Dear Editor
There have been a number of polls recently but the most important question is never asked. There is one issue that trumps all of the rest but there is minimal discussion about it and virtually no mention of it in the mainstream media.
We have polls on political preferences, Covid, economy, cost of living and all of these are important but, in the end, they are temporary and will pass.
But the most important issue that does not get asked is what people think the future of our democracy is or should be.
In my view, it is under significant threat.
The He Puapua master plan is underway which will install a bi-governed state where Maori as a bloc have an equal voice to all other New Zealanders.
The Water Services Entities Bill (Three Waters) has passed its first reading, the Health Department will separate into two separate entities (one for Maori and one for non-Maori) next month and by 2040 we will have so-called co-governance in which the principle of one person one vote will be history.
I believe that it is vital that the question of whether we want our democracy to continue or not should be discussed and people’s views sought before it becomes a fait accompli. One of the ways for that to happen is to ask them via polling.
Peter Ryan
