Mood on the street: Voters largely unswayed following shake-ups in Labour, Green parties

Clint Neilson, 43, of Matapihi was the only voter who said recent political changes had swayed his vote. Photo/ George Novak

Voters stopped on the street in Auckland this afternoon unanimously said they were not going to change their votes over the Green party saga - but most hadn't planned to vote that way anyway.

In Tauranga too voters remained mainly unchanged in their voting intentions, with only one person saying they would no longer be voting for the Greens following co-leader Metiria Turei's revelation she lied to Winz as a single mother to stop her benefit being cut.

That voter had changed their intention to Labour, saying Jacinda Ardern's appointment as the Opposition leader had swayed their vote.

Jules McPherson, 41, Kohimarama

Jules McPherson from Kohimarama, 41. Photo/ Dean Purcell.

McPherson was not and had never planned to vote Green. She was still undecided, but leaning toward New Zealand First.

She didn't agree with Turei lying to Winz, because she thought the law needed to apply to everyone no matter the circumstance.

"I liked the honesty, but I don't agree with what she's done."

She thought the revelation of Turei's electoral fraud should have been brought up at the same time as her first announcement.

"Now we think 'what else is she hiding'."

Monique Ebert, 25, Hillsborough

Monique Ebert, Hillsborough, 25. Photo/ Dean Purcell.

Ebert said she wouldn't vote Green anyway, but thought Turei could have handled the admissions better.

Regardless, she thought the issue of poverty needed to be discussed and was glad Turei had raised it.

"Whether [owning up] was the right move or not I'm not sure, but it's a pretty serious issue though, so I'm glad someone is talking about it."

She didn't think Turei should have to step down as the Green's co-leader.

"Everyone's got something they want to hide. She just happened to be honest about hers."

Stewart Hartley, 52, CBD

Stewart Hartley, Auckland CBD, 52. Photo/ Dean Purcell

Hartley's vote was unaffected as he was never going to vote for the Greens, but he hoped Turei's admissions might put others off voting for her party.

"It's a bit of a circus. I think if someone commits fraud, I don't care if it was 20 years ago, it's still fraud."

Davison Sachs, 28, Dannemora

Davison Sachs, Dannemora, 28. Photo/ Dean Purcell

Sachs was unsure if he was even going to vote, but said if he did he wouldn't vote Green because he didn't think they could handle running the country.

Turei's admissions didn't bother him and he thought it was good she's owned up.

"To me, I don't see it as a big problem.

"I think she just needs to pay it back and move on."

Peter Maxted, 68, Epsom

Peter Mexted, Epsom, 68. Photo/ Dean Purcell.

Maxted planned to vote Labour and always had.

He thought it was good Turei had been honest about welfare fraud but now needed to pay it back as she had the money.

He didn't necessarily think she should step down as co-leader.

"You're only human. She was just a regular punter before she became a politician."

Doug Tildsley, 46, Henderson

Doug Tildsley, Henderson, 46. Photo/ Dean Purcell

Tildsley was never going to vote for the Greens, and thought the standards for MPs needed to be kept higher than the average person.

"I think honesty should be one of the main tenets of being in Parliament," he said.

"If you're in Parliament, you should be a moral person."

Ron Maxwell, 77, Omokoroa

Ron Maxwell, 77, Omokoroa. Photo/ George Novak

Maxwell said none of the recent events had changed his mind about who to vote for, but he thought for others they might.

He thought Ardern's appointment to Labour leader was a positive change and thought Turei had shown courage.

"I can understand where Metiria is coming from and I think things have got out of hand. She's a brave lady to make these revelations."

Alice Thomson, 40s, Whakamarama

Alice Thomson, 40s, Whakamarama. Photo/ George Novak

Thomson was not swayed in her vote and said she did not support Labour's policies.

"Whether Jacinda is a different person from the former leader doesn't make a difference because the party and policies are still the same."

As for the Green Party, Thomson thought the Turei saga would influence many people's voting decision.

Clint Neilson, 43, Matapihi

Clint Neilson, 43, of Matapihi was the only voter who said recent political changes had swayed his vote. Photo/ George Novak

Neilson was the sole voter to have his mind changed by Ardern's rise and Turei's admissions.

"After hearing Jacinda speaking at her first caucus meeting and I was inspired by her charisma and the content of her initial leader's speech and her vision for New Zealand. I'm sure many others were too," he said.

"In my role as an environmental officer I have implemented some good policies the Greens came up with. But after [Turei] committing benefit fraud and falsifying election information, the question of her integrity has to come into question."

Julia Banks, 57, Matua

Julia Banks, 57, Matua. Photo/ George Novak

Banks wouldn't be voting for Labour, but thought other people might with Ardern as leader.

She thought Turei should step down as co-leader.

"I do think Metiria should resign. I think it [Metiria's fraud disclosures] has changed many people's views and will certainly influence how people decide to vote this election."