“Where is the media and public scrutiny of potential List MPs?” asks Belinda Vernon, MP for Maungakiekie.

“Voters are constantly polled on their Party Vote preferences. But how many voters know who will be elected as a result of their Party Vote?

“The Party Vote is the most important vote. It determines the proportions of parties, and their MPs, in Parliament. But who is looking at the make up of the MPs who will come into Parliament as a result of the Party Vote?

“Some parties haven’t even selected their lists, while others have not disclosed the current occupations or biographical notes of their candidates on their websites. How is the thinking voter expected to make a choice? Blind faith in the political parties?”

“Neither the political parties nor the media are doing enough to publicise the credentials of the people who are likely to be MPs as a result of voters exercising their Party Vote in the coming election.

“Voters are effectively being asked to vote blind.

‘Vote for our party’ says the propaganda, ‘but rely on us to decide who your representatives will be’ is the unwritten message.

“Will voters get what they want?

“I challenge the media to publicise and scrutinise independently each party list so that the New Zealand public has a clearer idea of the possible composition of the next Parliament.

“The Party Vote is the most important vote. The media and political parties have a responsibility to ensure New Zealanders know who they will see in Parliament in return for their Party Vote. I hope the media will rise to the challenge,” concluded Ms Vernon.

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