National coalition with NZ First?
Written By:
- Date published:
5:00 pm, January 21st, 2014 - 126 comments
Categories: act, conservative party, election 2014, greens, john key, labour, mana, maori party, national, peter dunne -
Tags:
How times have changed.
In 2008 and in 2011 Key adopted what some thought was a position of principle and ruled out National going into coalition with NZ First, specifically Winston Peters. But it seems that National’s dwindling prospects at this year’s election have made it err on the side of expediency over purported principle.
From Stuff:
Prime Minister John Key has announced a big shift in National’s position heading into the next election by refusing to rule out a coalition deal with NZ First.
It is the first time Key has even contemplated going into government with NZ First leader Winston Peters after consistently ruling him out as a coalition ally since 2008.
As a further sign of how desperate the Government is Peter Dunne has been returned to Cabinet and Chris Tremain has been sent to the knacker’s yard in advance of his exit from Parliament.
Key today announced the reshuffle of his Cabinet, returning Dunne as a minister and dumping Chris Tremain.
Dunne resigned as a minister last year after an inquiry into the leaking of a sensitive report could not rule him out as the source.
Key said today Dunne would be appointed minister of internal affairs, associate minister of health and associate minister of conservation. Dunne will be a minister outside Cabinet as he was prior to his resignation in June last year.
Key also confirmed his preference for the Conservatives.
Announcing his preferences for possible coalition talks today, Key also indicated talks with Colin Craig’s Conservatives Party would be possible, despite policy differences between the two parties.
Given the right electoral circumstances, he would prefer to continue working with the Government’s three current partners – ACT, the Maori Party and UnitedFuture, he said.
“I believe there is also a scenario where it would be possible to add the Conservative Party to this group,” Key said.
The Greens and Mana will be pleased that Key has ruled out working with them.
For National to succeed we could see a multi headed National-Act-Maori Party-United Future-Conservative-NZ First government.
How stable would that be?
126 comments on “National coalition with NZ First? ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...2 hours ago - Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...14 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...14 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...1 day ago
- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...1 day ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...1 day ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...2 days ago - 2024 OIA stats
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...2 days ago - Climate Change: A perverse incentive
The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...2 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...2 days ago - NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...2 days ago
- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...3 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...3 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...3 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...3 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...3 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...3 days ago
- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...4 days ago
- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...4 days ago - Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has spent his career studying megaprojects. In 2023, ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...4 days ago - Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...4 days ago - Handling Democracy.
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...4 days ago
- Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...4 days ago - Open Government: The joke ends
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...4 days ago
- An unusual sort of press conference
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...4 days ago - This substack has talked about this government’s seeming corruption & pro-corporate issues...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...4 days ago - NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...4 days ago
- Wednesday 18 December
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...4 days ago
- Can the government change its mind on the ferries?
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...4 days ago
- Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...5 days ago - Member’s morning
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...5 days ago
- Going Backwards
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...5 days ago - Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...5 days ago
- December-24 AT Board Meeting
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...5 days ago
- The Making of a Mental Health Rockstar
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...5 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...5 days ago
- The Deep Divisions of Local Government
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...5 days ago - Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...5 days ago
- Sabin 33 #7 – Are solar projects hurting farmers and rural communities?
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...5 days ago
- Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU
5 days ago - ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...5 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...5 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...5 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...5 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
- 8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...6 days ago
- Govt to double number of toll roads
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s pre-emptive strike
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...6 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...6 days ago
- More public service contempt of parliament
Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...6 days ago
- If There Is A God
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...6 days ago - A Lipstick Government
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...6 days ago - NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...6 days ago
- Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...7 days ago
- Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...7 days ago
- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...1 week ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...1 week ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
- National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...14 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...2 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...2 days ago
- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...2 days ago
- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...2 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...2 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...3 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...3 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...3 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...3 days ago
- Judicial appointment announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...3 days ago
- GDP data highlights importance of growth
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...3 days ago
- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...4 days ago
- Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...4 days ago
- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...4 days ago
- Government boosts support for avian influenza response
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...4 days ago
- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...4 days ago
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...4 days ago
- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...4 days ago
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...4 days ago
- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...4 days ago
- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...4 days ago
- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...4 days ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...4 days ago
- A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...5 days ago
- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...5 days ago
- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...5 days ago
- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...5 days ago
- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...5 days ago
- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...5 days ago
- Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila
By , New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...56 minutes ago - Signs of the hīkoi: More than just ‘words on cardboard’
The placards seen at the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti conveyed "huge kōrero with immediacy", expert says: "People know the power of the word." ...10 hours ago - A final Ode to .. King Luxon
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...18 hours ago - A hater and an enthusiast review The Royal Free by Carl Shuker
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...19 hours ago - Survive to 25 (December, that is)
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...19 hours ago
- All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...19 hours ago
- Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...22 hours ago
- NZ govt plans to make ‘heavy handed’ change to free speech rules for universities
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...22 hours ago
- Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...1 day ago
- OECD Report Highlights That More Is Needed
This report reflects that gap in our dealings overseas, and it shows that legislators, the public sector and businesses need to walk the talk. ...1 day ago - Government quietly scraps waste minimisation policies
The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...1 day ago
- MEAA welcomes News MAP funding ‘leg up’ for Australian journalism
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...1 day ago
- Transmission Gully partnership breakdown will not hurt future public-private partnerships, Infrastru...
The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...2 days ago
- Funding cuts to charity particularly felt over Christmas period
The number of people seeking help from Lifeline is expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent over Christmas. ...2 days ago
- Nelson Hospital conditions ‘unbearable’ – staff
One worker says the building is decrepit and falling down around them. ...2 days ago
- Stand by for cricket’s Smash Palace
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...2 days ago
- Early-onset dementia under the microscope
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...2 days ago
- Keeping the pirates at bay: Should the Australian ‘Blocking Order’ case prompt a discussion in N...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...2 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Luxon at Xmas
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...2 days ago
- ‘We were as famous as Tom Cruise’: Craig Parker on 90s Shortland St fandom
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...2 days ago
- ‘I prioritise the mission, not my health’: Adam McGrath’s perfect weekend playlist
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...2 days ago
- The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes. Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...2 days ago
- Fiji pro-Palestine nativity scene exposes Gaza as ‘hell on earth’ at Christmas
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...2 days ago
- Vanuatu quake: ‘Our shop was flattened like a deck of cards’
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...2 days ago
- How diplomats have broken the law in NZ – and what happened next
A handful of foreign diplomats have misbehaved during their time here - and not all of them have been brought to justice. ...2 days ago
- Swim schools report sinking enrolments as downturn deepens
Being able to swim is often considered a life skill, but tough economic times are forcing many families to pull their children out of lessons. ...2 days ago
- ‘There will be deaths because of this’ – Warning over Health NZ IT cuts
A West Coast IT worker is warning patients will die as Health New Zealand aims to slash its data and digital staff. ...2 days ago
- Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished – minister
In a surprise move, the sale of polytechnics will be on the table when the national institute of technology Te Pūkenga is disestablished. ...2 days ago
- Parliament’s final sitting day an insight into party factions
On Parliament's last day of the year, there was a rare glimpse of the factions within the major parties. ...2 days ago
- Former Labour MP, North Shore mayor Ann Hartley dies
Former Labour MP and mayor of Auckland's North Shore City Ann Hartley has died. ...2 days ago
- The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes contro...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker. Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...2 days ago
- Labour moves Speaker from the ‘nice’ to ‘naughty’ list
Last week's fights with the Speaker over the Fast Track schedule may have changed the tone in Parliament. ...2 days ago
- Govt ends pilot programme for Māori and Pacific, sparking outrage
The Government announced the end of the programme that allowed Māori and Pacific people to acess bowel cancer screening at 50-years-old. ...2 days ago
- Parliament fits an extra morning into final sitting day
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Bejeweled log’ by Holly Fletcher
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...2 days ago
- Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right p...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...2 days ago
- How does franchising work?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...2 days ago
- The one episode of Shortland Street you need to watch this year
If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...2 days ago
- As China expands its cyber espionage and sabotage operations, how will the Trump administration resp...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...2 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for 2024
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...2 days ago
So Dunne finally got the payback he expected for supporting the GCSB bill …
…all parties on the Left should organise , cooperate , unite and get behind the strongest candidate to oust Dunne from Ohariu and out of parliament this year
this is the seat we need to make a deal on the electrate vote and try give dunnbo the the boot we
Dumme can cease now, which will be a quite a relief for The Hair. His tongue must have been extremely dry after all that boot licking.
Associate conservation? LOL.
John Key has no principles …and Peters wont go into coalition with National ….unless he wants to ruin his own reputation for ever.
Key must be getting worried to be putting out those feelers to NZF
….Key is on the ropes and he knows it …… despite the bullshit propaganda about a NZ “rockstar economy” made by his bankster friends
be interesting to see how hooton spins this one, he holds peters with the utmost disdain, i recall.
…probably mutual and originated from Winston…possum has been spurned
I hope Winston asks Key to give him the Moon as his price for keeping him in office for another term. I , wouldn’t rule out a Nat-ACT-Dunne-NZFirst coalition; both Winston and Key are ruthlessly pragmatic, totally unconstrained by any principles. The best way to prevent this scenario is, of course, for Labour to get more Party Votes than any other Party. That way, Cunliffe can call the shots in coalition negotiations with Winston and the other players. That outcome does not look likely at present, in light of reports than some of the caucus prefer another term in opposition rather than one on government under Cunliffe.
Winston has always held the principles of not selling off NZ State owned assets and land to foreigners….He would have gone far in the National Party if he hadnt held these principles.
….so he does have principles ….and dont forget he pulled down the National Govt over sale of State Assets…he said he would and he did
He will spurn National if given the chance …..for many reasons ….but one is the sale of State Assets
Winston is like a prostitute – he will sell himself to the highest bidder – but will he please repay the $148,000 he stole from taxpayers first.
Winston has principles. If you think he doesn’t, you don’t know him very well.
Leftish on economic policy. Right wing as all hell on social policy. Call him an old school conservative? meh Anyway, his principle ‘policy’ is securing power and influence for himself. So, would he go with a Nat led government or Labour led government? Both. He just elevates either of his social or economic bent according to circumstance.
…disagree..Winston was burned badly last time he went into coalition with National
( even although he brought the National govt down in short order…this is why the Nats hate him so much and have never forgiven him ..he could and would do it again)
……never-the-less his coalition with National almost killed Winston’s NZF party support….I doubt whether he will do it again
…….especially as has been against John Key on just about everything!….it is there is no love lost between them
….Key has done the numbers and is desperate to woo….. and crawling!…just as Winston likes him!
Winston will not go with Key because
1. He has no respect at all for Key.
2. He will enjoy keeping the Greens out of cabinet-a condition of his support for Cunliffe.
It follows that we must hope that lab/greens/mana get 49% between them-that should be enough not to need Peters.
..agree with 1)….not sure about 2)……once upon a time NZF and the Greens were in competition but the Greens have pulled way ahead now ….and besides they are not going for the same voters …
i would be very disappointed if Winnie tried to exclude the Greens from Cabinet.( a most unpopular move in these days of global warming and GP strength )..nor do i think Labour would wear it, or could afford to exclude the Greens ….so I think given his age Winnie would just settle for Foreign Affairs Minister and ignore the Greens
…conclusion…the Left cant alienate and exclude Winnie as a potential partner( he worked well with Helen Clark) ….but on the other hand if one wants a Left govt with the Greens …it is probably best not to vote for him strategically, nor is there the need to strategically …and as per usual he is wooing and wowing his own voters around the country
Hope u right on 2) Chooky.
Haersey Hootens attemp at dog whistling saying Key won’t Go near that man.
Hootens reasoning not that he said so is if Nactional can squeeze peters under 5% and then gift colon Craig north shore .machevalian overkill me thinks.Hooton is rapidly becoming yesterdays man.
On the surface this is just a boring announcement from Slippery the Prime Minister telling us what we all mostly have guessed would be the entrails of today’s ‘big announcement’
IF there is any deviousness afoot from the brains(less) trust up on the Beehive’s 9th floor in putting this little piece of media hype together it will be surrounding the ‘we can work with NZFirst in Government’ announcement,
The ‘calculators’ managing and massaging the political process in Slippery’s office might have come to the conclusion that if He gave the thumbs up to NZFirst as a coalition partner it might just drive the left wing of NZFirst voters away from that party,( on the surface a win win for National),
Perhaps a little too machiavellian for New Zealand politics, but, considering where the ‘political advice’ comes from anything is possible…
The interesting thing is that Key puts the Maori Party right in the middle of a right wing coalition – I don’t knwo how much that will please the Maori Party members….?
Andd Key ruled out the Greens and Mana – saying they are too “far left” – which pretty much indicates how far right Key really is.
Peters still playing hard to get.
Karol, a display of serious delusion on Slippery’s part, i will be surprised of the Maori Party feature in the Parliament after the upcoming election…
The Maori Party is not left.
Sacha, have a look at the Maori Party voting pattern in the Parliament which would strongly suggest that they are a left leaning party with strong suicidal tendencies in giving confidence and supply to the right,
i fully expect after voting concludes this year to be only discussing the Maori Party in a historical sense…
Nor are the Greens a leftwing party. They are largely a white middle class urban part, despite having a Maori leader. Those Greens who had strong social justice credentials are likely to support Labour under Cunliffe or Mana with Sue Bradford.
Yes Bad12, this thought flitted across my mind on hearing the news.
Key saying he is open to working with NZ First could well undermine NZ First support – unless Winston says something very strong to oppose the idea.
Has he made any statements on the matter yet?
Key has good years experience in replacing Ministers, renewing the party, and sustaining a coalition within the minimum of fuss.
I seriously hope there are smart people within the Greens and Labour (at least) who can talk to each other on a daily basis. Cunliffe has certainly observed it with the Clark government, but otherwise I see skills lacking within the current Labour caucus in coalition management. Happy to be proved wrong.
We need to see some proof of a viable coalition on the left really soon. Joint policy, etc.
Nah. Each party just needs to focus on their policies, with discussions going on behind the scenes. The election will indicate how they do/don’t negotiate an agreed alliance.
I guess we’ll find out how good the public’s imagination is.
No policy and PR co-ordination then? And no electoral co-ordination either?
When’s the first polls of 2014 due out, does anyone know?
Even though I’m picking National to get over 50%, this is a great move by Key
There’s now plenty of minor parties in the mix that he can go to if by some small chance National doesn’t crack 50%
Conservatives
Maori party
NZ First
United Future
Not too shabby for a party that apparently had no coalition partners.
Plenty of options there for National, maybe 2020 might be labours turn, that’s if they’re still around.
Conservatives – no MPs, one leader.
UF – a one man band.
Maori Party… watch this space, now you see them, now………
Conservatives will get a seat
Maori Party will get a seat or two
UF will get a seat
Key will probably only need a couple of the above to form a party
Peters may break 5% but to be honest I’m not sure how likely that will be, there’s just nothing coming up in this year year to make NZ First a voting choice.
The only reason he didn’t rule Peters out is because of Dot com.
Can you really see National getting more votes than last time? Really BM?
Yes.
Economy is really starting to take off and lets be honest there’s just no other viable party out there to take over the reigns.
It’s National by default really, everyone can see that.
Economy is really starting to take off
Navigation and landing could be a problem.
i am hearing a lot of the economy taking off? would that before or after the election? will this be a good economy for all or just some in the financial and real estate sector?
I am just curious, cause I can tell you there are a lot of people waiting for the economy to take off…..finally.
Economic growth, and confidence, only for the few.
But it’s the many who will vote.
Know why I know? It’s the people here will get them to the polls.
National + Winston Peters apparently, according to your dear leader. Are you sure that’s a default you like?
If that’s what it takes to put a stake in Labour, I don’t think he’ll be needed but if it comes down to the wire, so be it.
I really think Labour’s on the verge of collapsing, I don’t think they could survive another 3 years in opposition, no money, no talent this is do or die for the red team.
If National’s opinion polling stay mired in the 42%-43% range, it’ll be muskets at dawn for John Key.
Wishing don’t make it true, BM.
There’s no way in hell that National will get more votes than 2011, and no one with a shred of credibility would suggest it, MS. Their zenith occurred in the months before the last election and it’s downhill from there.
Even Paddy Glower, Nat sickofant, is calling it Key “swallowing dead rats”.
Gowers just doing his job and that is to create political stories.
You don’t actually base anything around what Gower says?
Beats what you are saying.
So after 5 years , National has borrowed to the hilt – with no plan to pay it back- while they sat and waited …and waited for a recovery based on outside factors.
Remember all their plans came to zilch- the increase in GST, and every budget they spent more than Labour .
Considering the sum total of the Gower piece on TV3 News tonight i get the distinct impression that wee Patrick might have been recently schooled in terms of ‘balance’,
With viewing rates across the whole free to air spectrum said to be as low as 12% on some recent nights TV3 might have come to the belated realization that they cannot afford to keep bleeding viewers when they are provoked by the usual Gower ravings…
What I find interesting is how few actually watch the news and this is going on those bollocky tv statistics.
According to scoop
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1308/S00697/strong-3-news-ratings-set-up-25-54-win-for-tv3.htm
The stats are
3 News 366,400
ONE 751,300
Giving a total of 1,117,700 people.
Registered voters
3,070,847 people
Only around 36% of registered voters watch the news
Personally I think far too much emphasis is given to the ramblings of political commentators and the impact their spin has on the average voter.
And only around 12% of registered voters watch 3 news.
Patrick Gower is irrelevant.
Yes; and the ones who watch are theoretically more interested in politics/current affairs and less likely to be swing voters. It’s why stories like Pike that would once have sustained traction/outrage run out of impetus. And partly why the Nats got away with selling assets when it was a disaster just 10-20 years ago.
I’m guessing that the people who watch the news (and I am guessing are more likely to have a newspaper subscription too) are the kind of registered voters who are more likely to actually turnout on the day.
People who do watch the news are fairly set in their voting preference.
I don’t think the way politics is presented on the evening news really has a lot of sway on the voting public.
Agree Bad12. I thought he (Gower) did a pretty good job of exposing Key’s lack of principle on tv3 news tonight. And the 6-headed monster reference was wonderful.
Any talented person out there able to do a suitable graphic of this 6-headed monster (Nat/NZF/UF/ACT/MP/CP)? Could be very useful line of attack.
Karol it looked like paddy was swallowing the dead rats as he spoke.
“UF will get a seat”
Can you tell us how you know that BM?
bm what the hell are you sniffing keys glory days are done and dusted just like Dunne
Your deluded BM internal polling shows National are suffering slippage. Act is only good for 1 MP, Dunne is finished once the electorate block vote him out, Maori party lucky to get 1. Conservative party won’t get over 5% or a seat. Peters will grab the limelight right on cue and stiff Key, bolstering his percentages to maintain a healthy 6%. Finally KDC will get the slackers to the polling booths, ‘voting is the in thing’ in 2014. Labour will benefit by getting candidate votes in previous tight seats they lost.
Chin up BM a soon to be expat will be looking for a caddy in Hawaii, dust up ya skills chap!
+1
The funny side to this is not Key’s totally predictable shift, but (yet again) the way he makes fools of his supporters.
You can find countless examples on this blog alone (and far more on Kiwiblog and other places where Nats hang out). The same conversation, constantly over the past 5 years …
“Super John Key is principled, he’s ruled out Winston!”
“No, he’s ruled out Winston to get votes. Principle has nothing to do with it.”
“No, you lefties just don’t know principle when you see it. Key is different! He has real principles! Yay!”
“But he’ll rule him back in when he needs him. Just wait and see …”
“No, Winston is finished. Key has principles! Hooray for Key”
etc, etc.
Some were fools who believed, some were liars who (deep down) didn’t believe, but all were wrong.
From the Stuff article, Key apparently talking out of both sides of his mouth at once:
So what is today’s announcement if not playing some little polticking games?
Pit NZ First and Conservatives against each other, and see who comes up trumps? Drive a wedge between Winston & the “left” parties? Reinforce perceptions of Maori Party as having become quite right wing?
…and Peters wont go into coalition with National ….unless he wants to ruin his own reputation for ever.
I’ve lost count of the number of times Peters has ruined his own reputation forever. It doesn’t seem to cause him any great difficulties.
It is the first time Key has even contemplated going into government with NZ First leader Winston Peters after consistently ruling him out as a coalition ally since 2008.
Or, more accurately, it’s the first time Key has even contemplated going into government with Peters since the polls stopped telling him he was going to win anyway.
+1
So Key says he can work with Peters. The real question for the left is can Peters work with Key. We ignore this at our peril.
I honestly think the Asset Sales are what will always prevent Winnie from being able to work with Key. Despite the fact that most are done and dusted now, he is very much a fiscal conservative (as mentioned above) and actually believes very highly in retaining state assets. Not to mention, so do his core constituents…
As much as politics is about swallowing dead rats, I don’t think even Winnie would swallow one this big for him…
Yep, he’s already stated publicly that buying back the shares in the power companies would be an absolute bottom line, non negotiable policy for any party wanting to go into coalition with NZ First.
Can’t see Key and English doing that.
Of course, Winston could go back on that.
Winston only has two priorities.
1. When not in government, get in government.
2. When in government, get in Cabinet.
What on earth makes you think he “actually believes very highly in retaining state assets”?
The only time he had true political power, when he was Treasurer, he led the process to sell shares in Auckland International Airport Ltd, calling it “popular capitalism”.
At the time he said: “The purpose of this exercise is to shore up the Crown against future risk of developmental cost and free up money for other investments and interest servicing charges.”
He believes in nothing at all, which is why it is so disappointing John Key has done this u-turn.
It would be to David Cunliffe’s credit if he now ruled out working with the charlatan.
Hooton it’s not a matter of Key-National willing to form any coalition arrangement with Peters-NZF. After he spent a term in the wilderness, caused by Nationals smear campaign, Winston seeks revenge. He will stitch up a deal with Labour pre election & humiliatingly
rule National out in the final 10 days before polling day. His popularity will leap from not making the threshold to just over what he got last election 5.9 %.
Key has made a bad judgement declaring his hand, and that integrity Key has you talked about just got flushed down the toilet. I’d be feeling a tad red faced if I were you.
Yep
Of course this is the game of politics and the pre election prove of the pudding will be how stronger contender Key-National put up in the Whangarei electorate seat should Peters elect to stand there. Which I suspect he will to add further icing on Winstons egotistical cake. No doubting Peters is one tricky character, so I’d be expecting Cunliffe to make overtones that he may indeed insist on a publicly announced coalition arrange with NZF prior to the election. As far as I see it’s Labour who will determine Peters-NZF’s fate.
I’d be expecting Cunliffe to make overtones that he may indeed insist on a publicly announced coalition arrange with NZF prior to the election
Cunliffe already ruled that out on RNZ this morning – basically said such things will be decided after the election – let the people decide. Cunliffe just stressed the policies Labour had in common with NZF.
*Arrangement
Guess it is early days, however it’s in Winston’s better interests, as Labour will not only reclaim votes but also gain votes, NZF votes. Key has boxed Peters into a corner really. Unless Key thinks his charms can motivate National supporters to strategically candidate vote Peters in Whangarei. Time will tell all.
“He believes in nothing at all, which is why it is so disappointing John Key has done this u-turn.
It would be to David Cunliffe’s credit if he now ruled out working with the charlatan.”
I agree he’s a charlatan who believes in nothing at all. Very strong words from you though Matthew; he is after all the leader of your party, the man who instructs you how to vote every three years.
Not sure why you think Cunliffe should rule out working with him either, a grand coalition is the most unlikely of outcomes.
Reading comprehension, learn it
whoosh.
Hearsey Hooten
That means Keys
Integrety is totally shot your own commentry9 to
noone.
Is this another one of your schemes to make you look like the good guy and are you going to stand for SACt.
“I agree he’s a charlatan who believes in nothing at all”.
Should be an excellent fit with the National caucus, then!
moari party to much higgin torries gone
act has the plague gone
Dunne hes done and dusted gone
crazy colin wannabe never none existent
david cunliffe hello prime minister
National’s coalition thought process is very simple:
I hate brussel sprouts
I refuse to eat brussel sprouts
I won’t get dessert?
pass those sprouts baby
Dunne says in his well modulated sensible voice that he and key are mates and key offering him a ninistry (sic) is all part of this happy relationship.
Laeve out the bit that he cant be trusted, and would sell Nationals secrets in an blink of the eye
National-Act-Maori Party-United Future-Conservative-NZ First? Doesn’t leave much room for anybody else. The Devil will be disappointed here.
Satan is well represented by the first two in your hyphenated list.
Peters got votes off labour last time because goff wasn’t seen as a winner so they wanted a bit
Mongrel Peters has failed to fire.
Those disafected labour supporters are going with cunliffe this time.
So Peters is going to be taking more National supporters this time it will be his last stint so he will want baubles galore.
Such is the reality of pre-election manoeuvring under MMP.
Wish we could have dumped it for STV, but no. MMP means we will have Winston hanging around until someone finally puts a stake through the old vampire’s heart.
Dont know what the big deal is. Key says WInston’s changed not him. Kay?
Gobsmacked
” the way he makes fools of his supporters.
You can find countless examples on this blog alone (and far more on Kiwiblog and other places where Nats hang out). The same conversation, constantly over the past 5 years …
“Super John Key is principled, he’s ruled out Winston!”
“No, he’s ruled out Winston to get votes. Principle has nothing to do with it.”
“No, you lefties just don’t know principle when you see it. Key is different! He has real principles! Yay!”
“But he’ll rule him back in when he needs him. Just wait and see …”
“No, Winston is finished. Key has principles! Hooray for Key”
+1
I heard Peseta Sam’s “associate minister” job was his downpayment on not defecting to Colin Craig.
I heard Peseta Sam’s “associate minister” job was his downpayment on not defecting to Colin Craig.
I don’t think you understand how NZ elections work.
“For National to succeed we could see a multi headed National-Act-Maori Party-United Future-Conservative-NZ First government.
How stable would that be?”
Disappointed to see that from you micky. It’s a bit FPP-ish. What about Labour/GP/Mana/NZF? How stable would that be? Isn’t the multi-headed criticism what Key uses against the left?
We really have to get past this big party shit, and see the potential for developing process for building relationships that increase representation.
I believe MS was being sarcastic in that sentence as it’s the BS argument that the RWNJs used about the left coalition in the 2005/8 elections.
[I was Draco, it was a frequent criticism by the right last time – MS]
lolz, ok. Bit subtle for me, that sarcasm.
It would almost (but not quite) be worth it just to see Jonkey having to deal with Winston on a daily basis – I think it would be a case of biting off more than he could chew! At least we would get the odd laugh as HMS Aotearoa sank beneath the waves
My prediction
Key 60-70% for pm. definitely a smiling assassin. ( but people trust him)
Cunnliffe 10-20% for pm, he needs a jaw line. ( people don’t trust him)
Nats 40-45%, bullet proof currently. (police rapists) maybe a bit unfair to the cops.
Lab 30-35%. too far left. (husband/wife beaters apologists)
Greens 5-15% oil spill needed. (nutters)
The rest will be incorporated and prostitute themselves for power and influence, as usual.
Nats will likely form govt, anyway anyhow. Unlikely to form a govt without the major party getting in the 40-45% area. Don’t think labour is offering a good alternative, too left, too feminist, too green.
Take a middle path, more votes will be won, and the purse strings will be handed over, then you can have the luxury of having an ideology, time in opposition is basically like being in jail, boring and pointless.
Hey – that’s good. John Clarke could make that spiel really work!
You’re talking utter nonsense.
John Key: “These are my principles…and if you don’t like them, well, I have others”.
He’ll go with National if it suits him. He sold out years ago … before most of your were even born. He’ll do it again.
Key will go with UFO believing Moon landing skeptic Chem trail questioning Colin Craig, if it suits the PM.
Oh the tough choices the electorate has to make this year.
Low key, reasoned, undramatic statement of how the PM sees the landscape. Not dripping with portentousness a la Helen Clarke. No particular effort to justify the change. Just a view, take it or leave it. And as the comments here indicate so clearly once again you lot are completely blind to the attractiveness of that approach to the electorate because of your desire to see the devil incarnate in the man.
Tony
You have a very short memory. In 2008, Key publicly dissed Winston and suggested the latter was the most unpredictable and unprincipled MP. Key ruled out working with Winston First. But now it seems Key’s principles are negotiable. In other words, he doesn’t have any. Hence my comment:
John Key: “These are my principles…and if you don’t like them, well, I have others”.
It would be the most impotent government in a long time
The left need a strategy. Trust Winston at your peril.
Gift Hone and the Mana Party Te Ururoa Flavell’s Waiariki Electorate, and allow Annette Sykes to win. Focus on Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Hauaruru instead. Enough of National’s lapdog. In all my years I have never witnessed Maori cosy up to Pakeha like this rabble. And for what? Shyte!!
Target Ohariu, get rid of Peter Dunne, no Katrina Shanks, so Labour/Greens need a strong candidate.
Key & Joyce are going to pull every dirty trick out of the bag – already he is calling the Greens and Mana too extreme, too left to work with. He hasn’t even announced the election and already he is electioneering.
The left need to be prepared to counter at every opportunity, then go on the aggression. Always being reactionary will not work.
Expect the right, including the media, NZ Business Inc., NZ Stock Exchange, etc., to “talk-up” the economy, maybe even throw a few surprises the workers way – but as only as a one-off. Remember National has a “war-chest” to throw the voters way this year. Next year, back to austerity.
John Key announced today he sees more “attacks” on the agenda for next year. We need a co-ordinated approach – damn sure the right’s attacks will be.
W@W I say give him Enough rope and they will hang them selves!
Dead rats are just the entree!
With regard to New Zealand First, Mr Key said that he believed a post-election working relationship was very unlikely; however he would not rule the possibility out ahead of the election.
“In 2008 we ruled them out because we were unable to reconcile some of their statements on the Glenn donation matter. Six years has passed and, should New Zealand First be returned to Parliament, we would not rule out a discussion after the election.”
Which part of the above even mentions coalition with NZF. Yet again a post that misses the point entirely. I can assure you that John Key will NEVER be in coalition with Winston.
That’s true: National are going to lose the election.
lol your having a giggle.
care to put a wager on that? CV wouldn’t, but he just yammers away on the sideline haranguing those people who actually do things without sticking his own neck out.
I’ll make the same wager with you. National win – you admit by writing a full length post you’ve been wrong about pretty much everything politcal and in particular your current viewpoint on nationals ability to govern. labour win, i’ll do the same.
lol fizzy.
Your principled hero ruled him out because he was unable to reconcile certain statements, but that was 6 years ago.
So has he reconciled them now? Nah, just changed his principles.
like david cunliffe and the living wage during his tilt at labour leader? like david cunliffe dropping gst on fruit and veg during the 2011 election campaign? I’m gutted he dropped the $5000 tax free threshold though. i personally think tax free should be $15k and all the bands move up from there.
I see you have your instructions from control re:- living wage.
It’s a bit obvious when you all post the same brand new lie on the same day mate.
Fizzy please reread the article. Key made a big song and dance about how he previously would not go into coalition with Peters. Now he is refusing to rule it out.
See the difference?
Aren’t they entirely consistent and congruent positions? At least on Planet Key, they seem to be.
Time to get that 2011 soundbite out for the public…
Fishy anal yeah right
Gromless and Gullible sit down and have a cup of tea!
Fisil out.
Keys backtracking lies selling off the assets makes Peters look good.
All this analysis overlooks Key’s strongest natural ally: only one party will really prosper from a relationship with the ship of fools which is the doomed Key government – Ben Uffindell’s Civilian party has an unparalled opportunity to tap the richest vein of satire in the country. You thought NZ was an international laughing stock now with its air-guitar rock-star economy? Wait for term three!
National’s tabloid, the Herald, checking out Plan C for their corporate masters.
This after numerous polls on plan A. – the resurrection of ACT
and plan B – the creation of Colin Craig
This paper is a joke and a threat to democracy.
Roughan and Murphy will get knighthoods for their services to the kleptocracy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11189987
I don’t know what would be more amusing: Winston fighting with Dunne and Craig or Winston fighting with Norman and Harawira
I guess the question is who do Winstsons supporters feel more comfortable with, National and its supporters or Labour and its supporters?
John Key has outsmarted Labour yet again. Not hard really. In 2011 NZF were saved by the collapse of the Labour vote much of which went to NZF getting them over the 5% hurdle when polling at 3.5% just 24 hours before polling day.It was safe for Labour voters to prop up NZF because John Key had already said that he would not work with Peters.
This time those Labour voters are less likely to plump for NZF and since147,544 voted NZF in 2011 then if NZF lose just 27,000 votes then they go from 8 seats to zero and the inevitable retirement of Winston and raison d’etre of NZF. Given that Key will ‘talk’ (note talk- not form a coalition) to NZF some of those people will assume that they will side with National and thus revert back to Labour in 2014. Some NZF votes will obviously go to the Conservatives as they have many policies in common.
For example. Assume the NZF vote in 2014 splits
NZF 100,000
Labour 25,000
Conservative 22,544
This would equate to 47,000 extra votes for National and 58,000 to Labour after redistribution and leave the Conservatives needing just another 97,000 votes nationwide. A swing to Labour of just 11,000 votes makes no real difference but takes 8 NZF MP’s completely out of the equation. Masterful politics from John Key who like me can do the arithmetic.
“Masterful politics from John Key who like me can do the arithmetic.”
Wow, that is impressive. Does Key really not know that there is no redistribution of votes in our electoral system?
Felix you are wrong. There is redistribution of all wasted votes for parties that fail to reach the 5% threshold or gain one electoral seat. The wasted votes are then distributed in the same proportion as votes cast for successful parties. Thus 47% to National and 33% to Labour. That is our electoral system.
fissi – I know a lot of retirees and ex-National Party supporters. They do not support National because of its current ideological beliefs, the asset sales were the final straw for many, but their lack of an economic plan in their first term was the kicker for many.
Watching your children and grandchildren heading off-shore to find employment, for many, was gut-wrenching, particularly when it involved whole generations, not just one or two off-spring.
Like a lot of Labour supporters, crossing the divide and voting for National, they could not vote for Labour, and a lot of them have found a natural home with Winston Peters, some have taken up with the Greens.
The biggest task is to get the 800,000 odd voters who did not vote last time. And while many in Christchurch thought they were going to be better off under National and voted that way, this year expect to see a return to “traditional” voting patterns there with a swing back to the left – Bob has gone, Gerry has left a trail of broken promises.
Key is desperate.
And Fisiani’s arguments become ever more desperate.
Winston about Dunne ‘He’s a serial leaker’. He is a moocher too, think of the song, ‘Mini the Moocher’ or a sort of Mini-Me to Key. NZ doesn’t get any advantage from having The Moocher in government.
Hey guys – someone better have a word in the Messiahs ear.
He’s got the Yeah, Nah wobbles again – done a ‘U Turn’ on his promise of a GST exemption on Fruit and Vegetables, scrapped the Tax exemption on the first $5,000 of income, and now has the temerity to announce he has no inclination to lift the minimum wage beyond $15.00 per hour.
So much for helping the working man – thousands more defectors about to jump ship to the Melon Party.
What a great start to the year Labour.
“announce he has no inclination to lift the minimum wage beyond $15.00 per hour.”
cite for this “announcement” please trolly heihei. In the actual words, if you’d be so kind.
fishy anal you forgot the green partyit will get a pecentage of the votes as well.
Currently the 2 blocks running neck tock.
Facts right fishy .