The Facts About Binding Referendums

Winston Peters

Leader New Zealand First Party

On really important issues such as the commercial release of GMOs, fewer MPs, the future of the Fire Service, the abolition of the Privy Council or sensible sentencing, if the people don't like a Government decision, they'll just have to put up with it. And wait until the next election... Unfortunately, when the next election comes around, the people are promised all sorts of things and the cycle begins anew. Petitions, polls, marches,sit-ins and non- binding referendums mean absolutely nothing. Hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions that got nowhere and non-binding referendums that were totally ignored.

Michael Laws

Former MP and current Radio Live talkback host & Mayor of Wanganui

Has said on a number of occasions he supports Binding Referendums and was responsible for initially writing the direct democracy policies of NZ First. Binding Referendums under his Vision Wanganui ticket were part of their policy.

David Lange

Prime Minister 1984 - 1989

Binding Citizens' Initiated Referenda is a specific means of easing concerns about a specific threat to liberty, health or choice. Many of the arguments against binding referenda are demeaning. They assume that the people always vote for things which are popular, which carry benefits without acknowledging the costs... These arguments have been largely discredited by experience overseas.

Christine Fletcher

Former MP & Mayor of Auckland

There is a whole range of ways BCIR can be used as a check on the excesses of local government. From property rates to "uncontrolled infill housing" from the Eastern Motorway to whether or not we should have a GE-Free Auckland, Aucklanders need real democracy on a local level as much as we need it on a national level.

Heather Maloney

Mayor Franklin District 1998 - 2004

During my six years as Mayor it has been difficult to persuade people to make submissions on important issues because they think that Council never listens. As a long time supporter of BCIR, I firmly believe that this is the only way to encourage full participation in the decision making process of both central and local government

Roger Kerr

Executive Director, Business Roundtable

The rise of political parties has made it possible for governments to virtually unite the executive and the legislative functions. Rather than parliament acting as a check on the government, it has been turned by party discipline into a rubber stamp for many executive decisions..... If legislation requires the support of only a simple majority in the parliament to become law, it is that much easier and cheaper for lobbies to mobilise support, especially as a parliamentary majority may represent only a minority of the citizenry.

Garth McVicar

Sensible Sentencing Trust

In 1991 Kylie Smith from Owaka was brutally raped and murdered by Paul Bayley, [see www.safe-nz.org.nz] Family and friends of the Smith family organised one of the biggest petitions this country has ever seen, but like the Withers referendum of 1999 this was ignored. As past and Present Governments have ignored petitions and Referendums our society has continued to deteriorate. If New Zealand is to once again become the proud, safe and prosperous Nation the introduction of BCIR is essential.

Graham Stairmand

President - Grey Power New Zealand Federation

The Grey power Federation have had and still have a policy of requesting Government to bring in Binding Citizens Initiated Referendums. We continue to advocate this and have expressed our disappointment that the requests so overwhelmingly agreed to at the 1999 elections have been completely ignored which shows an arrogant attitude to the wishes of the electors. We fully support on behalf of our 80,000 members, all that Better Democracy NZ is doing and will assist in any way that we can.

Ian Wishart

Editor, Investigate magazine

Over the past two decades it has become increasingly clear that New Zealand’s political system – intrinsically lacking checks and balances anyway – has been hijacked by politicians with no respect for the public. Binding citizens initiated referenda, operating within the framework of a written constitution vesting national sovereignty in the people, above the Crown, is the ideal method for bringing rogue governments back to heel.