The recent announcement by Winston Peters that he does not plan to announce before next year's election, who NZ First might support in any coalition government, encapsulates all that is wrong with this flawed MMP electoral system.

Voters can't determine which parties will form the next government if Party leaders won't indicate their coalition preferences before the election. Instead once again it may be left to the leader of a minor party to determine the make-up of the government.

Just like last election NZ First voters are effectively giving Peters a blank cheque for him to decide who he will support.

Surely any effective electoral system should give the electorate the power to determine which party or parties form the government. The arrogance of Peters in this matter knows no bounds. Others must change to sing along to his tune and once again this country's uncritical media merely go along with his game.

The one saving grace will be the failure of NZ First to reach the 5 per cent threshold and save the country from the farcical scenes after last election where Peters took centre stage with his Winston knows best show.

J Rudd, Oropi (abridged).