Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump lies like ain't no thing. He may be slipping in the polls now, but it's a tactic that's carried him way to far for anyone to feel easy about.

OPINION: Politicians bend the truth, media call them out, they don't care. What will make them stop? Voters.

There's dealing in grey, and then there's dealing in unashamed drivel.

The latter is becoming the norm, though thankfully not on a Trumpian scale – just yet.

CHRIS MCKEEN/FAIRFAX NZ Finance Minister Bill English used incorrect figures to veto a paid parental leave extension, despite carrying the correct ones into the house. He corrected himself after the veto.

Dipping their toes into the post-truth waters however, New Zealand's politicians are trying the mantle on for size, seeing how flows and gaining surety in it as they walk. They're dissembling through their teeth and embarrassingly, a significant group of New Zealanders are lapping it up.

READ MORE:

* Jonathan Milne: Our leaders need steel in the backbone

* Are NZ politicians joining the international tide of post-truth politics?

* Real cost of runaway housing market comes home to roost

* People are mad as hell, but after the anger, what comes next?

* US presidential candidate Donald Trump's 'facts' under fire

Recently, we've heard Government politicians claim income inequality had not worsened, contrary to official reports from both MSD and Statistics NZ.

BEVAN READ / FAIRFAX NZ Auckland Mayoral Candidate John Palino says some iwi leaders are demanding $50k to consider and approve resource consent plans. Really? That's a big claim - Where is your evidence?

Finance Minister Bill English was forced to admit he used incorrect figures to veto an extension to paid parental leave, despite the correct figures being written in the veto certificate he himself tabled.

Education Minister Hekia Parata was caught out making up an official body, to support changes around special needs education when she claimed she had the support of the "Special Education Association"

What association was that? "All those who are involved in the delivery of special education with whom I have had these discussions".

On the other side, NZ First MP and anti-1080 campaigner Richard Prosser claimed cats, rats, and native birds had "coexisted" for more than 200 years, yet accused the Government's "Predator Free by 2050" of being based on "unsubstantiated" science.

Trade Minister Todd McClay was publicly rebuked by his own Prime Minister for being economical with the truth, over what was known about fears of Chinese trade retaliation. That was largely because McLay's actions led to the Prime Minister giving false information to the media, which was corrected.

This week, Auckland Mayoral candidate John Palino has claimed iwi leaders were holding building consent-seekers to ransom for $50k a pop.

In Palino's case, he provided no concrete examples to back up such a claim.

Not only was that statement intended to inflame outrage over housing, but it injects a cynical race-based element into the debate.

Yet the masses fall into line based on what "feels" like it might be true.

And I get it, voting is an emotional experience as much as it is logical. Even the most well-researched voters can't block out that gut-feeling when they're faced with a ballot paper – the option that they feel is the right one.

It might be driven by the way we're raised, it might be driven by a personal reaction to a candidate.

There's nothing to say that's not a legitimate factor to consider when voting; the nature of it after all, is down to personal preference.

That politicians deal in lies is not new. What is, is the way the truth has become secondary to reaffirming people's latent prejudices.

Politicians lie, media do call them out on it, but they double down and repeat. Why? Because they're not trying to convince anyone that requires it of anything. They're consolidating a mob - Us vs Them.

This is a two-sided game, and this kind of politics only works if people are buying it.

New Zealanders have a right to expect evidence and be given information that can and should be used at the ballot box, next year.

For that to happen, we all need to check our own biases first.

A lie is only effective if you fall for it.