New Zealanders think the main reason National MP Pansy Wong resigned was because there is information on the issue which, if published, would have made it impossible for her to continue in Parliament.

40.7% cite this as the reason they believed she resigned, while 34.3% think it is for one of the main reasons she gave, to avoid the issue becoming a distraction for the National Government.

Nearly seven out of 10 New Zealanders think the Auditor General should investigate the travel expenses, paid for by the taxpayer, for Pansy Wong and her husband.

This includes 57.2% of people who voted for National at the 2008 general election.

Voters for National’s main coalition partners also want the Auditor General to Investigate: ACT 51.3%, Maori Party 63.3%. Importantly, 63.3% of those who did not vote at the last election, whose support will be important in determining the outcome of the 2011 election if they turn out to vote, think the Auditor General should investigate.

How political leaders are managing the issue is reflecting poorly on them:

• National leader John Key: Only 15.8% think Prime Minister has been totally honest on the issue, 18.8% think he has been less than honest. Some 40.2% think he has managed the issue in the best interests of the National Party, only 10.5% in the best interests of New Zealand. He is seen as competent in his management of the issue by 27.1% and incompetent by 11.1%.

• Labour leader Phil Goff: Only 8.3% think he has been totally honest, 9.8% less than totally honest, 36.1% think he has acted in his party’s best interests, 11.2% in the best interest of New Zealand. He is seen by 14.7% as competent in his management of the issue and by 15.7% as incompetent.

A full report on the results, questions posed and HorizonPoll methodology is attached and also available at:

http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/81/auditor-general-inquiry-into-wong-spending-wanted-by-67

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