New Zealand voters seeking "stability" from upcoming election

The polls show New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and his ruling National Party are set to maintain in power in Saturday's general election -- despite public opposition to some of their policies. However, the party faces huge public opposition to some of its policies -- such as plans to sell up to 49 percent of four state- owned electricity companies and Air New Zealand -- so what is influencing ordinary people. Voters across the generations in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, told Xinhua that stability is the prime consideration. Despite the economy struggling against global financial crises, a strong currency, stubborn unemployment and a record deficit, Key 's administration appears to be succeeding in persuading voters that it offers the security of a steady track to recovery. A STEADY WAGE First-time voter Zoe Noles, 18, said the economy is the highest priority for her at the moment. A student of fashion design at an Auckland university, Zoe works part-time at a clothing store to help fund her studies. Despite worrying that she doesn't earn enough, she fears proposals by the main opposition Labour Party to raise the minimum wage might derail the economy further. "I don't think Labour should raise the minimum wage because employers probably won't hire people if they have to pay them more in the current situation," she said. But won't a higher minimum wage benefit lower paid workers, like shop staff such as herself? "Increasing it won't do anything it's not only about me," said Noles. BUSINESS SENSE Her parents, Steve and Sheanagh Noles, see the security of a steady economic path benefiting not only themselves, but all three of their children, including the two youngest still at school. Both real estate agents, they have seen a rise the number of people selling their homes overcome financial difficulties. "It is all about stability and continued economic growth and about getting people off (welfare) benefits," said Sheanagh, 43. "We have our own teenagers coming up to joining the workforce and I don't want them going straight on the dole (unemployment benefit)." She said the state asset sales plan is a "business decision" that will bring investment into the economy. She believes former Merrill Lynch foreign exchange trader Key has shown sound judgment in his three-year tenure, particularly during his response to the Christchurch earthquake, which killed at least 181 people in February. "John Key had business sense he was the right man at the right time. He took the measures to lessen the impact of what the earthquake could have been." Meanwhile, Labour leader Phil Goff faltered during his televised head-to-head debates with Key, particularly when discussing economic plans, said Steve, 48. "Stability at this time is important," said Steve. "Goff didn' t have his financial plan in place and it was a chink in his armor. "If a Labour government ran this country now, they would change a lot of things and given what is happening globally, it wouldn't stand us in good stead."