An election series in which a panel of readers answers questions on the big issues.The panel of 120 eligible voters has been selected by the research company Nielsen to reflect the age, gender and regional spread of the voting-age population.
QUESTION At this point in the election campaign, what is the main issue that will decide how you vote on November 8?
Is this election about "trust", as Labour says, or "change", as National would have it?
Neither, according to the Weekend Herald's focus group of 120
representative voters. It is the economy, not only the global financial crisis but the underlying state of the New Zealand economy, that outweighs all other issues including crime and tax cuts.
Of the 97 who took part in the latest survey, 27 said the economy and/or the crisis was the main issue for them at this stage.
Social concerns, including health, education and family living costs, were uppermost for 16. Crime and tax cuts came equal third, each named by 13.
A wide range of other issues were nominated but none by more than six people. Only four cited "trust" and only three said they simply wanted a change of government.
Among those most concerned about the economy, one was looking for "ideas on how to keep the economy going in the finance crisis WITHOUT creating huge government debt with expensive promises".
Another: "The main issue is to give most New Zealanders a better standard of living and higher income, more in keeping with Australia. The exodus has to stop, particularly of university-educated people."
And another: "I want to know who saw this crash/recession coming because it was obvious a year ago ... Who can I believe can and will lead us out of it, and not follow everyone else?"
The economy was the main concern for men and older women. Younger women (under 45) were more interested in tax cuts and social issues. Interestingly, younger women were less concerned about crime than were the other groups. Crime was the second-highest concern for older women and males under 45, third for older men and fourth for women under 45.
One younger woman most wanted "lower transport rates, increased student allowances, and lowering of housing prices".
Another, for whom tax cuts were uppermost, said: "I need more money in my pocket." And a young mother said: "We are a working family with four children and struggling to make ends meet. Tax breaks and childcare assistance are top of our agenda."
