Communication upgrade needed

Written By: - Date published: 9:24 am, June 9th, 2014 - 51 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, labour - Tags:

David Cunliffe badly needs a new stump speech. On Thursday in Whanganui I heard him depress a large and sympathetic audience for ten minutes with tales of national woe, then promise a positive campaign but give no details. It is good to know that a positive campaign is proposed. Labour has promised an economic upgrade; it also needs a communications upgrade, and besides being positive it must be relevant. That could shift the polls.

The policy bones are all there – they’re just not connected in a narrative that relates to voters. Because they are not connected they can’t be repeated, so too much communication is undisciplined and unfocussed, as we saw last week from several players. Focussed and disciplined communications are necessary for voters to have a clear idea of what is on offer, how it relates to them, and why Labour’s alternative is best for them and for the country.

It’s not that people don’t care, more that they don’t know, as Verity Johnson outlined in the Herald on Saturday.

Message relevance is critical; this was key to Labour’s late communication in 2005, described to some extent by Mike Williams in today’s Herald. Relevant communication to non-voters was critical to Labour coming from behind to lead on election day. Don Brash is still crying in the beer about it. And while I’m on 2005, getting Labour’s numbers up is also critical to post-election decisions. The lead party will have first crack at forming a government, and much will depend on the numbers on the day.

Too much of Labour’s communication has been relentlessly negative, coming from what appears to be a pervasive view that “the purpose of opposition is opposition.” That’s fine if your purpose is to stay in opposition; my view is that the purpose of opposition is to get into government as soon as possible. To do that people have to know what is on offer, have a sense of hope and purpose, and that can’t be done with a negative approach.

Finally if Labour is going to run a positive campaign, the its media unit needs to get with the programme. We’ve been getting their feed for several years, and endless series of negative or critical straplines is very off-putting. They also all follow a similar pattern; gripe followed (sometimes) by alternative. I suspect many of them by now don’t even get opened.

Hopefully David Cunliffe will kick-start Labour’s positive campaign tomorrow today in Christchurch. I can’t wait.

51 comments on “Communication upgrade needed ”

  1. Ad 1

    The Christchurch speech has landed well.

    The Auckland list conference was excellent.

    Your post lacks any focus or even example to be meaningful.

    Labour doesn’t even yet have a manifesto to turn media content to.

    Take a breath inwards and hold it Mike.

    • nadis 1.1

      “Labour doesn’t even yet have a manifesto to turn media content to.”

      I’ve heard on the grapevine there is actually a general election quite soon.

      • Ad 1.1.1

        Manifesto is going to caucus in a week or so.
        Months earlier than usual.

        • blue leopard 1.1.1.1

          I share similar views to you Ad, that Labour is doing well (minus the dreadful comments MPs made last week, something seriously wrong with that; seriously wrong).

          However as I mention in a comment below, it appears not everyone is holding such a view – even here on the Standard – which indicates to me that Mike Smith is making a fair and constructive criticism. If Labour take on board the message to be disciplined and clear in their communications – it will only help them become more effective; reach more people.

    • Anchovy 1.2

      Denial isn’t going to get us anywhere Ad. Mike is right, we lack message discipline and it is taking us too long to get it together – voters will punish us for that. We have some great policy (even without a full manifesto), but we haven’t stuck to our core positive messages. Ee’ve been all over the place. I think Mike’s advice is good and I hope it is taken on board.

      Auckland list conference was characterised by bullying and underhanded deals. It was a shambles. I wouldn’t cite that as an example of things going well.

    • Mighty Kites 1.3

      Yeah those speeches worked great, that’s why Labour is languishing in the twenties across all opinion polls…

  2. Enough is Enough 2

    Yeah Agreed.

    At present the Labour campaign sounds a wee bit like a “New Zealand Sucks” campaign. A phrase from Clint in 2008.

    The problem with that is it runs counter to the MSM narrative that things are humming along quite nicely at the moment.

    Although there are aspects of the country sucking big time under the leadership of Key, it is better to focus on how good New Zealand is and how much better it will be under a progressive government.

    Calling everything a crisis, during a relative economic boon, begins to lack credibility.

    • lprent 2.1

      However, there isn’t a “relative economic boom”. There is a boom in dairying whilst everything else is either flat or declining like manufacturing outside of dairy. The dairy money isn’t really making its way into the economy – which is why the tax revenues are always way below Treasury forecasts.

      Looks to me like the money is being sucked into interest and debt repayments and not circulating in either the urban or provincial economies. It certainly isn’t going into taxable jobs. I can see the economists in treasury slowly wrapping their minds around that concept.

      Basically the journos seem to have problems reading numbers….

      • Enough is Enough 2.1.1

        I agree entirely.

        My comment is in relation to the message we are giving. Not the underlying reality.

        The message (for the purposes of winning the election) has to somehow leverage off the positive message that the country is in reasonable shape.

        I don’t believe Cunliffe has the skills, ability or support to counter that narrative.

        For whatever reason a lot people like Key and believe what he says. We have to accept that. Therefore when Key says the economy is in good shape, has English and the bald tubby man pull some numbers from left field to back it up, a lot of people will agree and get on with their lives.

        I think a better campaign is to say we will use this dairy and Christchurch boom to benefit you and your families by doing a, b and c.

      • Bob 2.1.2

        “There is a boom in dairying whilst everything else is either flat or declining like manufacturing outside of dairy” This is exactly what Mike is talking about with the ‘tales of national woe’, please see the latest stats below and tell me how a 1.1% increase in Manufacturing values outside of Meat and Dairy is “flat or declining”? Also, Meat and dairy product manufacturing rose 18 percent, which in an economy that has a huge meat and dairy industry, this IS a “relative economic boom”. http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/manufacturing_and_production/EconomicSurveyofManufacturing_HOTPDec13qtr.aspx
        Perhaps it is you that is having problems reading numbers….

        • lprent 2.1.2.1

          Oh FFS. Don’t you credulous right-wing fools ever actually read the links that you post before you mindlessly dribble out someone elses words?

          Dig down one layer to more of the detail talking about non-dairy manufacturing.

          In current prices, the sales value rose 1.1 percent ($172 million) in the December 2013 quarter. Eight of the 12 industries had rises.

          Sure – what you said. Now read the next paragraph.

          The trend for the sales volume has been relatively flat for the last four years, but has risen in recent quarters.

          Then look at the graph that explains what they are talking about

          Now look at the relative rises…

          Teeny for everything except the largely no new jobs dairy processing industry.

          I suspect that if I looked further down like I did in the previous quarters, I’d see the same thing as usual. The only manufacturing increases outside of dairy are to do with supplying dairy or the rebuild in ChCh. Transport in particular.

          Neither dairy nor the rebuild are a sustainable source of sales over the next decade. Virtually none of the export manufacturing or exports outside of shipping barely processed commodities rose, and most are slowly falling. The actual rise in non-commodity manufacturing (even with these latest blips) isn’t as much as our population increase.

          It’d be nice if you could learn to do some of your own thinking and learnt to read down through the numbers rather than shambling around like a zombie grunting out the last thing that someone else said.

          I’d also suggest that trying to implicitly saying that I’m the Labour party is a very bad idea. As well as increasing my sarcasm level, I often suddenly find I have an aversion to mindless corpses whenever someone tries that old chestnut.

          • Bob 2.1.2.1.1

            “The trend for the sales volume has been relatively flat for the last four years, but has risen in recent quarters.” did you miss the ‘Risen in recent quaters part’?

            By the breakdown you have just provided the areas that have slowed down are predominately Mining related, are you saying you would prefer National increase Mining and Drilling to increase the overall manufacturing numbers?
            Even with the slow down in commodity prices for Petrol, Coal, Silver and Gold, manufacturing still rose 1.1% outside of meat and dairy, of course this was all from Fruit, cereal, non-metallic minerals and printing that as you state ‘are to do with supplying dairy or the rebuild in ChCh’. I have an aversion to mindless corpses whenever someone tries that old ‘ChCh rebuild is the reason for growth’ chestnut, it’d be nice if you could learn to do some of your own thinking and learnt to read down through the numbers rather than shambling around like a zombie grunting out the last thing that someone else said.

            I’d also suggest that my trying to implicitly say that you are the Labour party is entirely in your head. Please point out where I even remotely pointed to you being the Labour party, I simply pointed out you are falling into exactly the same trap of ‘tales of national woe’ mentioned in the post above.

            • lprent 2.1.2.1.1.1

              did you miss the ‘Risen in recent quaters part’?

              Yes two (possibly three) quarters. Did you miss where i pointed out where I’d seen that rise going on previously. Not percentages, but in dollar value. Most is going into transport and basic machinery. In fact exactly what was required for construction.

              Much of your comment appears to be horribly confused with some strange obsession about mineral processing. If you ever look closely at that, you will find that most of that is in fact processing of bauxite from aussie. The volume of processed oil and gas has been falling dramatically over recent years – it certainly isn’t increasing.

              Look at the stats on where new jobs are appearing in the stats (mostly construction). Apart from SH20 in Auckland and a slight upturn in housing construction up here – most of them are in ChCh.

              In the absence of a corresponding increase in either non-farming exports (which I am sure you can find the figures for), or a big increase in internal retail (no GST growth). Where exactly do you think the increases in manufactured goods are going?

              Scotch mist?

              Getting back to your original question, you don’t seem to have read the numbers or attempted to understand them. Understanding macroeconomics retrospectively is surprisingly easy if you try and if you have a reasonably adequate stats department like we do..

              Perhaps you’d try reading the numbers as an approach next time? It will probably beat having me to get me to explain exactly how dumb you looked pointing to a link you hadn’t read and a mindless slogan.

              And of course you tried to say that what I said was what Labour said when you refered to my comment as being
              “This is exactly what Mike is talking about with the ‘tales of national woe’”.

              Yeah so Mike wasn’t talking about the Labour party messaging?

              Don’t be such a dickhead. That was clearly mixing my comment in with what Mike was saying about the NZLP. If I was drawing that from the NZLP I’d have said so. But generally I always do my own research.

    • Colonial Viper 2.2

      “during a relative economic boon”

      Don’t fall for the trap of the two NZ’s

      Yes the top 20% and especially the top 5% are doing fairly nicely

      But the worker on the median wage $41K pa and the pensioner on half that is getting smashed by rising costs of living, mortgage rates creeping up and their kids not being able to find work.

      Labour needs a positive message of change, but the background is a realistic message of how tough it is for 2M people out there.

      This is all happening 3 months too late however…

      • Bearded Git 2.2.1

        Agreed CV. This needs to be Cunliffe’s narrative. But he is smart and will run a good campaign.

        • fisiani 2.2.1.1

          The Cunliffe is very very smart and he knows it. He is running a cunning plan to win in September by lulling John Key into a false sense of security. When polls indicate 29% that is not a reason to worry. No, The Cunliffe wants the polls low so that the only way is up. A massive 5% rise in the polls would take Labour to 34%. That is however actually a 17.24% rise in the polls. Hurrah! (5/29×100). He knows that if support falls to 25% then a massive 5% rise is indeed a whopping 20% rise in the polls. He could then claim to have the fastest growing support in NZ. The Cunliffe is a genius.
          He knows that people want to work another 1000 days to earn a pension.
          He knows that people are happy to pay tax on their bach, boat, business, farm and kiwisaver funds.
          He knows that people are clamouring for free Morrocan cookery classes and line dancing.
          He knows that getting trucks off the fast lane of a few kms of motorway will win hearts and minds.
          He knows that Winston First and Labour could form a government and the Greens would have no option but to give them confidence and supply yet again.
          He knows that he can outsmart John Key in the debates.
          He knows that 64% of New Zealanders are deluded when they claim the country is going in the right direction. He has the charisma and the eloquence to convince them to abandon National. He has a GOTV strategy written on the back of a KFC voucher.
          The Cunliffe will come from behind and win in 103 days.

          • Bluey 2.2.1.1.1

            I wouldn’t agree with all of that, but I guess overall you are correct.
            Nice summary.

  3. Colonial Viper 3

    Hi Mike. Just checking that you had a chat to DC first to give him your useful feedback on improving his stump speech before posting this up.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1

      “Depress”? Feedback on Facebook from Whanganui suggests that Mike might be projecting a teensy bit.

    • Mike Smith 3.2

      No – tried that last election (and the one before that as it happens). Politicians’ habits die very hard so I decided the best thing to do was to give the feedback openly. I absolutely agree with what you say about the need for disciplined and strategic communication.

  4. Will@Welly 4

    The ‘key’ to winning the election is strategy, strategy, strategy.
    Nothing suggests those running the campaign have ‘woken up’ and recognized this fact.
    I don’t blame David Cunliffe as such, but boy, does that ‘team’ need galvanizing.
    I heard Joyce on the Radio yesterday – National’s campaign manager – and was he spinning it over Banks.
    Waiting till the last week of the election is too late to get the team into full swing.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      “strategy, strategy, strategy”

      Yes and part of that has to be the NARRATIVE of why a Labour led government will be different from one formed by National and its toady extremist parties.

      Labour’s announcement today of a Christchurch Earthquake Court is the perfect example – Labour should not be afraid of using the powers and leverage of the Crown to help the citizens of this nation.

  5. Jimmie 5

    So why was this post pulled last night? Seemed a little odd but the general thrust of the post is correct.

    By any credible measure Labour isn’t doing too well heading into this election.

    For my 5 cents worth I reckon it is to do with the Green/Labour combination more than anything.

    Committed lefties will vote for Labour/Mana/Greens no matter what depending on their preferences.

    Unfortunately (for Labour) soft floating voters looking for an alternative look at Labour and all they see is a strong green shadow in the background and it scares them, especially when Norman starts talking about new taxes and how many ministers the greens are expecting in a LG government.

    Labour is not seen as a credible brand in and of itself – they are like a 3 legged race where they are conjoined at the hip with the Green party – this scares a lot of middle soft voters who are choosing to opt for National instead.

    The only real alternative is for Labour to shun the Greens and to push an NZF alternative instead however this isn’t easy as Winnie is getting a little long in the tooth and has a lot of baggage that makes him less attractive than 2005 (Not to mention the Horan phenomenon.)

    • lprent 5.1

      Looked to me like Mike pulled it last night. Could have been a mistaken release.

      Could also been because of the Banks resignation. Normally there isn’t much news on Sunday evening, and he would have wanted it discussed.

      When he released it this morning, I fixed the date time to go in the right place.

  6. Craig Glen Eden 6

    While I wouldnt usally agree with Mike on such matters I think in part he is right. However one of the reason’s Cunliffe has struggled has been partly due to the damage caused by the ABC group. The whole line about him not being liked was said over and over again and Key enabled by the media has continued to ues it. You say something enough times and sooner or latter most people believe it especially when they have no counter narrative to make them form a different view.
    Sadly Cunliffe needs a whole lot of soft media and despite what many in the party think good policy is not what gets many out to vote. Key is a millionaire who has made his money speculating and trading currency and shares yet many Kiwis think he is just like them Ive heard people say this who are on the dole. Cunliffe is a really good guy but unless Labour start using soft media they are going to struggle big time over the” awe shucks New Zulandand, Im a funny bloke having a BBQ with the Prince PM”
    Cunliffe needs good media advice and who ever is advising him does not have a clue..

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      Soft media ramp up is crucial – it’s not too late now though it should have occurred Pre-Christmas last year…however staffing in the Leaders Office was ‘in flux’ and it was hard work to co-ordinate.

      • Craig Glen Eden 6.1.1

        I accept that staffing was a mess in the Leaders office however with such limited time from Cunliffes election as leader till the general election he needs to reverse the perception. Thats why the Nats have called an election early I sat with three Labour voters having dinner out last Friday and they want to vote Labour but this is what was said “Cunliffe isnt liked though is he”. Its not even that they like Key they hate him and what he is doing to our education system but humans being humans they want to believe that somone is nice in order to get them out to cast that vote. Goff actually started to get that cut through in the last election campaign Cunliffe needs to get that cut through and what is currently happening is not working.

  7. Bill 7

    so too much communication is undisciplined and unfocussed, as we saw last week from several players

    See that? I’m reckoning that’s just about the entire problem. From (a-hem) certain elements in caucus who appear to want to stir it up in order to preserve some kind of a future for themselves in parliament within, I’d guess, a Labour Party that has replaced Cunliffe with a (for them) far more sympathetic Robertson.

    I found it ‘odd’ that at the same time we had (among other shit) idiotic tweets from MPs, we had some blog posts from peeps I’d associate with more conservative elements within Labour swinging blunt and rusty axes in strange directions while urging unity…Mr Salmond most obviously coming to mind.

    Anyway. I’d simply urge people to get in touch with their local Labour MP and (if appropriate) instruct said MPs to pull their heads in. You might call it a stirring down in them thar grass roots, and an absolute necessity if members really want the Party to be a vehicle for peoples’ concerns as opposed to a vehicle for career minded beasties.

  8. blue leopard 8

    Yeah, it is odd because I do see what Labour (Cunliffe) is offering as positive i.e. ‘we are going to ensure all New Zealanders get a share of the country’s wealth’ and the policies they have released sound like they are heading toward that aim and I hear a clear narrative, however it doesn’t appear others are hearing these things and therefore I think Mike Smith’s criticism is reasonable and (therefore) constructive.

    My view that they have got a very clear narrative is based on Cunliffe’s state of the nation speech and things said with their large policy releases – it is very clear what they are aiming for to me. I have not heard Cunliffe talk at meetings, though, and Mike Smith appears to be basing his criticism on this type of speech.

    I am certainly extremely unimpressed with the statements made by MPs the other weekend – it seemed disharmonious and came across as undisciplined, though

    In regards to negativity I think that Labour do have to be a wee bit negative at times in order to appeal to those really struggling – in order to allow them to see that Labour acknowledges their struggle. However I can certainly see that for those in the middle class+ who are still comfortable this would seem overly negative – so somehow he has to work out a way to appeal to those who really have hit hard times without putting off those how haven’t – and vice versa. ( Good luck with that! :geek: )

    However, all these things said the amount of left-wing comments I have read on this site saying ‘Labour is doing nothing’, ‘they don’t have a clear narrative’, ‘they are not addressing the real issues’ including the comment in the above post indicates to me that Mike Smith has to be correct – the message is not getting across clearly.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      indicates to me that Mike Smith has to be correct – the message is not getting across clearly.

      It’s also a little more than that – and that is the excessive white noise from Labour which is drowning out their message signal. You have acknowledged an element of it i.e. the MPs speaking out of turn the other weekend. Other things include raising the retirement age, keeping the same $15/hr minimum wage target as 2011, supporting the government’s mean social welfare reforms.

      • blue leopard 8.1.1

        +1 Yes, it continually strikes me as seriously odd that Labour are so unskilled in this area. Odd that the largest party on the left fails to grasp the simplest techniques of making their message clear and easy to understand for those whose sole focus is far from politics.

        One would think that they could attract the best advisers??

        The Greens are so much more skilled at this than Labour, and look at their polling trend – it is upwards. No surprises there.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1

          Towards the end of last year we were promised a proud ‘Real Red’ Labour. One which would differentiate itself from National by doing much more than just being a bit nicer, softer and fluffier around the edges. But its not happened in the slightest. Even when you squint and look really hard.

          It’s not hard to imagine why we haven’t seen it played out in the campaign this year – the Thorndon Bubble set inevitably decided to play it safe and quietly strangled it as being to risky, from their viewpoint.

          The ironic thing is that by playing to the biases of the media, they have not realised that finding some real backbone is what NZers have been waiting for from Labour for bloody years now. Hence the polling jump to the mid 30’s and higher when that “real red” languaging was being used. In contrast the more anodyne and pointlessly Thorndon Bubble Labour acts the worse it will perform in the public, even if the media gives Labour less shit for being communist.

          Finally, a Labour Party which does not understand the historical purpose NZ requires of it at this juncture is a Labour Party which is not part of the solution.

          • Tracey 8.1.1.1.1

            Plus lots.

            IF labour is being fluffy around the edges national lite to get the govt benches then shifts significantly to the left thereafter it has deceived the electorate…

  9. felix 9

    I agree the communication can improve.

    The question is, Mike, do you think improved communication will get Labour support to 51% by September?

    Of course the answer is no. So the next question is when will Labour stop attacking and start co-operating with the other parties of the left?

    Because these are the options:

    1. concede the election
    2. reach 51% alone
    3. figure out who Labour’s friends are and work with them

    Mike, if you know of a fourth option I’d love to hear it.

    • blue leopard 9.1

      +1 Felix

    • swordfish 9.2
      • 1

      And, I’d also ask: Mike, do you think improved communication will get Labour to “lead party” status ? (given that you’ve argued:“……getting Labour’s numbers up is also critical…The lead party will have first crack at forming a government…”). I think we all know that this just aint gonna happen. Indeed, I’d be very surprised if Labour managed to top 34%. Regardless of how well we do, the Nats will be the largest single party in parliament and, therefore, presuming NZ First remains true to its broad post-election-negotiations policy, will have the first crack at government.

      Otherwise, I don’t have too much problem with Mike’s thesis. A good, constructive wake-up call. But Labour would do well to remember Felix’s point 3. Cunliffe, his strategy team and, of course, the dear old ABCs need such realism drummed into them.

      • Colonial Viper 9.2.1

        Indeed, I’d be very surprised if Labour managed to top 34%.

        Yep.

        34% to 35% would be at the high end, excellent performance.
        32% to 33% would be solid, good performance.

        Less than 32% and the best case scenario with a friendly Winston etc. results in nothing stable enough for more than a one term Labour government anyway.

        • swordfish 9.2.1.1

          Yeah, I think 30-32% is looking fairly likely. Labour tends to receive pretty much what it’s been averaging in the polls, at most a percentage point higher.

          But, but, but……if the MSM do their relentless “Labour is Dog Tucker” FPP routine as they did in 2011 (the implication, of course, being that the Left Bloc as a whole has no chance either), then I could see a similar scenario to last time: a whole swathe of erstwhile Labour voters swinging to either the Greens or into non-voting. Which could, once again, see Labour finish down in the late 20s, with the only compensation being that the Greens end up doing better than expected – perhaps as high as 14, 14.5%.

          So, I’m thinking 31.5% Labour, 12.5% Greens. But in the (pretty likely) advent of a loud All over bar the shouting meme from the MSM, could become *28.5% Labour, 14.5% Green. (Lab down 3, Greens up 2, remainder due to Labour supporters moving into non-voting).

          • Only slightly above 2011 result
          • Colonial Viper 9.2.1.1.1

            Hmmm actually that sounds like a solid win. For the ABCs that is.

      • greywarbler 9.2.2

        Radionz this a.m. said National thinking of standing down in favour of Colin Craig. Will Labour help Mana and its likely partner the Greens now? Or is it still stiff-necked po-faced ‘Ooh we can’t do anything till we get a clear picture of what the voters want’?

        What is needed actually is to give voters something to get their teeth into, like a nice pie, with a smooth fusion of left-wing parties and a fresh taste.

        Or is it a case as some have said, that Labour isn’t sure it wants to win. Isn’t sure it can cope with the present debacle and wants the country on its knees so it can stride forward with Excalibur and save the day. Trouble is the bloody peasants don’t believe in leaders who draw their power from some watery, moist fairy. (Peasant Collective from Monty Python – very apt.)
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaWvVFERVA
        This one never fails.

        Make your opinions felt in a symbolic way I suggest. If Labour regards the election as a mere joust, a sporting contest that they can take a fall at, then let’s use some of the symbols of the old medieval joust to good effect.

        Knights begged “tokens” from ladies. And were presented with “favours” such as a veil, ribbon, or the detachable sleeve of a ladies dress I suggest giving hankies, men’s or women’s – clean and folded and in a clear plastic bag, so they can be seen clearly and the message understood. Send our ‘favours and tokens’ to our chosen representatives to encourage them in their endeavours, and if they lose, they will have a handkerchief for their tears! A silent message from this symbolic piece of cloth which would be like a small flag encouraging that political fighter for the left.

        Or we could change the name election to the old name of hastilude so it is more aligned with the present day reality of a traditional stylised performance of what was once an honest match for gaining the right to run the country.

  10. BM 10

    David speaks like he’s giving a sermon, which is hardly surprising given his upbringing.
    It’s all fire and brimstone and getting red hot pokers inserted up your nether regions.

    The flock obviously like that sort of stuff but it can be a bit hard going for the non believers.

  11. Populuxe1 11

    Less cheesy and obviously posed photo ops please

  12. Chooky 12

    Bomber Bradbury again makes a lot of sense !

    ‘How David Cunliffe becomes the next Prime Minister of NZ’

    By Martyn Bradbury / June 9, 2014

    “The biggest problem with political journalism in NZ is that we have MMP politics and a First Past the Post press gallery.

    At some point, someone is going to have to break it to them that despite their flawed landline opinion polls, David Cunliffe has a very good chance of becoming the next Prime Minister of NZ.

    The lack of working knowledge many voters have of MMP paints a grim picture of an overwhelming victory to John Key.Nothing could be further from the truth.

    National won only a few thousand votes more in 2011 than they did in 2008, the reason their percentage soared was because of the lowest voter turn out in a century. If the opposition party’s can reach out and mobilise this time around they will lower that percentage considerably. This is one of the reasons why National are only polling 44% on iPredict.

    With that context, there are a number of MMP challenges that seriously challenge a return to power for John Key.”..
    .
    – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/06/09/how-david-cunliffe-becomes-the-next-prime-minister-of-nz/#sthash.z77aspZ3.dpuf

  13. Harry Holland 13

    I’m thinking maybe this year has a bit of a 1996 feel to it…

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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