I don't believe that all of the thousands of people who live in lower-decile electorates are dole-bludgers and solo mums, yet those are the only electorates which overwhelmingly voted Labour.
In fact, I know for certain that those electorates are full of people who work six days a week on wages under $20 an hour and if you check the correlation between the decile of each electorate and voting, you'll find stark evidence that those in the higher decile areas are the most pro-National.
Why is this?
There can only be one answer - those people who inhabit deciles 6-10 recognise that Little Johnny will not instigate a capital gains tax, he will not increase the minimum wage beyond the pittance it sits at, and he absolutely will not try to stem the flow of migrants propping house prices up. With rents due to increase thanks to rising interest rates, the gap between homeowners and renters is set to ramp up even further, guaranteeing another increase in inequality.
I believe the people who voted National are aware of that and have voted to not give a shit about equality and only think of themselves.
You only need look at the gift Auckland homeowners have received to explain why they voted massively to retain Johnny and his minions. When most of them have seen their property value double (and more in some places!) in the six short years of Little Johnny's reign so far: an unprecedented increase in house values.
Stand up and be proud, New Zealand!
At long last you have shrugged off our historic place in the world.
First to allow women to vote
First country with universal enfranchisement
First country with universal welfare
First country to ban US warships
Only country to send a naval vessel to protest Mururoa nuclear testing
New Zealand has stood at the head of social change and growth for a century, but after only six short years of National's helpful wealth-growing policies, we have cast that shackle aside and now stand side by side with USA and England in turning a national blind eye to injustice, poverty, inequality and human rights.
One can only look at Labour and its pathetic inability pick a leader, along with the total incompetence and ineffectuality of the Green leaders when looking for places to point the finger of blame. Labour's loss of a third of its party vote is an indictment on the lack of leadership within the party. (I warned Helen Clark of exactly this issue of lack of her successor as far back as 2006)
It's clear from the vote that the majority of Kiwis - albeit a slim majority - want Key not to be boss, but the Left missed its chance to work cohesively. Idiots like Russel Norman telling the electorate that Green would work with National is bullshit. National is the antithesis of Greenmunism and I have no doubt dear Russel lost many votes with that statement. (They lost mine through being ineffectual and stupid)
Winston Peters knew what was happening and has been the big winner in terms of increased vote, getting a whopping 37% increase in vote since 2011. Old Winnie was so cocky he didn't even stand for a Parliamentary seat. Why waste his time on the hustings when he knew he could pick up votes just for being there?
The only really good news to come from the election is the removal of Hone. From chortling two weeks ago that he was likely to be leading a team of five in Parliament, he will instead be packing his bags and returning to the rock he lives under. No Minto, No Sykes, and best of all, no Hone.