Things that piss you off...

3 more years of "Teflon" Key...more mediocrity etc..

Buggars who dont vote,nearly 1 million of the idiots.wouldnt mind betting more than a few of them will bitch and moan in coming years.Idiots

about 700,000 didn't vote. 77% turnout. I expected higher with advance voting, though maybe the horrible weather on the day contributed to the low turnout. 

Yes because the difference between the main parties who make a difference is so astonishingly diverse.

eVoting will be ready for the next general election, aparently.

Internet mana to do well next election then. Hack hack hack.

Rather than being just Hacked off like this year

Reckon at least 48.1% of New Zealanders (who voted) are happy enough with the result. 

Agree...

...but I also suspect that in addition to that 48.1%, at least the 0.69% who voted for ACT, the 0.22% who voted for United Future, and the 4.12% who voted for the Conservatives willl be pretty happy.

And that's 53.13%. 

I think it's a bit of both. 

"I probably would have voted if I didn't have to do that niggly enrolment and then go to a voting stall" was something I heard said by a few people. But on the other hand those people probably don't really know who they want to vote for or if they do are likely just 'sheeping' it.

I am against forcing people to vote too. It is their right to choose not to vote, and surely if you're forcing someone to vote who doesn't want to...then their (probably random) vote only serves to skew results away from being representative. 

The key is to educate people about voting, and making it as easy as possible. Advance voting was a good idea in this election, though I imagine those that took it up were the ones who were keen on voting, and the rest were still put off by the weather on the day. Hopefully as each election passes, more people will be aware of (and get into the habit of) being able to vote early. There were a few messages put out during the last week encouraging people to avoid the bad weather on Saturday and to vote early, but more could be done. I was unaware there was advance voting until the last week, and a few people didn't know at all. 

There also needs to be more readily available information comparing different policies of parties, that are easy to read. There were a few tools here and there, but nothing that was very useful. I struggled to find an easy summary when I decided to research, having to rely on little bits of information I came across through various resources.

A big improvement is needed here, and this would increase the vote of those who think "They're all as bad as each other" or those who just got tired of the campaigns mostly revolving around mudslinging (I believe the Greens benefited from easily available policy this election, and staying out of most of the mud slinging) and stayed away. 

There were plenty of polling booths on the main election day, so that was positive. While the process of voting is incredibly simple, it wouldn't hurt to have more information out there like a step by step of how to vote. As silly as this seems to people who have done it plenty of times before, it probably does put people off. I'm not ashamed to admit I was struggling to recall if it really was as easy as I remembered or if there was something I was missing - this made me a tiny bit anxious as I looked on the internet on my way to the booth, without finding what I wanted. This is my 3rd election, so can only imagine that some 18 year olds really wouldn't have a clue, and may decide not to bother as a result. 

I'm sure these are all things they're looking at for the next election anyhow. 

Yeah the enrolment does seem pretty poorly organised actually. Could you do it online this year or is that just the census I'm thinking of? (which was also shambolic). 

Can anyone explain why we have a three-year term government for a population of 4 mill?

A 4- or 5-year term would be better surely?

How friggen hard is it to go in, check your name off and tick two boxes? I'd changed address, quote my previous one and my full name and bingo, I was given a voting slip. Not rocket science really.

FFS. Had Naismith as my captain and he played 27 minutes and got a yellow card, so zero points.

What's all this about an election?

I didn't vote, for various reasons including the fact that the party I voted for the last 2 elections was always going to win, theres no way to vote online and ive been busy last minute with shit to do this weekend (the last thing on my mind was finding further time to take out of my day), Im sick of all the crap in the media and that fat fuck Kim dot Com, all this dirty politics bullshit - and ultimately I just couldnt be fucked. And im glad ive pissed people like you off in the process. Lol.

What exactly are we talking about here? Sounds a little creepy.

The Electoral Commission going to 7th Form classes and enrolling people at 17, I am pretty sure they did this at my school in 1999 as well (I was pre-enrolled, but couldn't vote in 1999 as was still 17)

I puzzles and /or bugs me too that so many people don't bother voting, especially when advance voting meant this time you had weeks to do so...

Interestingly, that was an increase on 2011 (74.1%). See:

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-social-indicators/Home/Trust%20and%20participation%20in%20government/voter-turnout.aspx

I respect peoples right not to vote and if they choose to exercise that then fine. Just don't complain about politics/politicians if you do choose not to vote.

Exactly, and the point about advanced voting too. It took me 5 mins to vote, surely everyone could have spared that? Have we become that reliant on tablets and cell phones and laptops that we cant make the effort?

The one thing we should all a knowledge is that people died to preserve our way of life and our democracy. They allowed us to choose to vote and for whom and they allowed us the choice of not taking part. I'd like to acknowledge those people.

A monkey with a hand grenade. Jesus, how could you not work that out for yourself?

I am comfortably middle aged and don't think I have ever voted either in NZ or the UK. If I could vote using my phone or on the internet, I still doubt that I would. To make sure that I don't puzzle or annoy anyone, I don't have conversations about politics (aside from the obvious "would you do it with Edwina Curry/a pre-death Maggie Thatcher/Helen Clarke" discussions).

I wasn't asking for someone to inform me, I know where I stand. I was asking what other people think. Ironically, I thought you might have been able to work that out for yourself too.

what the fuck is a "geo-bloc" ?

tried googling - nothing.

"India has successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars, becoming the fourth nation or geo-bloc to do so."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28268186

something to do with Lego

I suspect the Commonwealth of former Soviet States was a "geo-bloc" when it competeed at the Olympics.

I think the Eurpeoan Space Agency (which has put a satellite into orbit around mars) is a gro-bloc, as opposed to a country...

I suspect that Pakistan - India - Bangladesh - Sri - Lanka and Afghanistan are a "geo-bloc" when it comes to Asian Cricket Conference politics

So what or who were Geo-Bloc 5?

A group of Count-ries

Lol, so India now has a satellite around Mars, Nuclear power and 90% poverty. Must remember this come the next plea to send money there or Bangladesh or Pakistan when the floods come in on their yearly cycle.

'tis simples really: It is a bloc that has been geo-ed.

You're welcome, no thanks needed.

LOL So Geo-Net is the same?

I wouldn't think so.

That would be a "net" that has been geo-ed.  Quite different to a "bloc" I would say.

Maybe we need a new show about a group of couples from neighbouring countries renovating a house in New Zealand...

The Geo-Bloc NZ

People who line up for the midnight launch of a new (but not really that new) telecommunications product.

Maybe you should all ask Siri what "Brainwashed" means!!!