Granny beside herself as polls turn

Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, September 5th, 2008 - 20 comments
Categories: election funding, Media, polls, spin - Tags: , ,

As the polls start to turn on National – and a new poll out yesterday saying the Left working with the Maori Party would have the numbers why aren’t we surprised that Granny Herald’s ‘your views’ section today asks voters if they think the polls are accurate? Could they be more blatant in their concern that the mood is changing?

And has anyone else noticed they’ve pulled back from all their bravado about the Electoral Finance Act? They were going to publish the mug shots of every MP who voted to clean up electoral law every month leading into the election. That campaign seems to have gone a little quiet. Perhaps it’s because the EFA only ranks 1.1 per cent in the issues section of their Digipoll.

But then as one Standardista noted at the start of the year, the EFA never was the water-cooler issue the Herald made it out to be.

– From a reader.

20 comments on “Granny beside herself as polls turn ”

  1. monkey-boy 1

    No I think it is a fair question to ask anyone who is interested. It appears you are convinced that the Herald is biased against Labour, but so what? Does this preclude that they can discuss any issues they desire to?. It is after all a newspaper – not a blog. You appear to only be endorsing bias that supports your own views, but then, this is a blog, not a newspaper.

  2. Wayne 2

    Of course it’s a fair question monkeyboy, but as with any editorial judgement timing and placement is everything. Why ask a leading question like that only once the polls start to turn?

  3. Matthew Pilott 3

    Last night the only link in the corner of the poll article was to… Key’s “unauthorised biography”. Weak, pathetic.

    As I noted on another thread, it’s almost begging people to read it and asking “why would you ignore this? We put so much time and effort into making him look good. C’mon, take another look. Surely you’ll vote for him now..”

  4. monkey-boy 4

    Well, objectively you have to ask did they ask similar questions when Labour were say 12 points behind? Besides, you are assuming the polls are starting to turn – which suggests you think the question is a leading one, when all they are in fact asking people is whether they think the polls are starting to turn. When would you time and place such a question – ‘when’ the polls have turned or ‘after’ they have turned for certain? I still think it is a fair question, and the Standard post is acting paranoid. It’s not like they said ‘Is Helen Clark right to ignore polls that show her party falling behind?’ – That would be mischevious!

  5. Matthew Pilott 5

    “Well, objectively you have to ask did they ask similar questions when Labour were say 12 points behind?”

    They didn’t.

    3rd one in a row looking up for Labour and they ask the question now. Given NZ political history, the 54% to National poll was the least likely to represent a real election outcome – why not ask then?

    …when all they are in fact asking people is whether they think the polls are starting to turn.

    No, now that polls are consistently looking better for labour they’re saying “do you really believe them?”

    They’re asking if they have any relevance, not whether the polls are starting to turn. The latter is a fact – they are starting to turn. The question about believing them clearly shows The Herald’s crude attempt to sow some doubt about polls – so the question is “why now”?

    The answer to that one is obvious.

    It’s not like they said ‘Is Helen Clark right to ignore polls that show her party falling behind?’

    If she went ahead and said “this one’s obviously right” without any justification, then it would be a fair enough question. She’ll probably say it’s encouraging, but that’s about it. Given past polls showed a result that was virtually inconceivable as an election result, they were met with healthy scepticism.

  6. Scribe 6

    Did anyone else notice these lines under the question?

    10:55AM Monday February 25, 2008
    Updated: 10:44AM Friday September 5, 2008

    That suggests they asked the question 6+ months ago — when National were well ahead — and have resurrected the debate now to see what people think.

    It’s a common strategy. And it makes the premise of this post look pretty silly.

  7. Scribe 7

    For example, here’s one of the comments from the your views topic:

    More people now do not have landlines which may eliminate low income, students from the poll which has to be looked at. They also apparently ring at 5.30-6.30 which a lot of workers won’t be at home. The 3% margin of error has been the same for 20 years yet they must realise that the way we live now is different. As a National supporter I think they are in the lead, but not by that margin. 10-15 points at most.

    Obviously taken when National were 20%+ ahead.

    Time for a new post…

  8. monkey-boy 8

    Intersting point Scribe – It seems the timing and placement is all!

    Matthew I noticed that you failed to respond to one of my points. Does that suggest some kind of agreement?

    Just to give you a fair stab at the point I made:
    “I still think it is a fair question, and the Standard post is acting paranoid.”…

    Were you accepting that you think the post isn’t ‘acting’ paranoid, or it actually ‘is’ paranoid? That is, was it motivated by it ‘faux-paranoia’ or actual ‘fear’? In your opinion?

    Try to keep it short, will you?

    IrishBill says: I just looked at your blog for the first time. You seem to be obsessed with us. I’m not sure whether to be flattered or frightened.

  9. Rakaia George 9

    So do we think that opinion polls about the accuracy of opinion polls are accurate? Hmmm?

  10. Pascal's bookie 10

    Monkey boy, are you alluding to “The Paranoid Style in American Politics” by Richard J. Hofstadter by any cahnce?

    If so I’m not sure you understood it.

  11. randal 11

    well the herald is schizophrenic if on the one hand they say they are objective but on the other their actions are partisan and biased. basic law of the excluded middle but they will never own up to being tory lackeys. they will just commit acts of omission. cowards really.

  12. Matthew Pilott 12

    MB – in short, after yesterday’s terse exchange, I thought I’d keep my opinions about paranoia – real, and of the faux variety – to myself.

    But if I don’t accept the premise that it is a fair question to ask at this time, then I’ll not accept the conclusion either. Scribe does raise a good point, which I hadn’t noted – I gather that must be from the linked page itself. So in The Herald’s eyes, National being 25 points ahead is reason enough to distrust a poll as Labout catching up? I guess so.

  13. Tim Ellis 13

    Quite right, Scribe. I noticed that too. It does look as if this debate has been going on at the Herald for a long time: this is not a new debate that the Herald have peddled out because they’re frightened of Labour winning, as the thread here at the Standard appears to suggest. Rather it looks like the article on the Morgan Poll made the discussion of political polls generally more relevant, so the previous discussion was resurrected.

    All of this would negate the main theme of this post: that the Herald is biased.

    I suppose it’s an easy mistake to make, though. I noticed this about six months ago, when the Herald resurrected a previous discussion thread, and didn’t disclose that much of the comments related to a much earlier point in time. I don’t think that’s deliberately dishonest, but it is misleading. They should have time-stamps on each of the comments, to show when people made the comments they did.

  14. monkey-boy 14

    Irish Bill don’t be frightened -that would be a paranoid response! – I think ‘obsession’ is a bit strong – ‘fascinated’ certainly. At least you have got that far (Looking at the blog) Did you read all three of the ‘The VDS – Is it for real?’ posts?

    – I was thinking about doing a similar series of posts about kiwiblog and its modes of operation because I am most intrigued by the different ‘narratives’ tht each side is employing during this election.
    Yours is ‘Starwars’ – a small band of mavericks facing the evil ‘Empire’. What would you suggest is ‘kiwiblogs’?

  15. IrishBill 15

    What would I suggest? I would suggest you get out more.

  16. that’s an awesome title for a post… even though it turns out the herald ‘your views’ thing was also used when the polls were showing a 20-point gap for the frist time, it’s intersting they bring it back when polls start to show the left in front.

  17. monkey-boy 17

    How rude! This from a man who just got a semi over the Nat’s Conservation Policy..

  18. r0b 18

    All of this would negate the main theme of this post: that the Herald is biased.

    The Herald is as biased as they come Tim. But I mean that only partly in the sense of deliberately biased towards National.

    Much more significant is their bias towards making money. To make money they have to sell advertising (and therefore incidentally newspapers), so newspapers have to be exciting. What sells? Excitement, scandal, change, new faces, bashing the establishment politicians. The commercial imperatives all add up to a “bread and circuses” approach to reporting politics that benefits the opposition, and this is a multiplier that combines with the Herald’s editorial bias towards National.

  19. Draco TB 19

    …it’s intersting they bring it back when polls start to show the left in front.

    The NZ Heralds policy regarding threads is nuts – I’ve seen them bring some threads back multiple times over several months and they don’t always relate to well to the article that they’re being referenced from.

  20. jaymam 20

    I’ve extended DPF’s “All Public Polls” graph to show the trend:
    http://i34.tinypic.com/wmgwzq.jpg

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T09:14:17+00:00