The Standard » united future

Too many ministers

Zetetic — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:47:53 +0000

Brian Fellow wrote a piece in the Herald yesterday on how NZ has too many ministers. Hard not to agree. 28 ministers. Nearly half of the governing parties' MPs. 90+ portfolios. Ministerial warrants are clearly being used to keep backbenchers and minor parties in line. Too many do nothing ministers on big salaries while the rest of us have to cut back.

The big win

Eddie — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:22:08 +0000

The new government comprises the same parties as the previous one: National, ACT, United Future, and the Maori Party but with 64 votes, not 69. The governing parties' total vote fell from 51.84% to 50.41%. Even the narrower Nat+ACT bloc fell. National's 'big win' was just one more seat. And the most powerful man in the country now? Peter Dunne.

What gains for Nat support “parties”?

Anthony R0bins — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:34:40 +0000

Coalition agreements are expected to be signed today, with Ministerial roles expected for both Dunne and Banks. But it is the details of the policy gains that will tell us the mettle of these two. Did they achieve anything significant with their negotiating power?

More opening addresses

Anthony R0bins — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:41:56 +0000

Opening addresses from the remaining parties screen on TV1 starting at 7:30pm. Should be good fun for political junkies, make sure you tune in...

What do you think Righty – a perfect score?

the sprout — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:30:11 +0000

Even the most optimistic lefty can’t deny that National are continuing to dominate the opinion polls. That must be quite a source of pride and confidence for the Right. But I wonder, is there anything that rightwing voters believe this National-led Government has done wrong? A couple of years ago I asked what rightwing voters thought ...

What would a National win mean in 2011?

Michael Foxglove — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:28:32 +0000

In my final post I look at the possible influence coalition partners could have on a future National government. Even if Labour loses in 2011, an outright win for right-wing economic doctrine is not necessarily on the cards.

What was that squeak?

Michael Foxglove — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 23:05:11 +0000

According to Radio NZ "Mr Dunne criticised the Labour Party's approach to MMP politics and its relationship with the Green Party."

I'm sure Labour are shaking in their boots from Mr Dunne's criticism.

Perhaps "Mr 0.87%" should draw some focus here. He was marginally ahead of a joke last election. Literally. The Bill and Ben Party was polled just behind Mr Dunne. Let's hope someone steps on that Tory squeek next election.

That made my Auckland anniversary day

lprent — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:45:33 +0000

Peter Dunne on his record against Jeanette Fitzsimmons is really an exercise in ego instead of substance

The distances between parties

lprent — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:53:11 +0000

Just before the election They Work For You released some impressive work on the voting distances between parties based on:- There are 110 final bill reading votes included in the analysis. All the votes are from the 48th New Zealand Parliament which was in term between 7 November 2005 and 3 October 2008. The plot ...

Making the decision

Steve Pierson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:00:19 +0000

Have you still not decided who you’ll vote for? The final poll shows the race between a National/ACT/United Future or a Labour/Green/Progressive/Maori government is neck and neck, so your choice matters. Here is some advice and tools that may help: When choosing who to vote for there are three things you should consider: policy – ...

Dunne’s deal?

Steve Pierson — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:58:06 +0000

The revelations in today’s Dompost that Peter Dunne’s United party took a donation from the Vela family shows again what a messy business donations can be. The Vela family opposed New Zealand following a new UN fishing agreement. Ross Meurant, acting for the Velas met with Dunne, days later he issued a press release opposing ...

A clear choice on ACC

Steve Pierson — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:59:43 +0000

If you vote National, United Future, or ACT, you will be voting for the ACC system to be privatised. Consequences of this include: - $200 million in profits flowing offshore, according to John Key’s former employers Merril Lynch - higher levies on most workers, as private insurers cherry-pick the most profitable for themselves, leaving the ...

Key breaks flip-flop world record

Guest post — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:29:56 +0000

Can’t put it any better than Jafapete has: Seems that John Key has done it again. Announced policy off-the-cuff and back tracked later. TV3 reports that, speaking to an Auckland families forum yesterday, Key ‘veered away from a written speech appearing to announce in off the cuff remarks that National would axe the commission.’ ‘He ...

Centre party? Yeah, right

Steve Pierson — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:14:57 +0000

Why is it that UnitedFuture is branded a centre party? We all know they’re socially right wing, in bed with the Christian fundamentalists, and the tax plan Dunne announced on the weekend proves they’re far-right economically too. They would blow the Budget with $4.6 billion cuts (no mention of where the money would come from and no-one ...

If I were UnitedFuture’s Campaign Strategist

Steve Pierson — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:09:41 +0000

Last in our â€˜campaign strategist’ series is UnitedFuture, perhaps the least inspiring party in Parliament. UnitedFuture (ie. Peter Dunne) should play the same strategy as was used in 2002. Keep your head down, shore up support in Dunne’s safe seat of Ohariu/Belmont and wait for a chance to present itself to make a splash. That ...