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notices and features - Date published:
12:48 pm, February 27th, 2018 - 173 comments
Categories: national, paula bennett, Simon Bridges -
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about peopleâs relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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What a laughable combination – two upper North Island MPs – both of the same ethnicity. Where’s the balance? Bennett must be very lucky to survive. Perhaps nobody wanted the job! No chance against Jacinda – not a jot.
Yes, both have Maori ancestors, probably not such a bad thing given the Labour hold on the Maori seats.
Just because they are Maori David Mac doesn’t mean our people will vote for them in fact many of our people can’t stand the sight of either of them and their bullshit polices have been booting our people in the guts so why would we consider these two mongrels
Yes, I think that’s more a political point of view rather than the ethnicity of the leaders. Their selection throws water on the ‘Another generation of European colonisers that know what’s best for us’ outlook.
Will their selection see Iwi voting for National in their droves? Of course not.
Well said Michelle 100%
We down inn Tairawhiti hate the sight of both of them as they are low-life bottom feeding fish and nothing else.
They don’t have any mana, dignity or grace but are just gutter snipes like the mobs are.
They will destroy the ‘grand old national party’.
Good on them both.
“Simon No 10 bridges”
Yeah, if only the scum sucking parasitic hateful pieces of shit could have just a slither of the grace, mana and dignity of you and I grey, the spokespeople for entire districts.
The causeway for the new Taipa bridge is halfway across the estuary, when finished in 18 months the gang starts on the Kaeo bridge. The Matakohe bridge is underway.
Gobbing phlegm in their faces is a crap strategy. Those that already support the left and would never support anyone else regardless shout “Hooray”. The hearts that need to be won walk away in disgust.
It’s 2018: why do so many NZers not understand that few Maori have the mandate to speak for anyone, let alone ‘Maori’. Bill English couldn’t manage a mandate from his ‘ethnic group’ (god I sound like Ancestry Dot Con).
PS: I’ve lived in Canterbury and this ignorance is particularly prevalent there.
Simbit – it’s because they all look the same to Cantabrians.
AB
Good one.
Ok bored already.
Lol, my thoughts exactly.
Mine too. What’s changed. đ
Quote, quote, quote of the week..
Lol
Heh. Be interesting to see how far their support falls.
Wow, he’s not very clever is he. Placeholder…
If the above interview relates to anadarko and prospecting, I thought bridges was a great advocate for the mining industry.
Edit: oops snap Tracey.
“Placeholder”
Lieutenant Bridges – keen but expendable
The fact of the matter is this is why Campbell had to go…
Interesting that as Minister he thought his job was to provide positive PR for Anadarko.
Thanks for sharing – nice reminder of John’s poor quality journalism.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
excellent, the domestos option.
Give it a year then they’ll evaluate what to do if they think they’ve a shot in 2020. IMO if they don’t slimey bridges gets to do what blinglish has done twice now and lose an election.
…incomprehensible?
Best current fundraiser?
nailed it patricia. oil money will come oozing into the nats coffers. expect to see bridges attacking alternative energy.
God he’s really pushing his Maori & “Westie”roots (and Paula’s) at the press conference. Who’s he trying to convince?
Trumpians.
Has either of them cracked open a woody yet lol
Lol, and has Paula confessed to having a crush on Soymin yet?
I think she likes much younger men
Wasn’t long ago she said she had a crush on Bill English
LOL
What is with this Westie crap again? She is a Taupo gal aint she? Pretended to be a westie til Sepoulini looked like taking her seat so ran off to the Remuera of the West.
At least Bridges was from Te Atatu for all his schooling life
She has said in the past that she had a crush on john key. Gosh!
Reminds me of this verse from Dylan’s I Shall Be Free:
“Now, the man on the stand he wants my vote,
He’s a-runnin’ for office on the ballot note.
He’s out there preachin’ in front of the steeple,
Tellin’ me he loves all kinds-a people.
He’s eatin’ bagels
He’s eatin’ pizza
He’s eatin’ chitlins”
Bennett will say whatever she thinks is required, she’s a disingenuous crawler with a nasty core that’s rotten as hell.
She strikes me as someone who, constantly out of their depth, simply flails about to hit whatever happens to be within reach.
@Kay (7) … The Bridges to Nowhere Man and the Benne might have been Westies during their younger days, however both now represent staunch conservative true blue electorates, Tauranga and Upper Harbour. Nothing Westie about them at all.
Any true Westie worth their sort, would be very reluctant touch either of them with a barge pole!
10000% mary-a.
Westie’s are down to earth, and ‘what you see you get’
Both of these Bridges and Bennett are as slimy as eels.
The Nats have chosen well, Bridges and Bennett are an accurate representation of the current state of the National party.
what, oily and for sale?
… and stupid. Very stupid.
Great result that will at least guarantee another Coalition Government in the 2020 Election.
A Maori Leader and Deputy Maori Leader of the National Party.
Just looked at the comments on Kiwiblog. Lots of angry people. Fantastic!
đ
They’re not happy campers at all, possum.
who did they want? Collins?
Correct
Hi Weka, Collins. Simon & Paula aren’t popular overthere. Fun times.
Is Paula popular anywhere??
Only in the mirror
I’m sure that Simon’s popular in the Mirror as well so they should be good together.
Mitchell used Lusk and Slater to “win” selection for the Nats so guess whose protege he must be… the more things change the more they stay the same.
Nat strategists have obviously decided the new lie is they care about the environment and Maori.
nailed it Tracey.
Lololz Fireblade… same đ Made me laugh even harder.
Recommended reading for lefties – WOBH and Kiwiblog – lol
I should add – I don’t often go there – their bigotry makes me feel decidedly ill.
But today . . . today . . . wow!
Great result that will at least guarantee another Coalition Government in the 2020 Election.
A Maori Leader and Deputy Maori Leader of the National Party.
They could swing the Maori seats in the next Election ?
National heavily focused on West Auckland and Maori.
Doubt that Tamati Tautuhi, people already know what they are like and wont be swinging anything, particularly the Maori seats.
agree 100% Louis some of us Maori can see right through these plastic people
Hopefully some Maori who vote National will see this for the faux diversity it is
Good one to lose. Collins will be honing the knives till early 2021.
She will use this time to help Mark Mitchell gain traction. Her fist will be up his arse for puppetime!
Oh, how I wish I didn’t just read that 100% accurate visual …..
Interesting how keen the new Nat leadership is to show they are MÄori and environment friendly – a little shift in the Overton window.
Looks to be a poorly made veneer, you know like a brand new one which peels off in less than a year. In Bridges speech today he basically said it was still all the Greens fault for not working with the Nats, and that kind of arrogance seemed to permeate through his whole speech.
When questioned about the significance of the new leaderships MÄori identity he said MÄori would be delighted – really?? and that National would appeal to MÄori because there are lots of successful MÄori businesses out there. In other words National is hot shit and it’s not them who needs to change.
I have yet to read anywhere what policy concessions the Nats wanted to make to lure the Greens over?
This is same bullshit different suit.
Love the best friends photo on the Herald!
Not much of a surprise here…. a bunch of arseholes elect a arsehole to lead them.
…first John Key bring a whole new level dishonesty into NZ politics, then English actually doubles down (right out in the open) on a straight out lie after being caught out during the last election, and then leaves the country in a huge fucking mess, all this without even the slightest hint of embarrassment…now they have the logical extension of their ever diminishing low bar..a tobacco lobbyist as their leader…no the real surprise here is that so many citizens actually vote for these despicable scumbags.
“no the real surprise here is that so many citizens actually vote for these despicable scumbags.”
+1 Adrian Thornton. Very hard to understand why that is.
+100 Adrian
I just realised is that this is now the picture in respect of the leaders and deputy leaders of the current political parties in Parliament.
[Please note this is in no way intended racist etc. And ‘Maori’ is used merely to indicate that they have some Maori heritage.]
Labour
Jacinda Ardern Leader and PM – Pakeha
Kelvin Davis Deputy Leader – Maori
National
Simon Bridges Leader – Maori
Paula Bennett Deputy Leader – Maori
NZF *
Winston Peters Leader – Maori
Fletcher Tabuteau Deputy Leader – Maori
Greens
James Shaw Co – Leader – Pakeha
? Co-Leader ?
ACT
David Seymour – Leader – Maori
We have come a long way.
So, while National now has a Maori Leader and Deputy, the Coalition Government has even more, which will also increase if Marama Davidson becomes the female Co-Leader.
* I only realised the other day that six of the nine NZF MPs are of Maori descent as I did not know that Tracey Martin and Jenny Marcroft were.
Full list (with iwi) of Maori MPs across all Parties as at 24 Sept 2017:
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/politics/who-are-our-maori-members-parliament-now
Looks like the Maoris are taking back control of the country ?
And why not?
PS – and I am pakeha, LOL.
Beats being ruled by the uber wealthy
Abso bloody lutley!!
Shame about the kaupapa of most of them
We have come a long way in terms of ethnicity and gender in our political classes…yet somehow the political spectrum itself seems narrower than ever.
I’ve always felt that Bridges’ and Bennett’s ‘Maori’ has been strutted when it suited. Like today. Otherwise who would guess ? Just a perception.
A caucus choice for generational change. More promotions as the old guard (Joyce Collins Adams Coleman) is put out to pasture in this or the next portfolio allocation.
And should Bridges lose in 2020, while there may be no Cabinet post the position of leader is once again up for another vote.
This is the downside of the caucus choice system – all systems have them and this is the one they have.
The experienced old hands pose of a government in waiting is gone. So gone. This is their belated concession of defeat.
Generational change? So this new Nat generation, voted against marriage equality, opposes abortion liberalisation, pro big business, including big oil?!
Welcome to the new generation! Same as the old generation, but with a more fashionable suit, and more hair!
Yup and the fashion sense and the hair don’t last long either, so the generations become indistinguishable
The funny thing is that journalists could cut him up in pretty much every interview.
However, journalist are so gutless in this country – so expect him to get a lot of free passes.
National would be screwed if they ever had the tough questions pitched at them.
Blinglish had his pants pulled down by Beatson on Stratos in 09, Shonky got schooled on BBC’s hard talk and they were never ever seen being asked the tough questions again.
If they did it was meet with a wall of diversion, diffusion and BS and passed off as a response.
Must watch Question Time at 2pm to see what the National MPs’ faces tell us! LOL.
Good point. I would be thinking
” he lost 10 fucking bridges, how can he lead us?”
Awesome result, I bet Labour will be very worried. First Maori leader. Well done National, see you in govt soon!
Fawning đ
Tanz, 20.2.2018.
lolz
LOL
First Maori leader.
Bullshit as always, TANZ.
he is not a maori he a maar reee that what rolls out of his mouth
It’s an awesome result, all right. A liar like Key but without the ability to cover his arse. He’ll be very well liked, I’m sure. And with Bennett next to him, well, fuck, that’s just unbeatable.
Tanz (20) … I really don’t think Labour has anything to worry about with Bridges and Bennett leading Natz. As for being in government soon … no I don’t think so.
Bridges will be yelling and shouting hot air across the house in his usual aggressive style, pointing fingers in the air, achieving sfa. While Bennett will be as lazy as ever in her continuing role of deputy. If you think about it, she was nowhere to be seen during Natz election campaign and she certainly didn’t seem to do too much work as English’s second in command! So another cushy number for Bennett yet again!
The government coalition will look like superstars compared to these two drop kicks leading the opposition.
She had to be low profile during the election…
I recall that now from your comment, but having a ‘senior moment’ as to why …
I cannot say due to an injunction
Ahh – that is all the hint I needed! Thanks. Have the links bookmarked so will refresh memory from these and check whether any update.
She also did not attend Bill’s state of the nation but I suspect that was more to do with the emerging factions
Ah right, yes. Jogged my memory. Thanks Tracey (20.4.1.1.1). Something to keep in mind.
She is quite vague when she speaks of her past but this began to shine a light… and then the media stopped looking
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/94627131/one-lied-one-says-she-never-did-the-untold-backstories-of-political-leaders-paula-bennett-and-metiria-turei
And the truth can yet emerge, with any luck …. or perhaps some gentle encouragement …
If ANY of it is true it is appalling.
Tracey .. do injunctions expire, especially when one no longer has the full Police Dept at beck and call ? ( Yes, I know what my comment implies and do not resile from it !) I have popcorn ….
I imagine it only expires if he takes a case with evidence of his claims
Interesting, thx for that. A while back I communicated with him via a family contact but he was being surrounded by insurmountable walls and obstacles as the full force, literally, was being brought to bear against him and his closest ones. A dark and rum story.
I thought they were selecting a new leader, not “Who could best play a doctor on Shortland Street”
Just like Shortland St a pretend PM ?
“More promotions as the old guard (Joyce Collins Adams Coleman) is put out to pasture”
I doubt very much that he will demote those who he just defeated. That is a recipe for a coup in 5 minutes. In politics you keep your enemies as close as possible. Just look at what Helen did to Cullen after his failed leadership bid.
Did simon keep paula on because they have matching hairstyles? Awwww so cute.
LMFAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I noted that too Cinny. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they collaborated over their respective looks for the occasion. Shallow imagery is what the Nats are all about.
Did you also notice the sly looks she gave Jacinda when Bridges was asking questions? They actually expose her for the nasty piece of work she really is.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198613
Anne đ Yes I did notice the sly looks too, I’m amazed they have retained her. Still laughing lololololllll đ đ đ
Reckon this is payback for when Simon Bridges stepped aside for Paula Bennett to be Bill’s deputy.
Firstly they were all horrible but secondly a good punt by National, he is a ‘John Key’ type and if he doesn’t rate as well, someone else can always overthrow him later.
Jacinda would win if Labour stuck to their election promises of a gentle u turn from neoliberalism, it is hard to find signing the TPP is that. The biggest winners form the deal are the banks and the big corporations – yet again. Losers the public, yet again.
As for all the ethnicity comments, yawn too many attached to gender politics which time and time again backfires, cos voters don’t vote for that and many are just as likely to stab their own people in the back (Paula and others across the political spectrum) or be so naive they help sink a parties voter base thinking voters are gonna lap up the message. (Greens).
Also enabling bad policy and decisions by supporting them is just a nail in the parties coffin. Are Labour and NZ First looking that different in the eyes of the public by crony appointments and giving away provincial investment trusts money to corporates via the proven (sarcasm) ‘trickle down’ method.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/101740848/billiondollar-provincial-investment-panels-ties-to-oil-and-gas-sparks-concern
The trust should not help corporates at all. The government should invest and own the investments or take a stake in the company if they give money.
Voters seem to go for a combination of policy and party + leader they trust the most, or because that’s slim pickings in NZ, the party they hate the least. If none fall into that they don’t vote at all.
Sometimes you wonder, do politician’s learn anything at all. And those who blame the media – they are not the ones putting the bullet into their own party.
oh my gosh,
Ms. Benefit and Mr. No bridges in Northland as the leaders of National.
That is gonna be interesting.
Bill didnt fit the Key formula so they knifed him and rolled out John Key 2.0
Bridges will now undertake even more media training behind the scenes.
The Attack of the Clones.
Tracey,
My thoughts entirely so these are just corporate clones setup as yes man/woman types to screw us all so Labour need to get there TV channel going to shown this all happening on their watch.
Question; How are these two supposed Maori leaders going to console their brethren when they sign of the TPP11 that will sell their birthright, water land and futures??????
That will stumble these turncoats.
The cynic in me says that bridges knew if he talked up his maori heritage he wouldn’t have been picked as leader but to speak of it afterwards is strategic cynicism…
Does Simon play golf? Obama will be here in a few weeks.
He is a lawyer too, that can’t hurt. Great CV outside of Parliament, and best of all, won his seat, easily, back in the day, from Winston. So a male/female team, which is a good contrast to Stardust and co. Winston looked unhappy today in the House. Worried?
A male/ female team is not a contrast to the govt which has a female/male team.
He did well to win the safe National seat back for National who had held it for so long. The Right usually get grumpy at having lawyers in parliament preferring pseudo real world people like the faux farmer from Dipton.
Tanz, 20.2.2018.
Brilliant OAB,
TANZ got his foot stuck in his/hers throat again eh?
Tanz, Winston was grinning from ear to ear in question time today. JS.
Heeheehee
Winston looked very happy, Bridges didn’t though after Jacinda dealt to him. He looked defeated already.
Tanz needs to accept: Jacinda is in charge!!
DogGod isn’t.Do the politicians have levels where they can tweak the settings of their mics?
I’d say that would be a good idea, Jacinda has done abit of DJ’ing, she’d be one to help with that sort of thing, adding abit of a musical element to the back & forth of ‘point scoring’ wouldn’t be totally out of place.
Bridge’s line of questioning indicates a have cake and eat it too type approach that obviously slots in well, tunnel vision and all that.
@ Tanz (26) … Winston worried about the circus and two leader clowns opposite him in Parliament? Nah I don’t think so. I think he might have been trying to be polite, struggling not to laugh out loud at the hideous side show across the floor.
He mostly looked grumpy though. After all, Bridges won the Tauranga seat from him, as National won back their Northland seat. Is Labour gonna gift him a seat??
Why would they? They can form a government with the Greens on current polling.
Nice to see Bennett beat Collins for deputy. Must suck to be Collins. Can’t realise her ambitions, still required to represent Oravida in Parliament, respected less than Paula Bennett by her “colleagues”.
Who knows what he’s promised some of the MPs in order to capture their vote. It should become apparent who they are in time.
what a joke
no bridges bridges leading national over the bridges to now where
Nah, Tanz, thatâs not grumpy; itâs a face chiselled by wisdom, deep contemplation, experience, responsibility, and an acute sense of duty. A face that neither Paula nor Simon will ever have. Key didnât have it either; Bill did because his conscience was eating him inside.
He has been in politics since the eighties, do you really think he is worried about Simon? Seriously? Winston did amazing to hang on to Tauranga as he did all those years, given he was an ex National rebel. He leads the NZ First party, he is Deputy Leader, he is now grooming his successor. He would laugh if he read this.
Winston looked unhappy today in the House. Worried?
Shows how totally deluded you are. You even imagine what you want to see even though you didn’t actually see it.
I watched a bit of question time and the only shots I saw of Winston Peters, he was broadly smiling. He seemed extra happy.
thats good simon 10 bridges is a lawyer he will be able to cover his own backside when he tells lies
Problem with lawyers is the 99% that give the rest a bad name….
Chuckling
+100
..and as David Lange said not to trust lawyers, half of them are always wrong.
10000% Michelle – you get a chocolate fish for that; – it was brilliant
Still pretty weird after going through 9 fucking years of shit with Labour’s multiple selection processes, doing the same thing, and getting worse results every time.
Damn National’s eyes but it was smoother than my Uncle Vic’s Angus stud artificial insemination.
They do tend to do their backstabbing behind closed doors but then they specialise in deception. Key V2.0
They are onto their 3rd in less than 18 months…
The process was quiet and smooth, but it’s effectively the same as Labours nine years of fail. Helen failed to groom anyone, and apparently so did Key – oh well, nine years of Labour it is I guess.
I expected Bridges to win as Leader. I didn’t expect them to keep Paula on as Deputy though, that’s hilarious. Bridges is absolutely cementing my impression that he’d double-down on English’s failures, and insisting on removing Bennett might well have pacified his opposition within the party, and given a real impression of renewal, despite his own boring same-as-usual approach. Next election is gonna be funny if those two are still around by that time, even if we should take it seriously. I bet they keep Joyce on in Finance as well, even though he’s a complete muppet who can’t add.
Simon Bridges, inventing new ways of talking about himself in the third person.
Illeism and Narcissism tend to go hand in hand…
To be fair to Simon, being able to get in behind yourself is a pretty good trick…
Is there any truth to the rumour that the Gnats now have a new party song to go with the anticipated poll response?
It gets better…
I expect the member for Oravida will take that with her customary humility and grace. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Popcorn time…
“……..the member for Oravida will take that……”…….on another day.
Revenge. Best served cold, as said someone.
Meanwhile, her malevolence is doing push-ups.
I readily acknowledge Judith’s ‘unusualness’.
And Soimin’s perfect “ackshully”.
“her malevolence is doing push-ups.”
Now’s the time to pile on. The member for Oravida is still number sixteen on the list. Got to be some backstabbing ambitious Mitchell followers who value their salaries đ
Doesnât matter; 44.4% is a majority and gives you moral authority according to Tanz.
The King is dead, long live the King!
I reckon 18 months and both will be replaced.
Bridges will become incoherent under pressure and Bennett is not capable of answering questions, she is a total fake.
If they change it will need to be at least a year before the next election… so 18 months works.
I still think people need to stop underestimting John Key V2.0 . It is the same machine andcstrategy that gave us the prototype
Having a personality is huge in politics, but I don’t think Bridges has what Key had.
If John Key was water off a ducks butt, then Simon Bridges is goatse…
Amoral compass?
Let me be the first to say congratulations Simon!
For what, a caretaker leader ?
Tanz -read this
Robbie Williams picks the new leader of the National Party
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/02/robbie-williams-picks-the-new-leader-of-the-national-party.html
Watch Amy Adams try to raise her profile.
She got a telling off from the Speaker today for doing a lot of loud sledging of the government.
I do not think that Bridges will last as leader until the next election.
Just placeholders, until National tm’s owners find another John Key.
lol
“Same as before, but more shouty. That’ll get us back on track for the election!” – said no politician ever
Now Bridges is going to be talking a lot more then can i suggest a spit guard and help with the lisp.
The press gallery and his unsuspecting audience will thank him for it.
Somewhere and a while back, I seem to recall reading he had a serious speech
impediment as a child and maybe even had surgery, but certainly long term therapy for worse than a lisp ? Just saying … be rotten to be attacking him for what might be the very best he can do after awful circumstances.
Now, where were we … back to the place holders ….
Congratulations to Bridges. Look forward to seeing what you have got to say over the next 3 years or so, even if it is the same shrink the state, cut red tape, more business in government, less government in business crap.
We now have the youngest line up of Parliamentary leaders ever,
Jacinda Ardern – born in 1980 (the year I was born!)
Simon Bridges – born in 1976
David Seymour – born in 1983
James Shaw – born in 1973
The only odd one out is Winston Peters, born in 1945.
It would be interesting to see how close the vote was, and who got how many, but I am guessing that gets taken to the grave of whoever counts the votes.
So someone actually gave birth to David Seymour ?
Bang goes my theory !
Ailbnb
Bridges anthem mock of “Sing to my ten Guitars”
Credit -sung by both Engelbert and Tom Jones 1967 Parrot Records
Beneath the stars my ten bridges are,
there for all the world to see.
But if your’e with the one you love this is what you’ll hear.
Ohooo; – Dance dance dance two my ten bridges there, laalaalaa
You get the message.
Everything in Bridges head is a dream of what he thought he would do; – but failed to!!!
So he will be a liability to National; – ha ha ha,
I do hope that Bridges can get his back story right.
He claimed in 2013 that he was from Tauranga. But of course he grew up in Te Atatu, went to Rutherford College and then on to Auckland University before being employed in an Auckland law firm. Why heâd say he grew up in Tauranga is anyoneâs guess. Maybe he thinks that John Key was an accomplished liar and look where that got him – PM for nearly nine years.
âAs a boy from Tauranga, Iâve always wanted my name up in lights in the big city.â
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/8928444/Pants-on-fire-attack-on-minister
In fact, it seems that Bridges is, well, incompetent.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/patrick-gower/opinion-is-simon-bridges-asleep-on-the-job-2014032009#axzz472sEDSxO
It’s great that National has made another socially-conservative religion enthusiast its leader. Voter appetite for religious conservatism in NZ is minimal, and Bridges will do a much worse job of hiding it from voters than Bill English did.