I've been prompted to write after reading a letter from one of the Weekend Sun readers, R Paterson, and the newspaper's Rogers Rabbits piece.

R Paterson writes: 'The vast majority of New Zealanders want Parliamentary procedures determined by democratically elected representatives”. Oh yes, wouldn't that be nice.
We have a situation here in New Zealand of having someone such as Winston Peters deciding whom he will jump into bed with at the next election.

What Mr Peters fails to add is whether he is elected or not. The list system is by its very existence undemocratic, thus producing a situation of having an un-elected person in parliament who influences decisions, or who may be party to passing laws etc.

What New Zealanders ought to be more concerned about is about taking a hard look at the list system; and to make a decision on whether it is fair or not.

And that can only happen via the ballot box with a referendum to replace the list system with another which represents what the people democratically decided.

I don't propose what the system should be to replace the list system; I only comment on what is not democratic at present.

Chris Hutchinson, Te Puke.