School Students Forum

Just got back from a very enjoyable 90 minute forum at Vic Uni with over 200 sixth and seventh formers from Marsden and Scots. All parties were represented by MPs except Mark for National and Fiona for United. Winston represented NZF, Marian Labour, Sue Kedgley Greens and Heather Roy ACT.

Winston as usual was in jovial form, and connected well. Only downside was when Heather pointed out he forgot to mention to all the students he is promising to give retired people lots more dosh.

Funniest line of the afternoon belonged to Mark in response to a question on sterilising rapists. Fiona from UF supported this, and then tried to explain it was reversible (if they were later found innocent) as it involves pills. Mark’s quip “What you don’t sew it back on” brought the house down.

An Asian student got huge cheers when he asked Winston about his immigration policy.

And one MP didn’t go down to well when a student asked why shouldn’t murderers be kept in for life, and she firstly told the student one day he may be a criminal, and then compared it to speeding – saying you don’t lose your licence for life if you speed.

But all in all very good natured, and the students did well, even though some of the questions were very slanted (Cars are killing the planet, so why are we building more roads was one example).

They had a mock election afterwards. The results were:

Party Vote

National 43%
NZ First 22%
Labour 18%
Greens 17%

Personal Vote

Blumsky 49%
Peters 34%
Sue Kedgeley 10%
Hobbs 8%