INCORPORATING SHAPENZ

Research Results

Auditor General inquiry into Wong spending wanted by 67%

19 Dec 10

Pansy Wong ... New Zealanders disbelieve her, want investigation

New Zealanders think the main reason National MP Pansy Wong resigned was because there is information on the issue which, if published, would have made it impossible for her to continue in Parliament.

40.7% cite this as the reason they believed she resigned, while 34.3% think it is for one of the main reasons she gave, to avoid the issue becoming a distraction for the National Government.

Nearly seven out of 10 New Zealanders think the Auditor General should investigate the travel expenses, paid for by the taxpayer, for Pansy Wong and her husband.

This includes 57.2% of people who voted for National at the 2008 general election.

Voters for National’s main coalition partners also want the Auditor General to Investigate: ACT 51.3%, Maori Party 63.3%. Importantly, 63.3% of those who did not vote at the last election, whose support will be important in determining the outcome of the 2011 election if they turn out to vote, think the Auditor General should investigate.

How political leaders are managing the issue is reflecting poorly on them:

National leader John Key: Only 15.8% think the Prime Minister has been totally honest on the issue, 18.8% think he has been less than honest. Some 40.2% think he has managed the issue in the best interests of the National Party, only 10.5% in the best interests of New Zealand. He is seen as competent in his management of the issue by 27.1% and incompetent by 11.1%.

Labour leader Phil Goff: Only 8.3% think he has been totally honest, 9.8% less than totally honest, 36.1% think he has acted in his party’s best interests, 11.2% in the best interest of New Zealand. He is seen by 14.7% as competent in his management of the issue and by 15.7% as incompetent.

Top line results:

Information provided to respondents, questions, results:

The National MP for Botany

The National MP for Botany, Pansy Wong, has resigned from Parliament, effective from January 17, saying she was concerned allegations about her regarding misuse of taxpayer-funded travel would hurt the National Government.

The Auditor-General, Lyn Provost, says she will not investigate alleged abuse of a Parliamentary travel perk by Pansy Wong. Ms Provost says it will do more "public good" for Government to adopt the recommendations of a report tabled in Parliament on improving the ministerial spending system.

Which of the following reasons, if any, do you believe are behind the resignation of Pansy Wong from Parliament?

(Please tick all of those you agree with)

She wanted to avoid hurt to the National Government

23.1%

She wanted to avoid the issue becoming a distraction for the National Government

34.3%

There is information on the issue yet to be published

26.3%

There is information on the issue which, if published, would have made it impossible for her to continue as a Member of Parliament

40.7%

None of these

2.5%

Other

4.8%

I really don't know

21.5%

Do you think the Auditor General should investigate the travel expenses, paid for by the taxpayer, for Pansy Wong and her husband?

Yes

67%

22%

Don’t know

11%

How do you think the Prime Minister and Parliamentary leader of the National Party, John Key, has managed this issue?

Has been totally honest

15.8%

Has been less than totally honest

18.8%

In a fully open way

13.1%

In a less than fully open way

16.6%

Competently

27.1%

Incompetently

11.1%

In the best interests of the National Party

40.2%

In the best interest of New Zealand

10.5%

None of these

0.6%

Other

0.9%

Don't know

18.2%

How do you think the Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party, Phil Goff, has managed this issue?

Has been totally honest

8.3%

Has been less than totally honest

9.8%

In a fully open way

10.7%

In a less than fully open way

6.3%

Competently

14.7%

Incompetently

15.7%

In the best interests of the Labour Party

36.1%

In the best interest of New Zealand

11.2%

None of these

Other

1.4%

Don't know

26.5%

Auditor General investigation by party vote 2008:

Do you think the Auditor General should investigate the travel expenses, paid for by the taxpayer, for Pansy Wong and her husband? Multichoice - Single Answer Only A. Yes B. No C. Don’t know
	n	Yes	No	DK
ALL	1150	67.1%	21.9%	11%

PARTY VOTE 2008
ACT New Zealand	3%	51.3%	37.5%	11.3%
Chose not to vote	10%	65%	14.8%	20.2%
Don't know or can't remember	9%	70.5%	17.1%	12.4%
Green Party	5%	69.7%	18.3%	12%
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party	1%	85.5%		14.5%
Labour Party	25%	77.8%	14%	8.2%
Maori Party	2%	63.3%	26.7%	10.1%
National Party	34%	57.2%	30.6%	12.2%
New Zealand First Party	3%	82.4%	12.9%	4.7%
Other party	2%	57.5%	42.5%
United Future	1%	30.1%	59.1%	10.7%
Was not eligible to vote	6%	79.3%	16.8%	3.9%

Methodology:

Sample of 1,150 people nationwide. Survey conducted December 15 and 16, 2010.

Weighted by age, gender, ethnicity, personal income, region and party vote 2008 to provide a nationally representative population sample.

Maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level +/- 2.8%

The HorizonPoll national panel is recruited by inviting people to join who reflect the population at the 2006 census and 2008 general election. Less than 3% of the panel is opt-in, a number easily managed by Horizon’s weighting system, which uses up to six demographic criteria at a time.

Timing:

The survey went into the field at 5.30am December 15, 2010, following National MP Pansy Wong’s announcement on December 14 that she would resign from Parliament. About the same time the Government announced its cash deficit for the current fiscal year is now expected to be $15.6 billion, up from the Budget's $13.3 billion and representing a borrowing requirement of $300 million a week.