Voting for lesser parties?

Is it worth voting for a "lesser" party? will it be a wasted vote? Or are we better off picking between national or labour?

I think with MMP it's definitely worth it coz if the smaller parties can crack the 5% or win an electorate seat it gives them a say, and there's always the potential for coalition negotiations with the winning major party.

I party voted Greens last time around but was then gutted that they didn't go into coalition with Labour like I thought they would. This time I haven't had a proper look at their policies to see if I want to vote for them. I may just go labour all the way.
I really hope Winnie does not get back in, that guy is an embarassment to this country.

I have been wondering about this too. Usually there are a few over the 5% threshhold in the polls but this time it really looks like a race of two parties only! I would like to think that voting a seat in of a third party will create a broader dimension of MPs and not just those in power and those in opposition.

But I'm not sure.... how much does it take for an MP to get in on a seat-alone basis? There was a list of MP's in today's paper and I only recognise the two main names - come on people, we're 3 weeks out from an election and we don't even know what you think, who you are, what you look like!

Rodney Hide, Jim Anderton, Peter Dunne and Maori Party have shown that its easier to get the minor parties into parliament by winning an electorate seat.

The Greens had a much reduced number in parliament after Jeanette Fitzsimmons lost Coromandel.

I also think in this particular election, its important to use your party vote for the party you want in government.

Last election National got more of the votes than Labour but not enough for a majority, hence Helen Clark got first right to establish a coalition government, as a minority party.

I'm a leftie/democrat/labour type voter but always party vote Green. My Mum gets annoyed as she thinks people like me split the labour vote (ie I would MUCH rather have a labour government in than a national government- but I don't vote for labour) so they are less likely to win. I can see her point but I have to vote with my conscience.

I personally think politics is basically fame for ugly people- I think very few politicians actually get into or wind up staying in politics because they want to make our country better. I do, however, believe that out of all the political parties the Greens are more likely to be there for the greater good. I don't necessarily agree with all their policies but I like their ethos and the idea of having them in parliament to be the reigning governments conscience.

Yes and no, the minor parties do have their place in parliament however I don't think that a governments ability to rule or otherwise should come down to who they can form a deal with. I would say that if you firmly want a Labour or National led government then you should vote for one of them, if you are not so bothered and would prefer that the minorty party you support has a stronger showing then vote for them.

I also do not think that there should be separate maori seats, we are one nation ffs! There are plenty of eductated Maori who would get in on their own merits.

While i have no problems with minor parties overall i don't like the fact that they hold the country to ransom to get their way. i.e. a small party will vote with a major party if you make this policy law.