When are the televised MMP debates?
October 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am by David FarrarTVNZ has announced that One News will host three election debates. They are:
- Mon 31 October – major party leaders
- Wed 16 November – minor party leaders
- Wed 23 November – major party leaders
Now it is great that we have three debates scheduled to help people make informed votes on who governs New Zealand for the next three years.
But where are the televised debates on the electoral system referendum, which will decide our electoral system for the next 50 years or so?
Surely if we have 270 minutes of prime time devoted to the election debates, we should have at least that much time on TV for debating the electoral system?
I hope TVNZ and TV3 announce a number of electoral referendum debates. It is only 32 days until we vote on whether or not we keep MMP or have another referendum in 2014. Radio NZ has led the way with a high level debate, I hope they will not be the only broadcaster to do so.
Tags: MMP, referendum, TV3, TVNZ
October 25th, 2011 at 9:10 am
So the fun is over I guess it’s time for the politics to start.
Vote:The sad part is, where a party has “X” amount to spend and normally over a 3 month period, we now have the situation where they still have “X” to spend, but over 32 days!!
A flooding of advertising I’m picking.
October 25th, 2011 at 9:11 am
The 23rd is for Key and Goff again. I assume they will have different themes. I am glad they have dropped having all the leaders there. Goff and Key are the two candidates for PM and that is what people really want to hear about.
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Didn’t the Electoral Commission decide that the major parties were National, Labour and the Greens?
[DPF: Off memory they called the Greens a medium party I think. A better term for the debates might be the Potential Pm debates]
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 9:21 am
WHOOO HOOO I don’t own a TV. SWEET!
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Pity TVOne’s ads (including the banner at the top of this blog) show that modern managers do not know when (or where?) to insert an apostrophe.
Vote:The Leaders’ debate is their debate.
October 25th, 2011 at 10:05 am
“The Nation” (on TV3) will be back on air this Saturday at 1030 (replayed Sunday 0800) with coverage of the MMP referendum. This will include a debate and reports on how MMP has worked (which will include Peter Dunne). We are still working on the final lineup of participants.
Vote:Front Page (which produces “The Nation”) is also producing an MMP debate for Sky News and Prime chaired by Barry Soper on November 20 at 8.30 p.m. (Sky) and 10.30 p.m. (Prime)
October 25th, 2011 at 10:12 am
Any one know if Peters will be part of the Minor party debates? He was talking of taking the channels to court if they didn’t invite him…
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 10:38 am
“Any one know if Peters will be part of the Minor party debates? He was talking of taking the channels to court if they didn’t invite him…”
They should invite him to a debate – for parties outside parliament. Legalise Marijuana, Bill & Ben, Winston…..
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 11:09 am
I’ve already made up my mind – like just about everyone I know.
Vote:A few minutes rehearsed posturing on TV won’t change my mind, as well as being tedious and irritating, especially all those tinpot wannabes.
I think I’ll be watching some of the backlog on MySky instead.
October 25th, 2011 at 11:32 am
the debates between Key and Goff will be great. Should be the final nail for Goff. He just can’t compete with Key .. neither Clark nor Cullen could either
Vote:re Winny, sod hem, he already gets too much air time
October 25th, 2011 at 11:49 am
Still incorrect for 23 November. But I guess you either think Goff and Key are minor party leaders, or you do not proof read your work. But then most people would figure there would not be TWO minor party debates but then you should have too.
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
“Any one know if Peters will be part of the Minor party debates? He was talking of taking the channels to court if they didn’t invite him…”
“They should invite him to a debate – for parties outside parliament. Legalise Marijuana, Bill & Ben, Winston…..”
I’m guessin the Bill & Ben party might not be looking for much promotion anymore.
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
As this election method fiasco goes on many of my acquantainces are going to FPP, to try and stop the stupidity of MMP.
Vote:MMP will only bring a left wing government, for almost ever, in 2014 with the Greenlab Party. The minor parties are probably dead by now, or will be after November, leaving National and Greenlab only.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Hear hear, Paulus. I am voting for FPP if only to send the message that I am sick and tired of all these hangers-on trying to call the tune.
Vote:The argument that we have greater diversity seems a nonsense to me. Diversity in itself surely means little unless it is accompanied by quality. Having more second-raters gets us nowhere even if they are a mixture of races, gender etc.
I would like fewer and better politicians – about half the number we have now – with the ability to make decisions and move us along rather than having their hands tied by minor parties.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
BeaB: To be fair, the quality of the candidates doesn’t have anything to do with the electoral system we use to elect them. I wouldn’t have a problem with reducing the number of politicians, and this again could be done regardless of the voting system used.
Vote:October 25th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
leftyliberal
Vote:I take your point but one of the main advantages of MMP, according to its supporters, is that we now have greater diversity in Parliament, as though diversity were an end in itself.
My point is that greater diversity is of no use if all we have are more diverse has-beens, also-rans, cranks etc.
Ability, intelligence and skills are much more important than whether you are male or female, brown or white, gay or straight.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Celebrate Halloween with the Horrors of an election debate!
Vote: