Power Simon: General Debates 
Power Simon: General Debates 
[Volume:614;Page:10589] 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 Last week the Government made a very big mistake. UMR Insight polled a person in this complex on behalf of the Prime Minister’s poll-driven leadership. That exposes what is really going on on the ninth floor. Ministers should watch their backs because the Prime Minister is conducting polls on them. Questions in the poll included: “How do you rate the performance of Michael Cullen Annette King Phil Goff and Trevor Mallard?” Pete Hodgson was noticeably absent. More important when the Government pollsters polled on Parekura Horomia the question asked how his performance was and another asked about John Tamihere. 
What is going on in the Prime Minister’s mind? The poll was also very revealing about the Government’s worries. It contained questions such as: “Is the country becoming too politically correct?” We could answer that question for the Prime Minister. Yes it is. “Is the Government guilty of telling you what to think?” Yes it is. There is no question about that. Here is one for the Rt Hon Winston Peters. “Is the Government too soft on immigration?”. Other questions include: “Are there adequate police numbers?” and: “Do you approve of the Government’s handling of the foreshore?” 
I say to members opposite that they should look out over the Christmas break. Their Prime Minister is polling them. Tellingly one of the questions was: “Has the Government’s listening to Maori complaints gone too far?”. This Government is polling on every little issue. “Is there too much focus on Maori issues to the detriment of the mainstream?” [ 
Interruption 
] The chief whip can chip in but the Prime Minister is polling and the Government is scared. That is not political leadership. Leadership is creative. It is about charting a course. It is about mobilising people behind a clear set of principles. It is underpinned by good judgment I say to the Prime Minister not by the latest polling data. Leadership means making tough choices not pandering to poll-driven fleeting prejudices. It involves character and it involves leading public opinion on difficult policy problems facing the nation. I tell the Prime Minister that leadership is not about polling techniques. 
This Prime Minister is a follower not a leader. This says that Helen Clark has only very rigid control and very little else to offer us. This Prime Minister cannot even consider a Cabinet reshuffle without seeking poll information on members of her own front bench. It says a great deal about Helen Clark’s leadership that having gained the people’s fragile trust she has done so little with it. Is Helen Clark leading on the foreshore and seabed debate? No she is not. In fact where is Helen Clark on matters relating to race relations in this country? I will tell members where she is; she is sitting on the ninth floor pouring over polling data trying to get the answer right and trying to see whether poll results show her that John Tamihere would be a more popular Minister of Maori Affairs than Parekura Horomia. That is not leadership; that is a cynical manipulation of public opinion. It is political management devoid of vision and it is limited only by the Prime Minister’s narrow and selfish ambition to try to break records for longevity in office. 
This Prime Minister is no Dick Seddon. She is no Peter Fraser and she is not even a Rob Muldoon. She does not belong in their company I say to members of this House because her approach to leadership is to ask poll respondents for their advice on how to lead. That is not leadership. Dick Seddon led public opinion; this Prime Minister just follows it. Peter Fraser had principles; this Prime Minister has only her polls—and her number is up.