Wendy Geus: Compass voters disagree with media and choose Seymour over Top golden girl

A quarter of over 3,000 voters chose ACT’s David Seymour as winner of minor party debate

Seymour committed the cardinal sin, according to a chic, coiffed to the nth degree Heather du Plessis-Allan, in referring to 'One law for all' as the policy he would most like to see progressed next term. In the presence of seasoned left wing journalists, Guyon Espiner and Toby Manhire on the 1News debate panel she let rip at Seymour for picking a subject not, apparently, on the radar for this election.

24% of voters on Compass chose Seymour despite his reference to the subject that dares not speak its name, committing the sin of referring to the race debate which she, Hosking and Woodham and the rest of the media have safely tucked away in the too icky to be referred to drawer.

The over 3,000 voters also dispelled the view of media commentators when 46% admitted, yes, the debates do help them decide who to vote for. Who knew?

One News who are spending oodles promoting their Compass Vote NZ have been very coy over who won on the debate vote. I had to google and search for a mention tucked half way down a page.

So pardon me if I draw your attention to the winner in the voters' eyes, David Seymour, with Chloe and Ms Wong second on 19%, poor Winston on 8% and Waititi 2%.

I hope these Kiwis are party voting ACT on election day as they are just who National need to save their bacon with their plethora of electorate seats but 10% fewer party votes, the first time this has happened since the last 10 elections according to Maurice Williamson, mathematician extraordinaire.

As seats in the House are decided by party votes their electorate seat overhang will make it unwise to party vote National. Barring a miracle, you will be throwing your vote away.

John Key who is pulling Luxon's strings, is the impediment to this happening if National supporters don't ignore him and use their own initiative.

Key has admitted as much that mathematically Harry Mowbray, Williamson, and Brash are right (see Don Brash's article in the Herald 10 October).

In an interview with Sean Plunket on The Platform 8 October, John Key made it abundantly clear that his aversion to vote splitting, which would clearly increase the likelihood of a return of the current Coalition Government, has come about due to a personal hatred of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Key would rather see a Leftist Government under Chris Hipkins than a more powerful NZ First.

Echoes of Winston Peters in 2017 whose hatred of Bill English, Paula Bennet et al, stopped him from going with National. Like Key, putting a personal vendetta before what's best for the country.

MY party vote will be going to ACT as it has for the past few elections as National has moved too far left and left me standing for the most part, in ACT country. But it is good to know this time I may be helping return the right bloc as well.

So......

Vote for your local National electorate MP, if you have one. That's important. However giving them your party vote will decrease the chance of a right bloc win. So don't.

Party vote ACT who want to cut costs, save your money and make it go further with their Kiwi Saver Tax cut Plan.

or, if you must...

Party vote NZ First who, according to their recent announcements, are hell bent on spending and bankrupting us without any fiscal plan to show where the money is coming from.

Wendy Geus is a former speechwriter and generalist communications advisor in local government. She now writes for the pure love of it.