"Its a pretty devastating indictment and has been revealed in a privately commissioned - but scientically conducted - survey ordered by Okara WDC candidate Brian McLachlan.”
The editor, Kris von Keisenberg observes: “In the case of the WDC some 5000 people signed a petition a couple of years back requesting a referendum on the multi-events stadium issue. They didn’t get it and a good number will never forgive the council. In the case of the NRC a goodly number of people (in this case including the WDC) want “no-go” areas defined in marine farming legislation the council is developing to ensure places like Whangarei Harbour remain farm-free. They’re not getting it either and there are some very unhappy souls among them.
“In both cases the councils may have good reasons for their “not listening”, but it’s clear a sizeable portion of the population doesn’t accept them.”
The editor goes on to say:
“One group of candidates are making binding referendums their key platform which would make listening to the electorate pretty much mandatory. There are however numerous problems with that approach.
“Ongoing surveys of public opinion is another option.
“Then there’s the argument that politicians are elected to act in the best interests of their district and its people; the people get to say how well they think their representatives are doing every three years and that should be that. It’s a philosophy that leaves only sanctioned assassination as a safety valve. The challenge of listening to and acting upon public opinion is a fraught one, but the current debate won’t do any harm.
“When 65% of a population feels its elected representatives aren’t listening or responding the debate may even do some good.”