united future

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Peter Dunne’s chance to shine

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, July 18th, 2013 - 27 comments

Peter DunnePeter Dunne may be the best chance that we have of defeating the GCSB amending legislation.  He has said that there is a principle at stake in that his rights of privacy have been breached and I believe that he is right.  Time to seek his support?

From a sinking ship

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, June 12th, 2013 - 61 comments

Ongoing problems for Peter Dunne and United Future.

Gone

Written By: - Date published: 4:03 pm, June 7th, 2013 - 241 comments

Having resigned as Minister, how long before we see a by-election in Ohariu as Peter Dunne’s credibility keeps dripping away? And will we see an early election?

You can be a leader of nothing!

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, June 6th, 2013 - 67 comments

Well it turns out I was wrong – you can be a leader of nothing! Chaos in Parliament at the Speaker’s ruling.

You can’t be a leader of nothing

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, June 6th, 2013 - 19 comments

Peter Dunne’s status as a party leader in Parliament (i.e. funding and perks) is under threat. Seems pretty cut and dried – you can’t be a leader of nothing. Being a sensible type, I’m sure that Peter will agree.

Stable government?

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, June 3rd, 2013 - 55 comments

There isn’t a single party in the government coalition that could be said to be stable.

Dunne abandons charter schools

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, April 19th, 2013 - 33 comments

Peter Dunne is concerned about the use of unqualified teachers in charter schools. As well he should be – the Ministry of Education has issued a detailed warning against this daft policy.

NRT: Reported back

Written By: - Date published: 3:23 pm, December 12th, 2012 - 4 comments

The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee has reported back on David Clark’s Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill, with the National majority recommending it not be passed. The bill will now go back before the House, where its fate will be in the hands of Peter Dunne. Will he vote for it or not?

Frankly Speaking: “John Banks: condition deteriorating”

Written By: - Date published: 3:05 pm, August 15th, 2012 - 18 comments

Frank Macskasy over at Frankly Speaking writes some very long posts that are often full of interesting information. This one does a good analysis of the recommendations from the Electoral Commission and various party positions on it. On the way through he has a good swipe at John Banks, who it would be safe to say, he considers to be political cabbage.

Dunne angry

Written By: - Date published: 1:39 pm, May 18th, 2012 - 106 comments

Underneath the ‘common-sense’ exterior, and all that hair, Peter Dunne is an angry man. He lashed out that those who pointed out he’s voting for asset sales he never told his electorate he would support. He screamed at losing TVNZ7 – Backbenches is his one chance to get on the telly. And he’s going feral on the Conservatives because they could usurp him.

Seriously extreme and nutty

Written By: - Date published: 9:27 am, May 10th, 2012 - 82 comments

Amongst all the topical chatter about the Conservative Party there was one comment that I think we should get on record for future reference.

Will Dunne heed his own poll on asset sales?

Written By: - Date published: 11:48 am, April 30th, 2012 - 46 comments

United Future are polling the public about their support for partial privatisation. Will Peter Dunne heed his own poll?

Dunne has no mandate to vote for asset sales

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, March 11th, 2012 - 113 comments

“What the public of New Zealand really do not like is politicians who say one thing before an election and do something else after it. And I invite every member of this House to look at every statement United Future made prior to the election and every statement subsequently and try to draw a difference” – Peter Dunne. As they say, yeah right.

Villain or hero

Written By: - Date published: 4:09 pm, March 5th, 2012 - 158 comments

The Nats have announced their asset sales legislation. Mum and dad aren’t at the front of the queue. No provisions to ensure 85-90% stays in Kiwi hands. Nothing to stop the companies being sliced up and sold after partial privatisation. No real way to stop one company owning more than 10%. There’s 1 vote that can stop this. It’s all down to Dunne now. Will he be the hero or the villain?

Too many ministers

Written By: - Date published: 10:47 am, December 16th, 2011 - 16 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, December 12th, 2011 - 41 comments

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”?

Written By: - Date published: 2:34 pm, December 5th, 2011 - 75 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 5:41 pm, October 29th, 2011 - 42 comments

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?

Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, February 17th, 2011 - 50 comments

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?

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 pm, December 6th, 2010 - 49 comments

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?

Written By: - Date published: 12:05 pm, November 14th, 2010 - 31 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, February 1st, 2010 - 21 comments

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

The distances between parties

Written By: - Date published: 12:53 pm, November 9th, 2008 - 5 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, November 7th, 2008 - 56 comments

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?

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, November 3rd, 2008 - 37 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, October 29th, 2008 - 48 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 2:29 pm, September 9th, 2008 - 68 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 3:14 pm, June 11th, 2008 - 31 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, May 16th, 2008 - 15 comments

Last in our ‘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 […]

Peter Dunne answers your questions

Written By: - Date published: 6:32 am, May 12th, 2008 - 23 comments

We’re very pleased to have UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne respond to your questions as part of our Interview the Leaders series. Question to all leaders: Of which of your achievements in politics are you most proud? At a national level, I am most proud of the tax changes for which I have been responsible in […]

Get your questions in for Dunne

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, May 2nd, 2008 - Comments Off on Get your questions in for Dunne

Do you have a burning question to ask Peter Dunne? Does it not involve his hair? If so, submit your question here by Sunday and it could be selected for our questions to Dunne as part of our ‘Interview the Leaders’ series.

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