Prime Minister polling Christchurch residents on voting record

Labour’s Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel has labelled John Key’s Christchurch poll as cynical and exploitative.

“The taxpayer funded, citywide mail-out will do nothing to help vulnerable people facing hard decisions.

“This survey, sent out electorate by electorate, is the last straw in the politicisation of the disaster by the National government,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“I, as much as anyone, am aware of the need for all MPs to support Christchurch, but the request for peoples political party preference shows the leaflet for what it is.

“The questions don’t ask the public about the things that matter like communication and engagement in decision-making. Nor does the leaflet provide a feedback loop for constituents to have real and on-going communication with the government.

“In fact, I’ve been told that constituents who have written to John Key have simply had their concerns forwarded to Gerry Brownlee.

“National will not listen to the people, who have not been given all the information they need to make decisions. They have continued to ignore the plight of people who are facing a massive loss in equity whether they are red-zoned or green-blue.

“National has continued to ignore red zone property owners who are not covered by the voluntary offer and remain in a state of absolute limbo.

“The people whose properties are green-blue are facing enormous uncertainty – when will their land be tested and what assurances are there going forward in terms of insurance and EQC cover for the land, much of which has been seriously damaged.

“John Key says that people can have their say, but only if they stick to the government’s controlled narrative, and only if they provide their voting preferences,” Lianne Dalziel said.