Any other moderates starting to regret their decision to back National in the last election?

I was a strong backer of the National government in the last election. Mainly because i had felt that Labour had alienated the centre and were too lenient on crime/anti social behaviour, embarked on a disastrous (on the balance) policies like interest deductability being removed etc...and felt as though they only cared about some ethnic groups as opposed to all Kiwis. I know you guys are more left than the average population and may not resonate with those points but that is how middle NZ felt at the time...

Now that it has been a year and IMO National has been disappointing on many grounds. The only stand out performer (even though results might not show that yet) is probably Mark Mitchell. Ever since the back office police were put to the front line to go on the beat, it has felt a bit safer. The Auckland CBD feels a bit better than what it did last year. At least there are steps made to address the situation, eventhough stats may not back that up.

But on the economic front National has been far too ideological and disappointing. Running an austerity budget when inflation has eased and economic activity has stalled is really bad. Cancelling Irex just to make the other side look bad and in the end i am fairly sure the overall costs (when accounted for break fees etc..) are going to be similar to what it previously was. Cancelling Dunedin hospital and running an austerity budget will really stifle the economy and drive many kiwis to joblessness. A lot of Kiwis are really anxious and unsure if they will have a job in three months time. The reserve bank is cutting rates to stimulate the economy while the fiscal policies are highly recessionary.

People like Simeon Brown needs to be less ideological and not cut funding to a roundabout in Warkworth because there were a couple of raised tables and a cycle lane. We need a government of common sense and pragmatism. I thought i would never say this but i am glad that at least Winston Peters is there to add a bit of pragmatism. National needs to change otherwise you will start to haemorrhage votes from middle NZ.