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So, one poll tells us something by not really moving and another poll tells us something by being badly misrepresented.\xa0

The TV1 news numbers last night show that essentially the Government is travelling well, most parties are stable, the Greens are down a bit, but its all, so far, within the margin of error. Nothing really has changed.\xa0

What that tells you is broadly a couple of things. The first is at this stage of the electoral cycle people don\u2019t pay as much attention as they will be in 18 months' time.\xa0

The second is the Government, with its level of support, is doing basically what they said they would, and most people are happy.\xa0

The other poll was on race relations. TV1 promoted the fact only 10% think the Government is improving them, but 46% think they are damaging them.\xa0

What they didn\u2019t give the appropriate prominence to was the fact 37% think it's not making any difference. In other words, despite all the noise and hot air being drummed up by radicals and the media, most of us aren't engaged because nothing really is changing.\xa0

If you take the 37% who see no change and the 10% who see an improvement you have 47%, which is in fact more people thinking things are either neutral or better, as opposed to the 46% who think they are worse.\xa0

This of course ties into why the Government numbers overall haven't moved and their support remains strong. The so-called drama around M\u0101ori policy is not actually politically damaging.\xa0

You will note the numbers weren't presented that way by the state-run broadcaster. A good question might be: why not?\xa0

What moves needles is the economy and on that we might be in for an improvement. If we are, what you will then see is the polling numbers most definitely shift in the Government's favour.\xa0

M\u0101ori relations have been tested and testy my entire life. The previous Government bent over backwards for M\u0101ori, their beliefs, needs and causes, and look where it got them.\xa0

The current Government have read things right. Outcomes are what count, whether in race relations or the economy.\xa0

The numbers broadly show they are on the right side of both.\xa0

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