political parties

Young on coalition options – an edge to Labour

Written By: Anthony R0bins - 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: Natwatch - 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: weka - 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.

Ten Reasons for National to do another term

Written By: advantage - 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.

Gilbert calls out Nat “tribalists” who continued to back the lies

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 2:07 pm, October 4th, 2017 - 67 comments

Outspoken sociologist Dr Jarrod Gilbert on the “tribalists” who continued to back the Nats despite their brazen lies – “if Labour had made the same accusation against National and not a single economist supported it, would you have reacted the same way? No. Of course not. And that’s what defines you as a moron.”

ETS is useless, scrap it

Written By: lprent - Date published: 9:11 am, October 4th, 2017 - 25 comments

I suspect that ETS has become a political football in the next parliament, but probably not part of a coalition agreement with either National or Labour. My guess is that both NZ First and the Greens will want it off the table unless it is agreed that it will go. That leaves them able to vote against further stupid patches being added to it.

Good call from Ardern

Written By: Anthony R0bins - 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: Anthony R0bins - 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: Anthony R0bins - 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…

National no friends

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:27 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 194 comments

In a sign of desperation Bill English rang Winston Peters on the weekend but the call was not answered. Clearly National realises that waiting for the special votes to be released will significantly weaken its bargaining position.

Resistance is futile …

Written By: Guest post - 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: mickysavage - 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.

English, Joyce, Bennett et al desperate to keep their power?

Written By: geoff - Date published: 9:54 am, September 30th, 2017 - 60 comments

This might look like smart politics for National to draw the Greens in with National but a more primary motivation might be that English/Joyce and co. are desperate to form a coalition with anyone, otherwise as individuals, they’ll certainly lose their power within the party in the inevitable shakeup.

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

Written By: Anthony R0bins - 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: notices and features - 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.

The political strategy of Winston Peters

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:21 am, September 29th, 2017 - 13 comments

The Winston Peters interregnum provides New Zealand with the opportunity to work out what are core values and what can be the subject of compromise.

National the anti-environmental party

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 1:22 pm, September 28th, 2017 - 50 comments

You can stop the silly chat now media – the Greens can’t go into coalition with National because of their members, their social polices… but mainly because of their environmental policies.

Dirty Politics 2017 style

Written By: weka - 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: Anthony R0bins - 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: Natwatch - 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.

Good work if you can get it

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:37 am, September 27th, 2017 - 116 comments

During the election campaign elements of the farming community protested the possibility of a water tax and of farming being in the ETS on the basis the sector could not afford it. In awkward news it has since come to light that the Chief Executive of Fonterra and senior executives are being paid huge salaries.

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

Written By: Anthony R0bins - 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: weka - 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: Anthony R0bins - 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: Simon Louisson - 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: notices and features - 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.”

Spare a thought for ACT and David Seymour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:12 am, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

David Seymour and the ACT Party are back in Parliament but their role this term will be nothing other than nodding lap dog.

The vote for change

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, September 25th, 2017 - 172 comments

The Nats lost this election. It was a vote for change. NZF party members are calling on Peters to do the right thing.

Where did Labour gain its extra votes?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:59 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 66 comments

Some analysis of where the increase in party vote for Labour occurred.

Consider the people of New Zealand First

Written By: lprent - Date published: 12:45 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 55 comments

The political reputation of NZ First as being a one man band. It isn’t. It is a real political party with the classic volatile mixture of members, supporters, candidates and MPs, plus undercurrents of factionalism. They will take some time to negotiate how they should negotiate and with whom.

Where to now for the Greens?

Written By: weka - Date published: 11:55 am, September 24th, 2017 - 153 comments

Some post election thoughts on what James Shaw said last night, what the post-election options are, and that given the Left got a possible reprieve not an outright win, what are we going to do next?