election 2017

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The Ardern effect – and why this leadership change was different

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 3rd, 2017 - 60 comments

With donations and volunteers flooding in, I think it’s fair to say that reaction to Jacinda Ardern has exceeded all expectations. Why was this leadership change different? Two reasons…

She ain’t no show pony

Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, August 2nd, 2017 - 123 comments

“She’s got charm, she’s warm, she’s funny, she’s incredibly intelligent, her values are rock solid. I think you are looking at someone there who is going to change the fortunes of the Labour Party, lift the vote, and change the government.” – James Shaw.

Solidarity forever

Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, August 2nd, 2017 - 65 comments

Andrew Little has stood aside for Jacinda Ardern because he thought the Labour movement needed fresh legs.  Time to acknowledge him and support her.

Acclaim for Jacinda Ardern

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, August 2nd, 2017 - 119 comments

Changing leaders this close to an election was a political gamble for Labour, but it has already paid off. The commentary is almost universally positive, the reviews for Ardern are glowing. Donations are flowing in. Activists are energised and people are talking.

So NZ Labour wanted the Headlines.

Written By: - Date published: 3:29 pm, August 1st, 2017 - 50 comments

Well, now they have them. But…

Greens and the Māori Party on the new Labour leaders

Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, August 1st, 2017 - 27 comments

Coalition partners in the wings, game on for the left.

Labour leadership announcement – livestream

Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, August 1st, 2017 - 49 comments

The livestream is over. A very impressive performance from Jacinda Ardern.

Thank you Andrew – go well Jacinda!

Written By: - Date published: 11:13 am, August 1st, 2017 - 54 comments

Unlike lprent I am not discouraged by Little stepping down. New leadership is a real opportunity for Labour. Little: “As leader, I must take responsibility for these results. I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election.”

Little gone

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, August 1st, 2017 - 187 comments

Andrew Little has stepped down – expects Jacinda to replace him.

ACT in blue – gives up all pretense

Written By: - Date published: 10:04 am, August 1st, 2017 - 10 comments

NZF members are lefties – will they get a say in choosing government?

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, August 1st, 2017 - 19 comments

Current polls leave National/minor and Labour/Green both short of majority. The chances of NZF determining the shape of the next government are increasing. I’ve always assumed that Peters would go with National, but maybe not, if NZF members get a say.

Caution: Taking polling at face value may induce political whiplash

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, July 31st, 2017 - 114 comments

With all the speculation about polls, it’s time to have a discussion about polling and the cold, hard facts around it. Is it good news for the left?

#LeftwithEnough

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 31st, 2017 - 14 comments

Mary St George writes about participatory democracy in this year’s election and the new twitter chat #LeftwithEnough.

Metiria’s gamble pays off in latest poll

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, July 31st, 2017 - 157 comments

To what must be intense annoyance from angry right-wing pundits, Metiria Turei’s gamble seems to have paid off for The Greens, an indication (though mind that margin of error) that there could be a real appetite for a Corbyn-style political revolution this election.

This is no ordinary election (f*ck the polls)

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, July 31st, 2017 - 122 comments

This isn’t a set in stone election, it’s one that is in the midst of change, quite possibly big change. The Greens opened a door, what can we do to step through?

National’s 2017 election list

Written By: - Date published: 12:52 pm, July 30th, 2017 - 21 comments

National’s 2017 list has been announced and it has a very same old same old feel about it.

Raging at Metiria is not about the fraud – it’s that she sided with the lepers

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, July 27th, 2017 - 324 comments

Graham Cameron cuts through the obsession over fraud to the cultural values of the last 30 years and the fear beneath.

Let’s get rid of these clowns

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 25th, 2017 - 46 comments

The Government’s failure to do anything about the housing crisis or about zombie cannabis is evidence they should be removed from office.

Greens: Grandparents and children deserve better than National’s ‘penal welfare’

Written By: - Date published: 7:13 am, July 25th, 2017 - 34 comments

National’s ‘penal welfare’ approach is failing kids, failing caregivers and failing New Zealand.

The MoU and social intelligence

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, July 24th, 2017 - 122 comments

The deputy leader of the Labour Party wants to be the Minister for Children and to put a progressive government ahead of her own career. This is the kind of politician we need in government.

Willie Jackson: The Orewa Speech

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, July 24th, 2017 - 2 comments

Details of a fundraiser for Rodney Labour and Willie Jackson will give his take on Don Brash’s infamous Orewa speech.

Delivering pizza for NZ

Written By: - Date published: 7:19 am, July 24th, 2017 - 16 comments

Full marks to Nathaniel Watson for what Newshub called “an incredible work of graphic design satire”:

Billboards at dawn

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, July 23rd, 2017 - 33 comments

Let the campaign begin.

The language of electioneering

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, July 23rd, 2017 - 127 comments

Turns out TOP might help form a 4th National government.

The Catholic Church is urging its parishoners to vote

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, July 21st, 2017 - 29 comments

The catholic bishops of Aotearoa have released a pamphlet urging parishoners to vote. And apart from conservative positions on euthenasia and drug liberalisation the policies they support have a decidedly progressive bent.

Tax cuts or fix this…

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, July 21st, 2017 - 54 comments

Auckland City Councilor Richard Hills yesterday tweeted some of the things we would like to see fixed before a tax cut. You might want to add to the list. Good thing Labour is promising to cancel the cuts and spend billions more on health and education.

Break Left!

Written By: - Date published: 1:01 pm, July 20th, 2017 - 109 comments

A simple and obvious message to the Green Party that others have ignored to their cost. Please don’t join that list.

#IamMetiria

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, July 20th, 2017 - 35 comments

If you know that feeling of dread when you get a WINZ letter, or if you’ve had roiling anxiety from being  ‘called in’ for a WINZ interview, or sighed with relief when the letter from WINZ turns out to be a replacement community services card, then follow #IamMetiria. And if you just don’t recognise those, then you might want to follow #IamMetiria to find out why others do…

Winston back flips on his abolish Maori seats bottom line

Written By: - Date published: 3:13 pm, July 19th, 2017 - 86 comments

In the space of two days Winston has announced that a referendum on Maori seats would be a bottom line for a coalition but then it should be up to Maori if a change should occur. Update – make that a double backflip …

Labour’s plan – billions for health and education

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, July 19th, 2017 - 91 comments

Labour has just released costed details of its comprehensive plan to put $8b more over four years into health and $4b into education. Excellent.

Labour’s first campaign ad

Written By: - Date published: 7:06 am, July 18th, 2017 - 124 comments