12 March 2001

Media Release

- BILL WILL PREVENT FUTURE NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS BEING INFLUENCED BY PUBLIC OPINION POLLS

- LET THE VOTERS DECIDE

The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said he was pleased that Labour had kept its promise to New Zealand First and that their Electoral Amendment Bill 2001 would incorporate the key elements of New Zealand First’s Electoral (Public Opinion Polls) Amendment Bill which Labour voted against last year after agreeing that they would support it.

“One need look no further than the last American Election to see how polling results can affect the outcome of a general election.

“We should have enough confidence in the common sense of New Zealanders to determine an election result without attempting to pre-determine the outcome through incessant public opinion polls that have dominated recent elections in this country.

“All manner of politicians have supported this view in recent years. Many New Zealanders are concerned at Election Campaigns becoming talk fests interpreting pre-election polls whilst the real issues in which there is public interest are totally ignored,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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