Letters: Nation waits on Winston with bated breath

Winston Peters holds the power. Photo/File

It seems the only person left grinning after the election is Winston Peters.

Typically, the only time a grumpy 72-year-old gets this much attention is when it's time to rewrite their will after a Lotto win, but thanks to the voters of New Zealand, Winston Peters has again found himself the centre of attention.

The results can be read in two different ways, and the reading no doubt reflects which side of fence you're on. National picked up 46 per cent of the vote, but it has lost two of the four parties that formed its previous governing coalition. This was due to United Future's Peter Dunne deciding not to run again due to his perceived "mood for change", along with the voters rejecting the Maori Party at the polling booth.

On the other side of the fence, Labour and Green picked up 42 per cent, with the possibility of picking up another couple per cent once the special votes are counted. NZ First, sitting on the fence, picked up 8 per cent.

In my view, the results show that the voters of New Zealand want a change of government. They showed they're ready for change by giving the parties which formed the opposition over the past nine years more votes than the parties that led the government over the past nine years.

So now, we wait with bated breath to see if Winston Peters will follow the will of the people, or if he just does what's best for Winston Peters, which could very well be the same thing.

RYAN GRAY
Rotorua

'Waste scandals' example?

Having read your correspondent Reynold Macpherson's polemic (Letters, September 26) several times, the point(s) made remain unclear. It would be helpful to have an example of "waste scandals" and also what is meant by trust being regenerated.

Mr Macpherson says that democracy can be restored. Where? Perhaps he means Fiji. Policy implementation can indeed be delegated but it would be surprising if council were unaware of this. Don't the allocated portfolios propose policy and priority? One could also argue that council is already delivering sustainable prosperity.

There are economic statistics to support this and in a few weeks Te Manawa should continue that trend.

This may be wrong of course but in terms of democracy, no more so than your correspondent's use of attack when defence is required.

MIKE BYRNE
Rotorua