Prime Minister John Key has misread the nation on his flag proposal, just as he is misreading the majority of the population on proposals to give more value and racial bias to Maori over and above other citizens.

The flag referenda manipulated the nation's thoughts away from the real issues of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, changes to the Resource Management Act and the proposals to give management of freshwater to unelected Maori representation.

The nation's anger is rising against multiculturalism, immigration, race-based agendas in Government and institutions, such as the Waitangi Tribunal, political manipulation of the media, crazy tax laws that have multinational corporations paying minimal taxes to the IRD, ridiculous tax exemptions for hugely profitable charitable organisations, and finally the $60 billion debt National has racked up during their tenure which will have to be repaid by our children and grandchildren.

We, in New Zealand do not live in a democracy, it is the lobbyists who run this country to the detriment of millions of fair-minded, hardworking Kiwis.

Political capital and expediency does not equate with good governance.

MJ Anderson, Pyes Pa