election 2017

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Peters policy priorities

Written By: - Date published: 8:36 am, October 11th, 2017 - 23 comments

Peters’ policy priorities are clearly anathema to National. Depending on the details Labour may be more accommodating, but it’s a risky path given signs that “the economy” is already flatlining.

Announcement delayed

Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, October 11th, 2017 - 70 comments

Great news for all those who are enjoying the suspense!

Nats’ secret tax plan

Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, October 10th, 2017 - 35 comments

Newsroom (Shane Cowlishaw) reports that the Nats were considering significant hikes to fuel taxes, described in a document that was supposed to be released before the election – but somehow wasn’t.

Is there a Role for the Governor General in Coalition Formation?

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, October 10th, 2017 - 50 comments

MMP is challenging the traditional role of the Governor General in determining who should lead the Government after an election.

Politics or Policy?

Written By: - Date published: 5:46 pm, October 9th, 2017 - 56 comments

Policy is everything, Winston Peters said today. This should not be a surprise. Before every election, he has refused to give any hint of Party support preference until after the vote. But he will have thought a lot about what he might want, as it has long been clear that his Party would decide the outcome. So what are his policies?

Prepare for four days of hot air

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, October 9th, 2017 - 40 comments

Expect to see agendas on display, and egos, and reckons, and the occasional gleaned factoid. But don’t expect predictions to be any better than chance.

Why Labour may form the next Government

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, October 8th, 2017 - 173 comments

The prospects of a Labour led Government have improved dramatically following the release of the final election results.

And the final result is …

Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, October 7th, 2017 - 206 comments

The final election results have been announced with Labour and the Greens each picking up an extra seat.

Young on coalition options – an edge to Labour

Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, October 7th, 2017 - 21 comments

Audrey Young on the coalition dance: “Labour would probably have an advantage because of the greater policy overlap”, “Keeping deputy leader Paula Bennett out of the first pro-forma courtesy meeting was an appalling decision by English that simply says he was desperate to please Peters at any cost”.

Coalition of liars

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, October 7th, 2017 - 35 comments

The right wing clobbering machine is already calling a possible Labour Green NZF a “coalition of losers”. Well under MMP a coalition of losers can be the winners. But however you cut it a coalition of liars will always be liars.

The Green Party’s coalition process

Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, October 6th, 2017 - 64 comments

Important in the Green’s coalition deal-making process is the party’s political positioning, and the internal processes that the party is obligated to follow. Both of those things reflect deeper values around policy and decision making. Here’s a look at what processes the Greens will follow in the coming weeks and who will be involved.

Specials tomorrow

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, October 6th, 2017 - 35 comments

The special vote count should be out at 2pm tomorrow. The mathematically plausible scenarios are either good, or very good, for the left.

Pike River families win a “political reality”

Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, October 6th, 2017 - 90 comments

Among the biggest winners of the election will be the Pike River families. Labour and Greens support re-entry. Gower on National: “They will not go into Opposition over this… They will literally go back on everything they’ve said in order to get Winston into power.”

Preliminary talks underway

Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, October 5th, 2017 - 166 comments

Preliminary talks between NZF and National have concluded, talks between NZF and Labour are due this afternoon. (Image from Vernon Small)

Ten Reasons for National to do another term

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 5th, 2017 - 28 comments

A tongue in cheek list of reasons why it may be best for National to form the next Government.

Electoral Commission refers Sean Plunket’s tweets to the police

Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, October 3rd, 2017 - 19 comments

The Opportunities Party’s election campaign Communications Director and recent appointee to the Broadcasting Standards Authority has had their election day tweets referred to the police.

Good call from Ardern

Written By: - Date published: 9:46 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 86 comments

I have very mixed feelings about a Labour Green NZF government. I certainly don’t think that Labour should “pay any price”. So I’m pleased to see Jacinda Ardern acknowledging the Greens.

Uncertainty doesn’t bother “the market” at all

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 57 comments

There is no “strong and stable” government to “lead” us. Maximum uncertainty! No end in sight! According to received wisdom (and all those people in a self-interested rush to ordain the born-to-rule-party) the market should be panicking! In fact…

Cling to power vs the right thing to do

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 17 comments

The Nats are desperate to make big concessions for a coalition with the Greens. The establishment is lining up in The Herald to beg for this to happen. Promises to strengthen environmental and social policies in order to cling to power – but not for the last nine long years when it was simply the right thing to do…

Resistance is futile …

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 100 comments

The Standard regular Incognito writes about the unique voice the Greens bring to NZ politics and why a coalition deal with National would be the end of that.

The Herald doesn’t want Winston to go with Labour

Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, October 1st, 2017 - 132 comments

The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.

Nats fought a FPP campaign and blew it – Labour went with MMP…

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, September 30th, 2017 - 88 comments

You know that old saying about how generals always prepare to fight the last war? That’s National and their FPP election campaign (hello creepy joggers). There will be a certain poetic justice played out if Labour’s MMP campaign is the winner in the end.

On that stupid coalition deal…

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, September 30th, 2017 - 101 comments

A possible National/Green coalition deal? Matthew Whitehead discusses why and why not from a Green perspective.

Dirty Politics 2017 style

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, September 28th, 2017 - 168 comments

The Greens aren’t going to support a National government, so why is there so much push to make it look like it might happen?

One obstacle to NZF + Labour removed

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, September 28th, 2017 - 24 comments

A significant and positive development late yesterday. Labour held firm on the Māori seats, and Peters has decided that a referendum is probably not a bottom line after all. This early progress bodes well for future negotiations.

Nats don’t understand a party of principle

Written By: - Date published: 6:44 am, September 28th, 2017 - 163 comments

Nats and their proxies continue to try and drag the Greens into negotiations with National. They just can’t conceive of a party based on principle. A party that exists for something other than the pursuit of power for power’s sake. But I fear that the Greens might have a stern test coming up.

Peters campaigned against the Nats – his party wants him to do the right thing

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, September 27th, 2017 - 170 comments

Peters campaigned hard against the Nats, and for a change in government (check out the speech and video). To keep faith with democracy and with his party members he has to go with Labour Green (check out the feedback and polls). If Peters goes the other way NZF will implode.

How a National/Green coalition could work

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, September 26th, 2017 - 168 comments

A plan for how the Greens could save the election.

National paying the price for cannibalising the political right

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, September 26th, 2017 - 27 comments

National have maintained their own vote but killed off all their political friends. Which is why their only route to power is now in the hands of an enemy, and why that enemy should be very wary of hitching his wagon to their fading star.

Labour won’t regain power until it wins the tax debate

Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 178 comments

Labour didn’t deserve to win on Saturday because, firstly, because it failed to bring a fully-fleshed tax policy to voters, and, secondly, it never attempted to win the ideological battle over tax. To succeed at the next election, Labour must begin work today to frame this debate.

No Right Turn: The only way is Winston

Written By: - Date published: 4:02 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

“Its not going to be a comfortable term. But it will probably be an exciting one.”

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