Low-income voters election feedback

1 December 2011
Low-income voters want support to get jobs was the key message delivered in the Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) waiting room today. Especially those who need ‘a second chance’ because previous criminal convictions are preventing them getting a look-in to the job market. One respondent was emphatic that “people change and we need another shot at a job”.

The first 20 people through the doors today were surveyed to check if they had voted in the weekend’s general elections. Only 12 of the 20, or 60% of respondents had voted with most non-voters citing disillusionment with “broken promises to poorer New Zealanders” as the reason they avoided the polls.

Among those surveyed there were strong messages delivered for politicians with the Maori Party singled out for criticism. “They shouldn’t be going with National” said some respondents as “National only want them so they can get the numbers to govern”.

DCM people, the majority of whom are on annual gross incomes of under $12,000 per annum, were also critical of the big disparity in New Zealanders’ incomes.

“Politicians need to sort out the 99% and stop looking out for the 1%. They need to get out from behind their desks and start really helping people, especially to find work” were common themes touched on by survey respondents.

Hospital waiting lists and the unfairness of facing the personal cost of paying for crutches was a hot issue for one respondent. Another saw international issues as a high priority with the suggestion that New Zealand promote an international ceasefire on Anzac Day.

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