MMP message hits Masterton | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

MMP campaigners hit Masterton this week in a bid to win voters over to a democratic system with only a few minor wrinkles, says campaign spokeswoman Sandra Grey.

Dr Grey led a meeting at the St Luke's Church hall in Masterton on Tuesday night and was confident of a fair turnout ahead of time.

Campaign for MMP has 14 regional groups scattered throughout New Zealand with about 1000 active supporters, including a Wairarapa branch convened by retired Masterton man Dennis Johnson.

The campaign was formed last year after the Government announced its intention to hold a referendum on the voting system in New Zealand that will ask voters on November 26 if they want to retain MMP or change to one of four other systems.

Dr Grey, who last year took up the presidency of the Tertiary Education Union after teaching social and public policy as a senior lecturer at Victoria University, said MMP has garnered most voter support as it gives proportionality of representation.

"There are wrinkles in the system. The minimum threshold for a seat and what's called coat-tailing when a candidate is standing in a list and an electorate for example.

"But all parties have agreed there are areas due for review and a lot of supporters of MMP don't want to get rid of proportionality and risk the tyranny of the minority under First Past the Post," Dr Grey said.

Politicians and parties have so far avoided using the referendum as an electioneering platform, Dr Grey said, as they seem to realise that "it's what voters want that's crucial and that affects people from every part of the political spectrum".

The Masterton meeting was the latest in a series that had been held throughout New Zealand.