Herald DigiPoll: Stay away from our kids ... and money

By HELEN TUNNAH

Voters are united about one thing this election - they would not trust politicians with their money and they are not sure they would trust them to babysit the kids either.

Only Prime Minister Helen Clark, a favourite aunty to her nieces and nephews, and father-of-six National leader Bill English would be welcome to mind the children, according to a Herald-DigiPoll survey taken this month.

But even they could not outrate "none of them" when voters were asked which political leader a person would take investment advice from.

Men and women were equally comfortable with leaving the children with the two main party leaders - Helen Clark came out tops in the poll with 27.8 per cent, just ahead of Mr English on 25.4 per cent.

But more than 16 per cent said they would not let any politician babysit.

Of the other leaders, only the Greens' Jeanette Fitzsimons rated reasonably well, with 14.5 per cent support, putting fellow leader Rod Donald to shame - he rated just 0.7 per cent.

Neither New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (4.7 per cent), nor Act leader Richard Prebble (0.9 per cent) was wanted either.

There was only a little more joy for Mr Peters and Mr Prebble, but not Mr Donald, when people were asked which leader they would take investment advice from.

While men might consider putting their financial faith in a politician, as long as that person was not Green, women were reluctant to trust any of them except Helen Clark.

Virtually no one wanted any help from Ms Fitzsimons or Mr Donald, and the poll found 28.6 per cent would not accept any advice from any leader.

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