[imc-auckland-video] Stv for auckland

[Kim Mazur]

Split vote will undermine Auckland mayoral mandate
Thursday, 19 August 2004, 1:32 pm
Press Release: Green Party  

19 August, 2004
Split vote will undermine Auckland mayoral mandate

Green MP Keith Locke says Dick Hubbard's entry into the Auckland mayoral
race shows the need for an STV voting system in the city.

"Auckland may pay the price for not following Wellington and Dunedin in
adopting a preferential voting system," said Mr Locke, himself an
Auckland City voter.

"There are now four strong mayoral contenders for Auckland City, meaning
that someone could win with less than 30 per cent of the vote. By
contrast, no mayor will be elected in Wellington and Dunedin without 50
percent support, from first votes or preferences.

"Dick Hubbard's entry does give Aucklanders a greater choice, which is
good in a democracy, but the first-past-the-post-system means we might
see the most disliked candidate, John Banks, being re-elected.

"I think most Aucklanders would like to see the back of John Banks, but
he might yet sneak back because his opposition is split three ways.

"If we had STV, second and third preference votes would probably
accumulate behind the strongest challenger, and Mr Banks would go down.

"Under the present scenario, many Aucklanders will vote tactically for
the progressive candidate likely to defeat Mr Banks. By contrast, STV
allows people to vote positively, for the candidate they most like,
knowing that their preference votes will help the next best challengers.

"Something good may yet come from this election if it helps Aucklanders
see the need to change to an STV voting system," said Mr Locke. "Whoever
wins, first-past-the-post will lose."