Voters give MMP the thumbs down

A narrow majority of voters are happy Labour has formed a Government with the support of New Zealand First and United Future, according to a snap poll.

But there is less support for the decision to make Winston Peters the Foreign Affairs Minister and concern that MMP did not serve voters well this election.

Helen Clark announced details of the new minority Government on Monday. The Herald DigiPoll asked 402 people on Wednesday and Thursday whether they were happy that the Labour-led Government was supported by NZ First and United Future.

Fifty per cent said yes, with 40.2 per cent unhappy.

Asked if they would have preferred Labour to fulfil its initial plan to go into coalition with the Greens, nearly two-thirds said they would not, while just a third said yes.

Voters were fairly split on Mr Peters' taking the key Foreign Affairs role, with 41.1 per cent happy but 49.7 per cent unhappy.

Just under 54 per cent remain confident the Government will last the full three-year term, but 29.6 per cent believe it will not go the distance.

And 55.6 per cent of respondents believe the economy will suffer because of the public spending promised at the election.

The poll reveals disenchantment with MMP, possibly enhanced by the murky result and the contortions involved in government formation.

Forty-seven per cent of those polled said MMP had worked badly this election, while 38.4 per cent believed it worked well.

National leader Don Brash retains the support of the public to lead the party, with 55.3 per cent (including 89.6 per cent of National voters) saying he should keep his job and 27.3 against it.

And his tax cuts campaign is still prominent in voters' minds - two-thirds of those polled want Labour to deliver them.

Some 38 per cent of voters believe the Maori Party should have gone with Labour, but 30 per cent have endorsed its decision not to align itself with either of the big players post-election.

The poll also gives an insight into how supporters of different parties at the election view the outcome, although due to its small size - it has a margin of error of 4.9 per cent - only the views of those supporting the two biggest parties could be considered indicative.

The breakdown shows 70 per cent of Labour supporters are happy with its choice of support parties, but asked if they preferred a coalition with the Greens, 52 per cent were in favour and 38 per cent against.

Of the NZ First voters, 81 per cent supported the new governing arrangements, yet 54.5 per cent of United Future respondents opposed it.

Labour voters were almost evenly split on Mr Peters' ministerial role, with 90.5 per cent of NZ First respondents in favour. 

Question

Do you think MMP has worked well or badly this election?

Badly: 47.2 per cent
Well: 38.4.
Don't know/refused: 14.5