Key calls snap Election for June 4

Written By: - Date published: 1:55 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 29 comments
Categories: election 2011, john key, polls - Tags:

Now if the sight of that headline made you feel a bit sick for a moment, you might want to ask yourself ‘How well prepared would my party be if Key called a snap election?’ The reason it might pay to ask is that it’s not outside the realms of possibility that Key could manufacture crises in the coalition arrangements with either the Maori Party or the ACT Party, in order to justify going to the polls early.

It’d be a wise move for Key and, I suspect, a disaster for the Opposition parties.

29 comments on “Key calls snap Election for June 4 ”

  1. I’ll just quickly point out that Labour has their list sorted, and almost all their electorate candidates in place. They even have a current campaign just started (even if currently only the ODT will cover it – election time media would be obliged to). National have none of that. I don’t think JK’s own party would be happy with that call. And as for ACT who are in current disarray…

  2. chris 2

    The lefts current election stratergies:
    Plan A/ attack the Nats. Plan b/ attack the Nats. Plan C/ umm.. there isn’t one.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1

      Attacking ACT is a good proxy way to attack the NATs.

      A vote for Assassin John is a vote for Hatchet Don.

    • Lanthanide 2.2

      How does this differ from anything that “the right” did in the 2002, 2005 or 2008 elections?

      • Monty 2.2.1

        2002 was a completely forgettable election for National.
        in 2005 there was Don Brash who took support from 22.8% to about 40% and damn near won the election on the back of a policy platform of tax cuts, Orewa 1. I remember Labour attacked Brash like no tomorrow. The got personal, (cancerous and corrosive) and nasty.
        in 2008 it was again Labour who attacked National and in particular John Key (Remember mike’s failed mission) while Key ignored Labour and presented his policy.

        So who is the negative party again???

        • r0b 2.2.1.1

          So who is the negative party again???

          Oh – I know this one! It was the party that spent a whole campaign running racially divisive Iwi/Kiwi billboards, and had their muppets running billboards comparing government politicians to brutal dictators. That was the one. What did I win?

        • Colonial Viper 2.2.1.2

          Hey Monty, whatever it takes to win.

          The Left learnt this from the Right’s very own playbook.

          Don’t cry about it now, will ya.

        • mickysavage 2.2.1.3

          Another CT line “Oooooh Labour is so negative”

          A question Monty. Which highly placed National Campaign manager said this about the book “Going Dirty : The Art of Negative Campaigning”

          A compelling, well written guide to negative campaigning. It provides some strong underpinning theories to negative campaigning from an accute (sic) observer of campaign methodology. Very useful and well worth purchasing.”

          Me doth think you protesteth too much …

    • Um you should check this out.  Looks like a campaign to me.

  3. Colonial Viper 3

    Key resorting to panicking, showing his loss of faith in both his coalition partners and the All Blacks ability to win the RWC all in one go?

    Plus giving credibility that Mana is a real threat to his Mp partners, and throwing the ACT machinery even more off balance.

    Would make for a very interesting month in politics.

    PS Key wants to maximise his time smiling and waving as PM as he will not be allowed to stay on until the end of the next term, so he’s not gonna do it 🙂

  4. r0b 4

    Curse you Sprout – you did give me a moment!

    • lprent 4.1

      Same here. Hey Sprout – I guess you aren’t active in a party for this election yet. Can I suggest the Mana party – they need an experienced hand with a lot of time on their hands.

      😈

      • joe90 4.1.1

        Gave me a wee flutter too when I saw it in the comments side bar .

      • the sprout 4.1.2

        😆 glad you got a cheap fright

        not sure i qualify on either of those grounds lynn, but i would rather help Mana than NZF
        in reality i’ll probably end up helping you on the day 😉

        • lprent 4.1.2.1

          Well it was even more of a fright than you’d expect. June 4th is my birthday. There was a good probability that I’d have remembered the damn thing this year.

  5. The Voice of Reason 5

    It wouldn’t be a disaster for the opposition, I suspect. Unless Key had a damn good reason to go to the polls, he would get hammered. A while ago, I looked up the results of snap elections in Oz, Canada and here just to see what happens and it turns out that the voters do not like spurious early polls one little bit. If I get the chance tonight, I’ll look up the results again and post them here, but the upshot is that the sitting Government loses seats in just about every case.

    The most notorious result round these parts was the 1983 ‘Drover’s Dog’ election in Oz where Malcolm Fraser went early against the Bill Hayden led Labor Party, only to find out that while he was at the GG’s place in Canberra making the arrangements, Bob Hawke had rolled Hayden. Hawke bolted in, though a miffed Hayden suggested that a drover’s dog would have knocked off the tarnished Fraser anyway.

    Still, great headline! Got my pulse racing for a moment or two …

    • Moreover, an early election would doom Supplementary Member’s chances of winning the referendum on the voting system. It finished last in 1992 and no-one has yet heard of it.

  6. Adrian 6

    Hmmmm. Does the Sammy Wong investigators name names on June 6?

  7. chris 7

    I am assuming that a strong and decisive Goff will come out assertively after the budget with some clear election strategies that will 1/ stimulate the economy [without borrowing ] 2/ create jobs and 3/ see social justice and equality for all – am I assuming incorrectly?

  8. JaJ 8

    Um, manufacturing a crisis with coalition partners would just hurt nationals future chances of being able to form a coalition government!

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      Yeah it would, unless they were in on the “ACT” from the beginning.

  9. Thomas Forrow 9

    The Greens are ready .. bring it on 🙂

  10. indiana 10

    “Key could manufacture crises”

    I’m intrigued…should we consider “right wing” political parties competentent that they need to “manufacture crises” to ensure they win or “left wing” parties incompetent that they allow “unmanufactured” crises, e.g. Darren Hughs, Taito Phillip Field etc to erode any chance winning?

  11. Samuel Hill 11

    I think the recent activity of the ACT Party is an absolute disgrace. The only reason ACT are in parliament is because Rodney Hide won the seat of Epsom, and now Don Brash has taken over the leadership of the party, and Hide is being forced out of the party.

    If Hide had any guts he would resign from parliament.

    But lets consider this case.

    What happens if Rodney Hide decides to leave parliament and cause a by-election. What happens if ACT lose? Would ACT be removed from parliament?

    Would John Key HAVE HIS REASON to call an early election if Rodney Hide resigned?

    I’d love somebody with more knowledge than me on the subject to enlighten me.

    I am afraid that this is all a ploy for National to stand John Banks in Epsom, win the seat and eliminate ACT. This will secure the right wing vote for National and mean that they can push further to the right without deterring too many central voters.

    Peter Dunne and Jim Anderton currently sit in parliament having each won less than 1% of the total Party Vote. NZ First won over 4% of the vote at the last election, and are unrepresented in parliament! Don Brash-led policy initiatives are being created, to be forced into law through parliament via four puppet MPs who are only in parliament due to Rodney Hide winning Epsom!!!

    WHAT THE FUCK!?!?

    • Lanthanide 11.1

      “What happens if Rodney Hide decides to leave parliament and cause a by-election. What happens if ACT lose? Would ACT be removed from parliament?”

      No. List positions are finalised based on the election night result. Electorate seats can change any which way after that, but the straight number of parliamentary members from list seats remains unchanged. So if Rodney resigned and National won the seat, Act would still be entitled to 5 list members (per their share of the party vote). The fact that they got 3.65% and needed the electorate to enter parliament in the first place doesn’t matter after they’re actually in parliament.

    • Colonial Viper 11.2

      Look, if you can’t win an electorate seat you can’t have an MP if you are under 5%. You know how it works; in NZ democracy electorate seats have always held a special significance.

      As La and others have pointed out, the number of seats a party gets is allocated based on the results of election night and they are final until the next election. The only thing which can alter that result is an electorate seat by-election, and even then its only for that single seat.

      Not much use screaming about it now, although I agree it is somewhat unjust. So what are NZ First’s electoral reform policies?

      • Samuel Hill 11.2.1

        Yeah I know how it works, and its bullshit. If Hide resigns my belief is their should be a by-election, and if ACT don’t win then all their seats should be taken and redistributed. I don’t see why we can have it both ways.

        • Colonial Viper 11.2.1.1

          The only answer there is that is not what our electoral law says happens, and its not a good idea to go changing electoral law on the fly because a lot of changes could easily make things worse not better.

  12. randal 12

    do you get a list seat if you set up a hovercraft factory in waikikamukau?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours 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
    11 hours 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
    12 hours 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
    12 hours 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
    12 hours 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
    13 hours 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
    14 hours 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T09:02:50+00:00