Latest Comar Brunton poll result

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, December 10th, 2017 - 88 comments
Categories: bill english, greens, jacinda ardern, labour, national, nz first, polls - Tags:

The latest Colmar Brunton poll has been released and there has been little movement since the election.  The figures are Labour 39%, National 46%, Greens 7% and NZ First 5%.  Improvements for the major parties have been at the expense of minor parties and New Zealand First who have all gone backward.

Some pundits are decrying the lack of bounce.  My personal view is that it shows how divided the electorate is.  And there are some really helpful associated results.

Jacinda is now by far the most preferred Prime Minister.  She is up 6% points and English is down 9% points from the last poll.

And the country by a significant majority thinks things are heading in the right direction.

The poll is interesting in that 50% of the calls were made to cellphones. Time will tell if this has had an effect on the result.

Some will paint this as a disappointing result for the Government. For me it looks pretty solid. As long as Labour and co can show significant improvements in important issues I expect there to be a general trend favourable to the Government.

88 comments on “Latest Comar Brunton poll result ”

  1. mango 1

    It’s worth looking at the RNZ poll of polls analysis. Interestingly two other recent polls have national much lower than colmar brunton.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/345867/poll-voters-broadly-say-yes-to-new-government

    • alwyn 1.1

      You did notice this line in the report.
      “The big difference in the three polls was that the 1 News Colmar Brunton had a much stronger result for National (46%) than the two earlier polls”.
      This Colmar-Brunton result would indicate that the honeymoon is already over and there is a swing back to National.

      Hardly surprising given that the performance of the Government to date has been appalling. They really weren’t ready for the job, having wasted the last nine years when they should have been developing new people and new ideas.

      A new Government usually has a large swing toward it in the early polls. Where did it go this time?

      Toby Manhire on the Spinoff had an article on what might be expected from the poll.
      https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/08-12-2017/the-first-big-poll-for-ages-is-due-what-would-be-a-good-result-for-labour/
      He suggested, for National. “If they can hit 42% or better on Sunday, they’ll be thrilled.”
      I suppose they will be.
      For Labour he proposed “Anything under 40% will be a disappointment. Anything above National will be a relief”.
      Oh dear.

      • marty mars 1.1.1

        2 time loser billshitter must be sad – he stuffed the gnats up and now long long years in oblivion await – oh well luckily Labour, NZF, and the Greens are a stable successful grouping and the public are happy with the direction. Yay it’s all going well.

        • Grantoc 1.1.1.1

          You sound like Pollyanna, Marty.

          I note that NZ First sit on 5% in this poll. The coalition won’t look especially stable or successful if NZ First fall below the 5% threshold. In fact if this were to build into a trend they won’t be around in 3 years. The coalition will then be facing ‘long years of oblivion’

          • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1

            Sadly for that proud party the gnats the slide is on. Support partners? Nah, Enough to govern alone? Nah, Toast? Yup, bills fault? Yup – Supporters? Running, Proof? They want to talk about anything other than the gnat election debarcle.

            • Grantoc 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Maybe this week the Nats will ‘talk about’ that bunch of overstretched, inexperienced, un engaged, bitter and twisted, back stabbing happy campers propping up the coalition; also known as the Green Party.

              When you put the hapless Greens alongside NZ First potentially disappearing into the uncertainty of life beneath the 5% threshold, then coalition stability and success really does look fragile.

              Don’t you think Marty?

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                No, you have it the wrong way around – that is what David Farrar thinks, and you are his mouthpiece.

                • Grantoc

                  Well thank you for that insight OAB and merry christmas to you.

                  Do you know what, I actually don’t know what David Farrar thinks; but clearly you do. Sounds like you follow him closely;maybe hanging off every word of his?

                  Maybe you’ve got it wrong; maybe you’re his mouth piece.

                  Anyway it doesn’t change the accuracy of my comment.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    If you’re not a mindless sponge, how come you never say anything original?

                    And yes, I agree, your comment is still witless drivel, motivated by hate: that hasn’t changed.

                    • Grantoc

                      OAB; Your insights into the behaviour of those with whom you have no knowledge are quite awe inspiring. How do you do it?

                      I am so impressed that you understand what motivates me; it is quite extraordinary given that you have no idea who I am.

                      Perhaps the explanation is that actually all you do is to project your own emotions, motivations and attitudes onto the wider world. You crawl out from under whichever rock you’re currently lurking beneath; spit venom full of self hate at whatever is challenging your point of view and then crawl back again.

                      You almost deserve to be pitied.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Speaking of spitting venom:

                    overstretched, inexperienced, un engaged, bitter and twisted, back stabbing

                    The conclusion that these words are motivated by hate is inescapable.

                    • Grantoc

                      Wrong again OAB

                      Rather these are the kinds of conclusions that can reasonably be made based on the letter leaked by someone in the Green Party to the media, which describes life in the Green Party right now.

                      Typically these are the behaviours associated with workforces that are significantly disengaged; which is the current state of the Green party. Ironic as that is.

                      But you may be right to the extent that these words are motivated by hate (although probably too strong a word – frustration/disappointment maybe even envy more accurately describes how they are feeling) etc – but that emanates from Green Party staffers/members/politicians; I’m simply observing and recording.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      😆

              • Sadly that strategy didn’t work for the gnats – they burned off their support partners and found themselves floundering as gnatnomates – pretty poor politics whichever way you look at it.

      • Muttonbird 1.1.2

        Toby Manhire is a comedy writer. This piece reflects that.

        • alwyn 1.1.2.1

          “a comedy writer”
          Is he really? It does sound appropriate of course as this Government is so badly prepared for the job that they are a joke.

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 1.1.2.1.1

            “this Government is so badly prepared for the job that they are a joke.”

            And yet despite that, they are making some positive moves that the previous lot with 9 years in power, couldn’t. But early days.

          • NewsFlash 1.1.2.1.2

            Alwyn, the only joke is the fact that this Govt is having to put out a fire for every policy that the Nats left burning out of control, and that’s most of them, if National were so popular they’d be in Govt now, but they’re not are they?

  2. mosa 2

    Colmar Brunton despite other reputable polling analysis that has has their party vote much lower has always had the National party well ahead.

    Colmar Brunton is here to over inflate the National parties position and send the message that they are still popular and loved on the Sunday night 6pm news instalment that still peddles right wing propaganda.

    Case in point was Jacinda meeting Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten who is on a weekend visit.
    No mention on Newshub and a ten second news bite on One News.

    The Californian fires destroying wealthy neighbourhoods in L.A got at least three to four minutes and in depth analysis of the celebrities affected.

    Strange when Key met anyone who could give him a selfie moment it was all over the news no matter how inconsequential that person was.

    • alwyn 2.1

      You’re right.
      Key met a lot of inconsequential people.
      Who was that American who thought so highly of him.
      Some name like Obama I think. Quite unimportant.

      Make the most of meeting Shorten though. I was in Oz a few weeks ago and Mr Shorten may be in very big trouble for unauthorised expenditure of Union funds on his political ambitions.

      • savenz 2.1.1

        Must be why Key put all that huge million dollar donation into the Clinton foundation on behalf of NZ taxpayers, I mean we don’t need the money here for locals. Life is like a box of chocolates for all, we have no crisis we need to worry about here under National’s reign, better for Key to help the Clintons they could really do with some dough.

        And that nice man Thiel can get that sweetheart multi million deal on those shares cause he could do with a donation and Key can give him citizenship to add to the EU and US citizenships he already has. 11 days in NZ, he really needs another multi million dollar residence in Queenstown to rest his weary head.

        I love how generous our politicians are in this country to those who most need it. (and a bit less generous to those that do need it).

      • NewsFlash 2.1.2

        Stop LYING Alwyn, I live here, the only political party in trouble right now is Turnbull, who wont last another election, stop LYING.

    • Ed 2.2

      Follow the money….

      Who are the shareholders of Colmar Brunton?

      Colmar Brunton is owned by Kantar Millward Brown
      Kantar Millward Brown is owned by WPP Plc

      Some of the shareholders of WPP Plc are :

      Massachusetts Financial Services Co.
      Harris Associates LP
      The Vanguard Group, Inc.
      Norges Bank Investment Management
      Nordea Investment Management AB (Denmark)
      Martin Sorrell
      Aberdeen Asset Investments Ltd.
      MFS International Singapore Pte. Ltd.
      BlackRock Fund Advisors
      First Pacific Advisors LLC

    • Unicus 2.3

      Quite true both TV One an Three have continued their slavish pre-election support for National that will continue until the John Key appointed board at TV one is replaced.

      Both channels have minimised Jacindas profile an at same time providing As much exposure possible for the National Party has- been’s and their dead in the water leader .This is also reflected in Fairfax publications where Jacinda is given only life support oxygen while Bill and co are weirdly over bloated with it .

      When Key was elected his grossness was sold daily in the media as everything from ” the new Kennedy ” To Obamas closest friend and the Queens most treasured confidant – that bullshit lasted the whole time he was leader –

      Today’s Prime Minister was forced to release her governments new education policy on face book because the MSM are still busily behaving as a salve for the losers of the election

      Underlying the election result is an excruciating fact most Tories have yet to face .Even with The support of TV Ones National stacked board and the belligerent electioneering by Fairfax and Radio Networks – National was still soundly beaten.

      The days when scurrilous media tyrants like Murdoch could impose their right wing preference s on free democracy’s is over . Suck it up Tories your favourite plaything is toast – Jacinda and the Internet have done for you bastards once and for all.

  3. Matthew Whitehead 3

    I’ve translated the CB into seats, and made projections on how likely it makes various governing arrangements on twitter:

    https://twitter.com/MJWhitehead/status/939624674941550592

    It looks like this, if we don’t account for margin of error:

    Labour – 48
    Greens – 9
    NZF – 6
    ACT – 1
    National – 56
    Total: 120, 61 seats needed for a majority
    Current coalition would be re-elected.

    Out of 2,000 simulated elections: (assuming 95% chance of ACT retaining epsom, and 50% chance of Māori Party re-election)

    Current coalition wins a second term: 49.1%
    Labour-Greens can choose to ditch NZF: 7.4%
    Māori Party can replace NZF, or Labour-Greens can flex between the two: 8.1%
    Māori Party needed for either bloc to form a government: 13.4%
    Outright National-Act Government chance: 22.1%

    NZF under threshold chance: roughly 50%

    edit: As for the cellphones thing, this is just Colmar Brunton catching up to Roy Morgan in terms of methodology. Reid Research is probably correct that a partial internet panel is a more robust option.

  4. Kat 4

    Its fairly obvious that until such time the coalition “owns” the MSM and the lion-share of positive media narrative Labour will lag. On a positive note at least Labour is trending up, not down and they are in govt.

    A word to National supporters, the next real poll is the next general election. If thinking that this coalition is going to implode with an early election then dream on if it helps with the grief process.

  5. Tanz 5

    Over at Kiwiblog they are very very happy with National’s huge lead, especially as there is no real bounce for Labour. This is awesome for National, they are still the preferred biggest party, and NZ First are fading fast. Made my day, despite the rain. Not so important who the preferred PM is, it’s parties people vote for. There will be much rejoicing in the National camp. No honeymoon bounce for the new govt, NZ First near wipe out. Thank you Santa. National are actually up post election, an amazing feat for a third term govt. Champers time. No wonder English was so happy being interviewed!

    The Daily Blog says Labour should be freaked out by this poll. I like Martyn Bradbury, he always says it as it is.

    • ianmac 5.1

      Grow up Tanz. Even if NZF get to 1%, they are still part of Government. Come back in 2020.

      • Anne 5.1.1

        The loss of her beloved National govt. has temporarily deranged Tanz. Either that or she thinks she’s provoking Standardistas. Perhaps she’s deaf and can’t hear the laughter….

        Best she be ignored until sanity once again prevails.

        • fender 5.1.1.1

          Tanz used to be a huge Colin Craig fan, so I’ll never take her unhinged rantings seriously. She’s desperate and comes across as one of those headless feathered creatures IMO.

    • Dv 5.2

      Can’t count a kB either

    • Incognito 5.3

      Over at Kiwiblog they are very very happy with National’s huge lead …

      This is awesome for National …

      Made my day, despite the rain.

      There will be much rejoicing in the National camp.

      Thank you Santa.

      Champers time. No wonder English was so happy being interviewed!

      This epitomises the National Paradox: they already have so much and are happy with so little and yet they take (away) so much from those who have much less and so very little …

    • red-blooded 5.4

      Tanz, National are not a third term government – you’re living in the past. They’re the opposition. And they’re not in the lead – or not in a meaningful way, anyway. They’re still the biggest single party, but in NZ single parties don’t form governments.

      (And, BTW, Labour are up 6% of their election results, Nat are up 3%.)

      And when Martyn Bradbury was saying what a dreadful liar John Key was and what uncaring, arrogant arseholes your beloved Nats were while in government, did you love him then for “telling it like it is”?

    • McFlock 5.5

      Gosh, Labour should be panicking: if these trends continue, National will be on 60% polling when the next election comes around! lolz

      • Michael 5.5.1

        What “trend”? It’s one poll. If I was invested in this government’s future (and I’m not), I’d be worried about that NZ First rating: they are being overtaken by the Greens, with whom Labour appears much more comfortable working in government. How long before Winston and his crew wake up to that? Time for some wins for NZ First, I think.

        • BM 5.5.1.1

          If the Greens start polling back over 10% they’d have to be seriously starting to think about renegotiating the current arrangement, especially if NZ First is hovering around 5%.

          • Incognito 5.5.1.1.1

            I reckon the PM must call for a snap election if that happens; we cannot have a Parliament that does not reflect the polls as that would be a travesty of democracy.

            • BM 5.5.1.1.1.1

              Don’t be silly.

              Facts are Labour did a hatchet job on the Greens and reduced them to a position where they had to beg for whatever scraps they were given while Winston Peters gets to sit at the head of the table and feast on this enormous banquet.

              How long do you think it will take before the Greens start to get a bit pissy about that arrangement and demand more than scraps?

              • Incognito

                Don’t be daft.

                Fact is that National lost. You’re only giving us your mischievous opinions, not facts.

        • McFlock 5.5.1.2

          I was taking the piss.

          Frankly, the polls are pretty much irrelevant for probably the next 18 months. NZ1 is well positioned to straddle the LabNat divide, provided national have learned their lesson about how to deal with partners rather than supplicants.

          Labour can work with either greens or NZ1 or both. Where it gets interesting is if Labour get to the position where they can choose between the two – yes, prog lefties want Labour to go with greens, but Lab might go with NZ1 instead.

      • DoublePlusGood 5.5.2

        Yeah, National 60%, Labour 112%, Greens 28%, NZ First -12%, ACT a single vote across the whole country…something like that anyway.

      • alwyn 5.5.3

        That sounds about right.

    • Ed 5.6

      Do some research.
      Who are the owners of Colmar Brunton?

  6. ianmac 6

    In spite of English and co getting huge platforms to undermine Jacinda and team, they still look like loosers. Government go go go full steam ahead.

  7. adam 7

    How does this affect working people in any meaningful way?

    All it does do is remind us we now live in a society run by polls. We just had 9 years of a government deeply committed to doing everything via a poll result. And look at the mess we are in – the coalition will start doing the same, the short term and blissfully ignorant poll will win on the day.

    This is no way to have a society.

  8. Tanz 8

    I think you mean losers. Who cares. National will be back in 2020, with no need for NZ First (who will be wiped out, they will go down from here, not up), and will get to govern for a long long time after that. This is a three year break for them, or less. They have been awesome in Opposition. Question Time used to be a bore, now it is high entertainment. Winston did the dirty on National this time, but justice always wins in the end! As always, God is the real one in charge, His Sovereignty is forever

    • Muttonbird 8.1

      God is in charge? You’ve just outed yourself as a complete lunatic. As if we didn’t already know.

      • James 8.1.1

        What happened to not making comments to exclude others ?

        Whilst I might not agree with the god view – people should not be mocked for their views on the subject.

        There is enough trouble having femail voices on this blog without people like you being rude to them.

        Try commenting on the post and. It attacking the person.

        • Incognito 8.1.1.1

          You make very good points except for this one:

          Try commenting on the post and. [sic]

          You may want to view this educational clip: The Alt-Right Playbook: Never Play Defense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVkJvieaOA (HT to Ovid https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02-12-2017/#comment-1421409)

          Put differently, if you get served an utter shambles in a restaurant you don’t start unpicking (unpacking) what’s wrong with it but you just send the whole lot back to the kitchen with a few critical comments about the chef. And they better redeem themselves or they will lose your custom and personal recommendation (poor online review?).

        • McFlock 8.1.1.2

          Personally, be it a magic book or true story, I’ve never understood how people reconcile the New Testament with being a tory. Unless they took “suffer the little children” as an order, of course.

          • ropata 8.1.1.2.1

            If you are a barely literate hillbilly, you believe what the preacher man says.

            Forget separation of church and state, the Gospel has been replaced with flag waving militarism, capitalist bootstraps, and a cult of US exceptionalism.

            (The actual teachings of Christ have a tendency to demolish the establishment power structure, that’s why he was killed)

            • In Vino 8.1.1.2.1.1

              Sorry, but the church since its adoption by the Roman Empire has adapted the teachings of Christ to turn them into a means of social control.
              What you call the actual teachings of Christ has become a fuzzy grey area, whatever the presumed original Christ may have intended.

              • ropata

                Haha, the biblical texts are the best preserved ancient documents we have. The church has definitely gone astray throughout history but there is little significant change to the biblical canon.

                Variants are listed in critical editions of the text, the most important of which is the Novum Testamentum Graece, which is the basis for most modern translations. For over 250 years, Christian scholars have argued that no textual variant affects key Christian doctrine.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_manuscript#Textual_criticism

    • Kat 8.2

      What stage of the grieving process do you reckon you are at Tanz?

    • David Mac 8.3

      If I was God I’d vote Green. Stupid to go to all that effort and not back it.

    • Incognito 8.4

      As always, God is the real one in charge, His Sovereignty is forever

      Huh? @ 5 you said:

      Thank you Santa.

      Now, we all know that Santa is doing the bidding of gluttonous profiteering capitalists whom you worship but I am confused now as to whom or what you worship most: Santa, God, Bill, Capitalism, or Gluttony?

      • the pigman 8.4.1

        First Santa, then God. Next it’ll all be John Key’s great work. Too much “champers” I’d say.

        Makes me long for the days of that bored alcoholic LARPing housewife from the SF bay area who used to post here… sweet remembrances.

    • fender 8.5

      “….God is the real one in charge….”

      bukowski by modest mouse

      “…..If God controls the land and disease
      And keeps a watchful eye on me
      If he’s really so damn mighty
      Well, my problem is, I can’t see
      Well, who would wanna be
      Well who would wanna be such a control freak?…..”

    • mary_a 8.6

      @ Tanz (8) … please explain how Winston “did the dirty” on Natz.

      I agree question time is indeed high entertainment. Very entertaining in fact, watching the opposition prove what a vindictive, opportunistic, petulant bunch of sore losers they are.

      “As always, God is the real one in charge, His Sovereignty is forever.”

      Really? Who says? Evidence please!

  9. Muttonbird 9

    I was in my local neighbourhood today and saw that Denise Lee is opening her electorate office on Main Highway in the middle of Ellerslie. This is the type of shop front branding National candidates will employ in an effort to sway voters on visual recognition rather than socially beneficial policy.

    Her office will mirror the Harcourts, the Barefoot and Thomson, and Ray White offices across the street. They sell the same service, after all.

    • indiana 9.1

      Is this sort of branding worse than say posing for Vogue?

      • dv 9.1.1

        At least Vogue gives NZ designers a platform.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.2

        Good question.

        Mimicking real estate developers vs. a Vogue cover. It’s all a matter of perception I guess.

        For instance, which of them is employed in service of “an effort to sway voters on visual recognition rather than socially beneficial policy”?

      • Incognito 9.1.3

        Well, if posing for Vogue is causing a deepening and worsening of the housing crisis then I’d say the branding is no better or worse.

    • Anne 9.2

      Maggie Barry has her electorate office next door to the local police station. It’s quite a big building and hard to distinguish from the police building. It’s been painted in similar colours which I suspect is an attempt to associate themselves with our fine, upstanding policemen and women of the Police Force who never put a foot wrong – oh no. It’s all imagery and little substance with the Nats.

  10. Marcus Morris 10

    The failures of the last nine years are exposed almost daily. Latest of course was the revelation of the dismal consequences of the much vaunted National Standards. The housing crisis is worse than expected, gridlock in Auckland has lessened little since the opening of the Waterview tunnel and so on and so on. The challenges faced by this government are massive. As mentioned above, the real poll is in three years time and most decent New Zealanders will be hoping that we will be seeing positive improvements. I am just relieved that English and his cohorts didn’t have another three years to continue the damage they were bringing onto our once egalitarian society. (Did I mention water quality?).

  11. Upnorth 11

    Jacinda will not want Winnie to drop that low…watch for a headline by Winnie in a few days or weeks to show is boss

    • lurgee 11.1

      Unfortunately, Ardern has little control over Winston, and he has the self-preservation instinct of a possum in a motorway.

      I fully expect Winston’s arrogance and ‘flexible morality’ to bring about the demise of his party, again. I’m very worried it will damage Labour as well and bring about the return of Zombie Bill for a third instalment in the series.

      2002 – The Night of Bill English
      2017 – The Return of Bill English
      2020 – The Revenge of Bill English?

  12. ropata 12

    Fucking poll results are not significant news. Political horse races and mindless tribalism with zero discussion of policy. It’s just doofus personality shit, Bill vs Jacinda vs Winston. What a waste of news. Please Labour, pass a law to make this tabloid fodder illegal to publish on the front page or lead the news. Especially during elections.

    Do we have to be subjected to more Nat sycophant stupidity? All they care about is kicking the other tribe, notice that Tanz and Alwyn make zero mention of how the Nats have anything useful to offer NZ. They don’t give a shit about the suffering that the Nat regime caused, or its sordid record of corruption and lies. The future of NZ is at stake and all the RWNJ’s have to offer is Trumpish bile.

    • Ed 12.1

      Agreed.
      Ban polls.

    • In Vino 12.2

      With you now, Ropata.

        • red-blooded 12.2.1.1

          There has to be a pretty extreme damage to society and individuals in order to actually ban something, guys. Look at the damage done by tobacco, or alcohol – neither of these is banned. You might find polls annoying (solution – ignore them). You might think they become self-fulfilling, locking in a particular narrative in people’s minds, and maybe the solution is to control them (some countries don’t allow polls just before an election). I’d argue that polls are just part of the political landscape and that they’d have to be doing a lot of proven damage before any government should take an extreme step like banning them. Think how that would play out in public discussion: stifling political discourse, trying to keep people in the dark… Not good.

          • David Mac 12.2.1.1.1

            Yep, polls are fun. It’s placing too much weight in them that is wrong. Someone predicting our current government via the election polls would of finished up very wrong.

            • David Mac 12.2.1.1.1.1

              It’s a situation compounded by the Flim Flam men.

              Paddy Gower: “on these numbers…WE HAVE A BRAND NEW GOVERNMENT!”

  13. mosa 13

    I see the ever reliable One news covered the poll result and that C.B finally realised that calling people on the landline and not their mobile phones means they are missing out adding even more right wing idiots to the total for National because no one has a landline any more.

    If you ignore the hype of Nationals result Labour has climbed to 39 well above the early twenties that had become the norm and was a useful negative news headline for years and now under MMP that is vital for government formation and that Jacinda is most prefered PM.

    What One news deliberately left out was the important mood of the country.

    The majority think it is going in the right direction.

    Not that it is as important as Nationals largest party position and that it must surely on that basis be the government.

    We have changed the government now it’s time to change the media.

  14. lurgee 14

    Jacinda is now by far the most preferred Prime Minister. She is up 6% points and English is down 9% points from the last poll.

    I thought referring to Ardern by her first name was a belittling tactic deployed by the condescending curmudgeons of the right?

  15. lurgee 15

    As for the poll, NZ 1st’s dangerous flirtation with the 5% line should be noted. National aren’t the only major party in need of friends.

    • Matthew Whitehead 15.1

      Actually in this poll, the demise of NZFirst doesn’t hurt Labour because they and the Greens are ahead of National, but they’d need to feel relatively confident of that result. (RM’s result of Labour and Greens having a majority between them last month would indicate that they probably can be confident in that hypothesis, but they’d probably want to wait for the next RM to be sure. Usually results are somewhere between where CB and RM suggest, and CB is probably back to favouring National now it correctly has started adding non-landline respondents to its poll)

  16. Chris 16

    Not really surprising for NZF

    What ever he did he was going to piss off about 50% of his supporters, so losing a clump is hardly surprising

    Doubt they will be in the reckoning by next time if Winston chucks it in anyway

  17. Brian Tregaskin 17

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/345867/poll-voters-broadly-say-yes-to-new-government
    Colin james has written a great informed article

    Poll of Polls – Voters have broadly endorsed the new government in three polls taken since the government was formed.”

    “All three polls had a weaker result for New Zealand First than in the election.
    That may reflect the preference of a minority of New Zealand First supporters in two polls, one before and one after the election, for New Zealand First to go with National.
    That preference amounted to 1.9-2.0 percentage points out of New Zealand First’s 7.2% election result. If those voters have deserted New Zealand First since its choice of Labour, that would suggest it might be expected to be polling around 5.2%-5.3% – that is close to the Poll of Polls figure.”

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    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    4 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
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