Party Vote ACT or NZF.
Why not vote for an ACT candidate AND the ACT Party?
So the ACT candidate may have only a slight chance of taking the seat, but a reduced majority for a sitting National candidate is one of the few things the party leadership will take any notice of.
If everyone did this it would be a very strong message indeed. But even if only a few did, the impact could still be significant.
Whether you agree (or not) likely depends on how disillusioned you are with National’s so-called leadership.
Anon 4.47PM That would be a lovely way to get the message across to National/Luxon, however, in my electorate when you do the numbers based on 2023 and extrapolate what you suggest would allow Liebour to sneak over the line and grab the electorate because the margin between the National incumbent and the Liebour candidate is slim to say the least. As I said above, I'll be holding my nose and doing my best to keep the more right side of politics in and the definitely wrong side out.
There are National voters who have always voted and always will. They are no different than the always Labour voters. I believe this election they will be the only party votes National gets. The rest of us National voters will give our party vote to Act.
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