Jacinda Ardern and Bill English faced off in their first TV debate this week.
Jacinda Ardern and Bill English faced off in their first TV debate this week.
Morgan Morris, 30, corporate lawyer (on maternity leave) and electrical business owner, married with a son, Raglan
Voting for: National
Morgan Morris, with son Mason Frew, 8 months, has concerns about Labour's tertiary education policy. Photo / Jason Oxenham
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
Labour's Tertiary Education Policy (first year free). I consider this a significant development as it is a very cleverand tactical move by Labour at attracting the youth vote (18-24 yr olds) which account for 800,000 Kiwis.
However, as a past tertiary student of six years, this policy lacks substance and consideration and is exactly that - a bid for votes.
Thousands of students go straight from secondary school to university not knowing what they want to do, some are pressured by their parents and some go to have a good time, the end result; they drop out or change degrees.
In my class alone, there were over 150 student that dropped out after the first year, so under Labour's policy that would mean the tax payer would've paid for 150 lots of student fees - and that's just one degree at one University! Secondly, in my industry alone there are hundreds if not thousands of graduates that cannot find a job, this policy would only contribute to this problem.
Has it changed who you will vote for? If so, how?
No, as above, many of the opposition's policies have not been thought through and fiscally don't add up.
Francis Malley, 52, sports reporter, married with a daughter, Ahipara
Voting for: Unsure, but liking TOP
Francis Malley loves the Ahipara lifestyle but feels the area needs to develop. Photo / Mike Scott
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
I think the single biggest issue which arose was having Winston Peters ousted for receiving a benefit he wasn't entitled to.
While I am of a certain opinion that Peters wasn't deliberately trying to rip off the system, e.g. it was more of an comedy of errors let's say, it won't look good for him in light of the Metiria Turei scandal and it also sucks when you have experienced having to crawl over broken glass to even get 10 cents out of the welfare when you've needed it and they've just handed over thousands of dollars through what appears initially to have been an administrative error.
And it sucks even more when so many redneck commentators - seemingly mostly smug financially secure white middle class and male ? - were happily willing to crucify Turei for coming clean about her past.
Has it changed who you will vote for? If so, how?
No, it hasn't changed who I will end up voting for because I was never going to vote for Peters.
Dallon August, 50, youth mentor, married father, Rawene
Voting for: I'm thinking of voting for New Zealand First and also Hone Harawira
Dallon August returned to Rawene from Qatar and is working with youth. Photo / David Fisher
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
To be honest i haven't been watching the news this week But i am happy Jacinda from the Labour party has got the position as Labour leader.
Daniel Mickleson has enjoyed seeing Winston Peters squirm, following the NZ First leader's pension scandal this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
The scandal around Winston Peters. Peters is, or at least was, the key to this election - depending on how the electorate react, this could remove that power from him.
And also because just personally, I quite like to see Winston squirm. He's always a bit holier-than-thou and needs to be brought down to earth every now and then.
Lyn Johnston, 70, retired but volunteers as a museum archivist, divorced, Wharehine
Voting for: Will probably vote for Winston Peters as our local MP, undecided about party vote as yet
Lyn Johnston volunteers at the Albertland and Districts Museum and Heritage Centre in Wellsford. Photo / Jason Oxenham.
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
Winston Peters' proposal of shifting the container port from Auckland to Whangarei.
This could be significant in several ways; first by freeing up more of the Auckland waterfront for leisure activities, including cruise ship terminals; secondly, by creating more employment in the north and thirdly, if as proposed, the railways are upgraded between Auckland and Whangarei, removing substantial amount of heavy traffic from State Highway One.
Has it changed who you will vote for? If so, how?
It hasn't changed the way I will vote for our local MP. I'm still debating how to use my Party vote.
Nick Maitland, 41, marketing, married father of two, Rolleston
Voting for: Leaning towards National
Nick Maitland, with wife Carissa and children Kendall, 5, and Tora, 7, lives in Rolleston, near Christchurch. Photo / Kurt Bayer
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
I was really interested in Labour's tertiary education policy. I think it is a good idea but doesn't go far enough. I think there is a big group of people between 30-50 years who are likely to have studied something in the past (thus not qualifying for the policy) who would have relished the opportunity of a free year of study to help a career change/progression.
I also think one free year is helpful for youth unable to purse tertiary studies, but they will still have to pay for the subsequent years which might be very difficult.
Has it changed who you will vote for? If so, how?
No. Had it been broader and open to anyone it would have. I've got studies that I would like to pursue and it would have helped make that possible. However, I've already completed tertiary studies in the past and so wouldn't be eligible.
Charlie Young, 59, surf school owner, married, Whale Bay
Voting for: Undecided
Charlie Young and his wife set up several businesses, including a surf school, after emigrating to New Zealand from the United States in the late 1990s. Photo / Jason Oxenham.
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
Policy Proposal 29th August - Greens propose marine sanctuary to stop seabed mining off South Taranaki
The Green Party wants to stop seabed mining by creating an enormous new marine mammal sanctuary off the Taranaki coast.
The controversial Environmental Protection Agency decision allowing Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) to dredge 50 million tonnes of sand a year from the seabed off Patea would be stopped.
Explanation of significance - The Raglan community has been very supportive of the efforts of KASM (Kiwi's Against Seabed Mining) to protect our offshore environment from exploitation by mining companies.
Recently the EPA made a very contentious decision to allow TTR the opportunity to go forward with their plans to utilise an unproven, experimental offshore seabed mining project.
Our community believes this decision is seriously flawed, unproven and is without precedent. There is no mitigating benefits that can outweigh the possible environmental downsides to this project.
Raglan's soul and its economy is mainly based around ocean related activities such as Surfing ,Fishing and Kite-boarding.
At this point only the Greens have taken a position on this issue. I'm wanting to see clearly where other political party's stand is on this issue.
Has it changed who you will vote for? If so, how?
I have no political affiliations and have not yet made up my mind on the party vote in this election.
We currently have a very engaged MP in our electorate which has been a step in the right direction.
Seabed mining and the protection of our environment is just one of many major issues facing New Zealanders that needs to be addressed by the next government.
For me it will boil down to the collective solutions that each political party puts forward on issues that matter most. The jury is still out. I'm trying to keep an open mind.
Margie Donald, 59, primary school teacher, single mum of two, Ahipara
Voting for: Labour
Margie Donald loves the community spirit of Ahipara. Photo / Mike Scott
What's the most significant development in the election campaign this week?
Education was the big issue for me this week. First off, Labour intends to make the first year of tertiary study free for all.
Great, opens the doors for everyone to access further education.
National on the other hand, after consistently denying there is a teacher shortage, did an about face and said it would continue the incentive grant for beginning teachers, not just in low decile schools, but all schools.
Nikki Kaye spoke last Friday at a teacher conference and rolled out National's education policy, the next day announces "national standards plus" a new tool to measure student achievement, not mentioned the previous day.
A lack of transparency, clarity, and consultation once again, in a long line of policies pushed onto our system, that has only had negative effects means that I would not vote for them.
Has it changed your vote? If so, how?
No, won't be changing my mind. What I have heard this week confirms who I will vote for.
