Prediction: New Zealand won't have a government before December.
Port Waikato by-election result: Dec 6. That extra seat (National, certainly) may be enough to deliver a majority for National plus ACT. (And it may not).
There is no Cabinet until there is a government, and no government until there is a confirmed majority in the House (NOT a predicted majority, based on polls and reckons). Hipkins is caretaker PM until then.
Expect a lot of impatience (and ignorance) in the weeks ahead. None of it changes the arithmetic and the law.
That may change when the special votes are counted. National/ACT have 61 seats at present in a 121 seat parliament. If they were to lose a couple of seats in the specials they would have 59. Not enough to form a government. I'm pretty sure Winston doesn't much like ACT, and that being the case he might then support the left block, which would then form a government with 63 support seats to the right's 59 (or 60 with Port Waikato).
OK. I haven't looked at where their funding has come from, so I haven't taken that into account. Nevertheless I think Chippy should have waited for the specials before conceding.
Maybe, but on the numbers, the only pathway to a third term Labour government was NZ First which had been ruled by NZ First and Labour, so I can see why he conceded.
I predict National will do at least a deal of confidence and supply with NZ First regardless of the final results. Even if NACT ends up with a technical majority it will be wafer thin.
National won't have to be in a position of scrambling for NZ First support should National lose a seat in a bi-election in the future, so expect to see a deal done in the near future.
I think that would be problematic for National given Seymour and Peters' mutual antipathy and differing policies, eg. immigration and retirement age.
A formal coalition with the three would suit Luxon best because it absolutely assures a majority every time, but as the term roles on I think we will see some friction between the right wing ACT zealots and the more centrist National and NZ First groups.
I agree that the most likely scenario will be a formal NACT coalition with NZ First guaranteeing confidence and supply but nothing else.
There will certainly be a lot of brinkmanship on both sides, but Winston will have an advantage in that he is an old master of horse trading whilst Seymour is an amateur by comparison.
While there are some major differences, there is also a lot of commonality between the parties, for instance on law and order, anti-co-governance etc.
I imagine Peters will be happy if he gets some key wins he can parade to before his supporters. Some of these wins may be in areas that Seymour doesn't care about, and things that don't cost a lot to impliment. For instance, I think Peters wants an enquiry into the government's covid response? Also, Peters does seem to be particularly attracted to the baubles of office. So, perhaps Peters for speaker?
Confidence and supply would probably suit Peters as well, because it would give NZ First a lot more freedom to campaign against policies they don’t like.
Chris Finlayson was interviewed on Nat Radio repeating his claims that co-governance had worked well for National and all Labour had needed to do was explain it properly. I suspect he may be a bit of a lone voice until the new government faces a few Treaty issues – at present NActF seem to wish that they were in Australia where racism is so much more "Right"
A pox on all their houses… and their coin. Those feeling they have won may find victory has a bitter after taste. Hollow men leaning on other hollow men.
The stately dance of rules and power, best understood by Winston.
Now the right have to prove they are superior.. not so easy and the wolves are all ready circling.
It is unlikely to be in the near future. I remember that Peters usually doesn’t start negotiating seriously until official results are published. So the start of negotiations is likely to be November 3rd at the earliest. Those negotiations usually take quite a while when there are more than 2 parties involved. After all the disagreements go up exponentially according to the number of parties and factions of parties involved, and the time to negotiate between parties and inside parties goes up with the number of permutations of needed consultations.
Especially where Winston is concerned because he is always very careful to look for an agreement that should survive a full term of office (which incidentally is why I’d expect him to control the NZF side – who’d trust Shane Jones to be careful). He treats coalition and support arrangements as the lawyer he was trained to be – as a clear and binding contract.
I don't think that Peters can wait till all the specials are in. At the previous elections he was the kingmaker and was willing to go with either side. He simply went with the one that would give him the most.
He hasn't really got that option this time. His supporters, and I suspect some of his MPs simply wouldn't allow it and can you really see him going into a coalition with TPM?
He has to start negotiations with National now or he will be faced with trying to join an already negotiated agreement between National and ACT with him trying to get an add-on agreement of his own. Better accept the inevitable and do a deal now.
SPC…you are forgetting the by election and the extra overhang it will bring….so really it is 62-60 to NACT now but that will become either 61-61 or 60-62.
It is feasible TPM will win one more seat….then it will be either 61-62 or 60-63
Just watched Ryan Bridge interviewing Chloe, with David Seymour. She made the point about binary framing that needed to be made, and stressed it again once or twice further.
Seymour criticised James Shaw for warning of violence. Think he also described Tamihere as unhinged for predicting the closing down of cities in Aotearoa.
Whilst polarising is natural behaviour for leftists and rightists, the treaty is an unsuitable topic for doing that on: it more or less guarantees escalation of racism. A commons framework is best, but since folks haven't been educated to do that we'll probably default into multiculturalism as next-best option.
Thanks largely to Gurbaz’s brilliant, 57-ball 80 Afghanistan set England a target of 285, in theory eminently achievable on this high-scoring ground. But it was with the ball that they truly shone, and while spin has proved their great strength their seamers made some of England’s look distinctly third‑rate
The CTU kept its in-house economist chained to an iron abacus in a basement stats cave, churning out critiques of what were euphemistically described as National’s “heroic” numbers. Renney alleged that National’s spending plans were underfunded by $3 to $5 billion.
He found the party’s much-touted $252-a-fortnight tax cut would only benefit 3,000 families. He worked out how much raising the retirement age will cost younger and middle-aged people. He forlornly tugged at the binds holding him to the abacus until the loud speaker above his stretcher crackled to life to broadcast a stern reprimand from CTU president Richard Wagstaff.
At times during the campaign, it felt like Renney was the only person in Aotearoa allowed to do maths. He did more journalism than most journalists and more economic analysis than the entire Labour research unit combined. National MPs wrote tweet threads slagging him off. They put out PR releases accusing him of “gutter politics”. One thing they never did: prove him wrong.
However he wasn't the only reality-checker…
Three people who collectively became known as “economists from across the political spectrum” gave Craig Renney a brief break from his confinement in the CTU maths cave in September, taking it upon themselves to run the numbers on the revenue National projected it would take in from its foreign homebuyers tax. They found that rather than being – in Castalia’s words – “possible and plausible”, those projections were instead “fantastical and quite bullshit”. In their analysis, National’s tax plan went from “fully funded” to “about $530 million short”.
But hey, that economists were created to make astrologers look good was pointed out long ago by JK Galbraith, so National will just make it up as it goes along as usual.
Knaves, not fools. They know their numbers don't work, now it doesn't matter. They've got the votes and to them, that gives them the mandate to do as they please.
[lprent: You can’t post an image here. You can link to one. It is done with the comment button to the left of a smiley face.
However your link is to some kind of canva editing, presumably on your own account. You need to export the image in some generally accessible format – jpg, png, or webp rather than linking to a javascript editor. Load it to somewhere that accepts public images (which isn’t here – I don’t provide a image server), and then link to the public image. ]
On 21st Century End Times Corporate Leadership" and
"In a desperate last measure,
King Luxon consults his moral compass,
But it swings wildly in meaningless circles."
So much there. What is the source of wisdom? An 'on-flight video" on 'corporate leadership'. What times are we in- the 'end-times'. Hipkins had asked about Luxon's moral compass. What direction does it point? 'in meaningless circles'.
Is there to be an investigation into the voting hiccups both before voting day and on the day? Curious that it appeared to be mainly South Auckland affected.
And apparently there were hiccups in Te Atatu, West Auckland where Phil Twyford is hanging on by a few votes. Interesting they should occur in Labour strongholds. I see no reason why the "caretaker Labour government" could not undertake an investigation into what exactly happened.
Dita De Boni made the following comment in this video (slightly paraphrased)
I find it outrageous that anyone could suggest Luxon won by his own efforts. He was bankrolled into office by the richest people in the land…..
Mihirangi Forbes pointed out:
He wouldn't front up to any of the Maori current affairs programmes during the campaign….
Both reflections suggest to me he is going to be a cowardly PM who runs away from difficult decision making and who refuses to face up to racial tensions in particular: He is going to be all sound bites and no action!
First, your name gives you away as a dim witted troll.
Second, under no circumstances should any female – least of all the PM – have to put up with that misogynistic asshole called Hosking. I would have thought less of Jacinda if she had continued to put up with his demeaning and puerile tactics. He wasn't worth a minute of her time.
The media noted the late delivery on the cards to some areas, including south Auckland, and the online rolls going down in the middle of the day.
But in south Auckland, late cards meant limited early voting, the online rolls going down made it hard for out of electorate voting (specials) – there were long queues as a result and then on top of that a lack of forms meant many left without voting.
At 7pm on RNZ on election night a reporter said what he observed made him disgusted.
I am only guessing but he would have thought all of that only happened in the USA in areas where voting was discouraged.
A conspiracy theorist might suspect they really wanted a NACT coalition without Peters and tried their best.
I voted at Portage Road New Lynn Booth at 2pm and the 3 staff were sharing one nearly empty book of voting forms. And did not know if fresh supplies were coming so were directing voters to other voting venues.
Another strong Labour voting region. It sounds like gross incompetence at best on the part of the Electoral Commission.
I wonder if something similar happened in Mt Roskill? Both Roskill and New Lynn candidates narrowly lost on the night. They may return after special votes but hell… its starting to look bad.
At 7pm on RNZ on election night a reporter said what he observed made him disgusted
In that case there is definitely something to investigate. It does not follow there was a conspiracy to deliberately undermine the ability for people to vote, but it does suggest it was incompetent management which left the region with insufficient voting papers and faulty computer outages.
You can be sure it would not have been allowed to happen in electorates dominated by Pakeha. There was a polling booth opposite my home in the North Shore electorate and hardly anyone used it. I'll bet they had many hundreds (at least) of voting papers left over.
I do hope that Chris Hipkins decides to stay on as Labour leader. He is probably feeling quite wounded at the moment but once he’s had a bit of time for reflection he will realise that he was not responsible for the loss to John Keys lot. Sorry…….. I meant Christopher Luxon. Luxon is going to be sweating to deliver NZ to the millionaires and billionaires after all the millions they ‘donated’ to Nact and Whinny.
Chris H just needs to look to the All Blacks with their win over Ireland after having been beaten by them in their last 4 encounters. They took on the mantle of underdogs and used it as inspiration to get back up and show everyone what they could do. So they worked on different scenarios and approaches and with grit and determination and working as a well oiled unit they did it.
Na he should do a year then move on , he didn't sell us a vision in the campaign, he went against his senior ministers with his captains calls , he wanted the ridiculous gst off vege policy,
I would like to see Robertson as leader….I know he has said he would never stand again but he has the brains eloquence and sense of humour to destroy Luxon in 2026
Labour do not forgive losing leaders. We need to go back to the grassroots and do active listening and a lot less top down. The Greens have this right, and they are the future imo.
I dunno whether he just wanted to show he was making his mark but the whole cancelling this, this and this and ruling out this and this to me was just letting National control the narrative. Far too responsive to pressure – whatever happened to good sound policy and researched based decision making.
It just came across as throwing a little tanty while trying to show he was decisive.
I guess if he had opposed the things he cancelled when they were first proposed I might have some thought that he was at least being consistent and not simply being impulsive but saw no evidence of that.
Agreed, chippy moved into the centre and got run over by both sides, there's a lesson there.
His captains calls on policy and tax were calculated risks which backfired IMO as polls show a wealth tax has widespread support. Also not explaining co-governance to skewer NACT with along with so many other areas he allowed their narrative oxygen instead of smothering it with facts and history.
I do hope he stays on long enough for a new leader who grasps the importance of working the left block as a cohesive unit can take over.
And as has been already said, a left bloc where Labour is a partner (not the leader sitting at the head of the table anymore) and has to work with the Greens and TPM, rather than thinking they are the big player throwing crumbs to everyone else.
Labour are a centrist, neoliberal party that needs to find its soul and heart again and move left if it wants to be part of a strong left bloc to resist Nactional over the next three years.
Being not so shit as Nactional is not good enough. Is Labour really going to acknowledge they got it wrong by unleashing neoliberal Rogernomics on New Zealand? Somehow I doubt it.
Speaking of hand ball , how the @#$% does Smith get sin binned for his picking touching the ball in a reaction situation, and the bloody great saffa smacks the ball into the dirt with no hint of trying to catch it and it's play on?? A bit of consistency would be good!
Just read in N Z Herald that Kiri Allan has set up a new consulting business. All power to you Kiri and I hope your new venture succeeds. Of course the Herald had to have a wee snarky comment at the end about her voice mail box, yes, it needs to be corrected and I'm sure it will in the fullness of time. Kia kaha Kiri, you go girl.
My husband heard Key on tv stating “we won”. He is micro managing National. IMO he is still serving his American masters. he has never gone away. He has popped back up to manage Luxon…… Luxon does not have the wit or the ability to think on his feet.
"Luxon is also in communication with key figures from the John Key era, including Key himself, Bill English, their chief of staff Wayne Eagleson, and former minister Steven Joyce………………….."
The "voters who are never wrong” (Luxon campaign remark) just voted in a hairless programmable glove puppet version of Key set to a rewind Nu Zilland back to 2017………..
Looking at the voting numbers it is now beyond a shadow of a doubt that at least half of the electorate are either stupid or asleep…….quite possibly both….
That's not surprising at all; Keys puppet and only in it for the same reasons too.
Question time will be funny, he couldn't ask a question, how's he going to answer any. Perhaps he'll have a phone to his ear so Key can tell him what to say.
He will make sure that the speaker he appoints is programmed to say 'I believe he has addressed the question' when the opposition appeal to the speaker that the question hasn't been answered.
It's a test of nerve for bureaucrats in Wellington.
Should they find alternative employment before they find out whether they are laid off, or not? If they wait, there is the risk of competing with others for jobs next year.
Some might run down their leave entitlement to do some job search and or work as a temp to build up their non government resume.
Then there is the option of transfer to Oz federal and state government jobs. Or local government work here.
Then there is the sabbatical to a post graduate course at university (popular for those with working partners). Maybe teaching …
Those who stay might face increased work pressures, as per understaffed wards etc. Or the horror of working for W and I under NACT/NZF
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Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
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Prediction: New Zealand won't have a government before December.
Port Waikato by-election result: Dec 6. That extra seat (National, certainly) may be enough to deliver a majority for National plus ACT. (And it may not).
There is no Cabinet until there is a government, and no government until there is a confirmed majority in the House (NOT a predicted majority, based on polls and reckons). Hipkins is caretaker PM until then.
Expect a lot of impatience (and ignorance) in the weeks ahead. None of it changes the arithmetic and the law.
Nat act nzf would be stupid to weight, it's obvious that a threesome is there only option , they might as well get on with it.
Yep, I reckon F..N..Act it'll be. Buying popcorn.
That may change when the special votes are counted. National/ACT have 61 seats at present in a 121 seat parliament. If they were to lose a couple of seats in the specials they would have 59. Not enough to form a government. I'm pretty sure Winston doesn't much like ACT, and that being the case he might then support the left block, which would then form a government with 63 support seats to the right's 59 (or 60 with Port Waikato).
Don't dream it's over!
He'll,talk about desperation.People want change,not what we were selling,take stock,address our issues and change,or 8 more years I'm afraid.
Mod note: I see you have used a number of different usernames over the years on TS. Please stick to Burty from now on.
There is zero chance of NZ1st supporting a left govt. You just have to look at where their funding has come from.
OK. I haven't looked at where their funding has come from, so I haven't taken that into account. Nevertheless I think Chippy should have waited for the specials before conceding.
Basically the same people as Act.
I thought that sort of thing only happens in America.
Maybe, but on the numbers, the only pathway to a third term Labour government was NZ First which had been ruled by NZ First and Labour, so I can see why he conceded.
I predict National will do at least a deal of confidence and supply with NZ First regardless of the final results. Even if NACT ends up with a technical majority it will be wafer thin.
National won't have to be in a position of scrambling for NZ First support should National lose a seat in a bi-election in the future, so expect to see a deal done in the near future.
I think that would be problematic for National given Seymour and Peters' mutual antipathy and differing policies, eg. immigration and retirement age.
A formal coalition with the three would suit Luxon best because it absolutely assures a majority every time, but as the term roles on I think we will see some friction between the right wing ACT zealots and the more centrist National and NZ First groups.
I agree that the most likely scenario will be a formal NACT coalition with NZ First guaranteeing confidence and supply but nothing else.
There will certainly be a lot of brinkmanship on both sides, but Winston will have an advantage in that he is an old master of horse trading whilst Seymour is an amateur by comparison.
While there are some major differences, there is also a lot of commonality between the parties, for instance on law and order, anti-co-governance etc.
I imagine Peters will be happy if he gets some key wins he can parade to before his supporters. Some of these wins may be in areas that Seymour doesn't care about, and things that don't cost a lot to impliment. For instance, I think Peters wants an enquiry into the government's covid response? Also, Peters does seem to be particularly attracted to the baubles of office. So, perhaps Peters for speaker?
Confidence and supply would probably suit Peters as well, because it would give NZ First a lot more freedom to campaign against policies they don’t like.
Chris Finlayson was interviewed on Nat Radio repeating his claims that co-governance had worked well for National and all Labour had needed to do was explain it properly. I suspect he may be a bit of a lone voice until the new government faces a few Treaty issues – at present NActF seem to wish that they were in Australia where racism is so much more "Right"
A pox on all their houses… and their coin. Those feeling they have won may find victory has a bitter after taste. Hollow men leaning on other hollow men.
The stately dance of rules and power, best understood by Winston.
Now the right have to prove they are superior.. not so easy and the wolves are all ready circling.
It is unlikely to be in the near future. I remember that Peters usually doesn’t start negotiating seriously until official results are published. So the start of negotiations is likely to be November 3rd at the earliest. Those negotiations usually take quite a while when there are more than 2 parties involved. After all the disagreements go up exponentially according to the number of parties and factions of parties involved, and the time to negotiate between parties and inside parties goes up with the number of permutations of needed consultations.
Especially where Winston is concerned because he is always very careful to look for an agreement that should survive a full term of office (which incidentally is why I’d expect him to control the NZF side – who’d trust Shane Jones to be careful). He treats coalition and support arrangements as the lawyer he was trained to be – as a clear and binding contract.
I don't think that Peters can wait till all the specials are in. At the previous elections he was the kingmaker and was willing to go with either side. He simply went with the one that would give him the most.
He hasn't really got that option this time. His supporters, and I suspect some of his MPs simply wouldn't allow it and can you really see him going into a coalition with TPM?
He has to start negotiations with National now or he will be faced with trying to join an already negotiated agreement between National and ACT with him trying to get an add-on agreement of his own. Better accept the inevitable and do a deal now.
No. The PW BE result is a known.
Once the election results are certified post specials, the coalition can be established.
It's now 61-60 and will most likely become NACT down to 60-61 (hopefully 59-62) with the add on in December.
Peters will be necessary to have confidence, and confidence allows ministry appointments.
Thus in November there will be some sort of outcome. Threeway or a National government with 2 support partners (Keys preferred arrangement 2008-2017)
SPC…you are forgetting the by election and the extra overhang it will bring….so really it is 62-60 to NACT now but that will become either 61-61 or 60-62.
It is feasible TPM will win one more seat….then it will be either 61-62 or 60-63
They can act before then, once the election result is certified, without the extra seat.
Just watched Ryan Bridge interviewing Chloe, with David Seymour. She made the point about binary framing that needed to be made, and stressed it again once or twice further.
Seymour criticised James Shaw for warning of violence. Think he also described Tamihere as unhinged for predicting the closing down of cities in Aotearoa.
Whilst polarising is natural behaviour for leftists and rightists, the treaty is an unsuitable topic for doing that on: it more or less guarantees escalation of racism. A commons framework is best, but since folks haven't been educated to do that we'll probably default into multiculturalism as next-best option.
Shaw making the mistake he has accused others of making.
Heh. Afghanistan thrashed England at the Cricket World Cup! https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/15/england-humbled-by-afghanistan-in-historic-cricket-world-cup-shock
Whoopee!
The Spinoff uncovers an election hero:
However he wasn't the only reality-checker…
But hey, that economists were created to make astrologers look good was pointed out long ago by JK Galbraith, so National will just make it up as it goes along as usual.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/16-10-2023/winners-losers-big-losers-and-gigantic-losers-from-the-2023-general-election
Na they'll have a plan , they will have been lying by omission.
The poor will pay they always do under national.
Knaves, not fools. They know their numbers don't work, now it doesn't matter. They've got the votes and to them, that gives them the mandate to do as they please.
"Success is the only earthly judge of right and wrong"
My fist meme. Buggered if Ican work out how to post an image.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFxWgvUM0U/3WUwbfbI0GafCpDHMj3dtg/edit?utm_content=DAFxWgvUM0U&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
[lprent: You can’t post an image here. You can link to one. It is done with the comment button to the left of a smiley face.
However your link is to some kind of canva editing, presumably on your own account. You need to export the image in some generally accessible format – jpg, png, or webp rather than linking to a javascript editor. Load it to somewhere that accepts public images (which isn’t here – I don’t provide a image server), and then link to the public image. ]
That is some game France-South Africa QF.
Yes. The draw has been arse about face this time. Both the ABs/Ireland and France/Springboks games should have been the semi-finals.
Victor Billot takes the piss out of Luxon / Seymour: (the only thing funny I can find about the GE result!)
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/an-ode-for-the-new-prime-minister-1
Two great images.
"King Luxon consults his in-flight video
On 21st Century End Times Corporate Leadership" and
"In a desperate last measure,
King Luxon consults his moral compass,
But it swings wildly in meaningless circles."
So much there. What is the source of wisdom? An 'on-flight video" on 'corporate leadership'. What times are we in- the 'end-times'. Hipkins had asked about Luxon's moral compass. What direction does it point? 'in meaningless circles'.
The power of poetry to critique rulers.
Sadly Brilliant.
Is there to be an investigation into the voting hiccups both before voting day and on the day? Curious that it appeared to be mainly South Auckland affected.
And apparently there were hiccups in Te Atatu, West Auckland where Phil Twyford is hanging on by a few votes. Interesting they should occur in Labour strongholds. I see no reason why the "caretaker Labour government" could not undertake an investigation into what exactly happened.
Dita De Boni made the following comment in this video (slightly paraphrased)
Mihirangi Forbes pointed out:
Both reflections suggest to me he is going to be a cowardly PM who runs away from difficult decision making and who refuses to face up to racial tensions in particular: He is going to be all sound bites and no action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljumI8VMASI
On RadioNZ they said Luxon used just one Maori word in his acceptance speech…"iwi" which he said once
Not unlike a recent Prime Minister who ended a long association with a weekly appointment on Hosking Breakfast.
An expectation that PM might be expected to be across all Government policy and actions was too demanding?
First, your name gives you away as a dim witted troll.
Second, under no circumstances should any female – least of all the PM – have to put up with that misogynistic asshole called Hosking. I would have thought less of Jacinda if she had continued to put up with his demeaning and puerile tactics. He wasn't worth a minute of her time.
Well put.
The media noted the late delivery on the cards to some areas, including south Auckland, and the online rolls going down in the middle of the day.
But in south Auckland, late cards meant limited early voting, the online rolls going down made it hard for out of electorate voting (specials) – there were long queues as a result and then on top of that a lack of forms meant many left without voting.
At 7pm on RNZ on election night a reporter said what he observed made him disgusted.
I am only guessing but he would have thought all of that only happened in the USA in areas where voting was discouraged.
A conspiracy theorist might suspect they really wanted a NACT coalition without Peters and tried their best.
I voted at Portage Road New Lynn Booth at 2pm and the 3 staff were sharing one nearly empty book of voting forms. And did not know if fresh supplies were coming so were directing voters to other voting venues.
Another strong Labour voting region. It sounds like gross incompetence at best on the part of the Electoral Commission.
I wonder if something similar happened in Mt Roskill? Both Roskill and New Lynn candidates narrowly lost on the night. They may return after special votes but hell… its starting to look bad.
In that case there is definitely something to investigate. It does not follow there was a conspiracy to deliberately undermine the ability for people to vote, but it does suggest it was incompetent management which left the region with insufficient voting papers and faulty computer outages.
You can be sure it would not have been allowed to happen in electorates dominated by Pakeha. There was a polling booth opposite my home in the North Shore electorate and hardly anyone used it. I'll bet they had many hundreds (at least) of voting papers left over.
I do hope that Chris Hipkins decides to stay on as Labour leader. He is probably feeling quite wounded at the moment but once he’s had a bit of time for reflection he will realise that he was not responsible for the loss to John Keys lot. Sorry…….. I meant Christopher Luxon. Luxon is going to be sweating to deliver NZ to the millionaires and billionaires after all the millions they ‘donated’ to Nact and Whinny.
Chris H just needs to look to the All Blacks with their win over Ireland after having been beaten by them in their last 4 encounters. They took on the mantle of underdogs and used it as inspiration to get back up and show everyone what they could do. So they worked on different scenarios and approaches and with grit and determination and working as a well oiled unit they did it.
Backing CH all the way.
Na he should do a year then move on , he didn't sell us a vision in the campaign, he went against his senior ministers with his captains calls , he wanted the ridiculous gst off vege policy,
I would like to see Robertson as leader….I know he has said he would never stand again but he has the brains eloquence and sense of humour to destroy Luxon in 2026
Blood baths need to be avoided but so does anointing your next leader, Clark ,key and Ardern did it it doesn't work.
Labour do not forgive losing leaders. We need to go back to the grassroots and do active listening and a lot less top down. The Greens have this right, and they are the future imo.
Good summary. I rated Hipkins for about a week. Then there was the policy bonfire, the call on any wealth tax, etc. And I stopped rating him.
I'm in your court as well.
I dunno whether he just wanted to show he was making his mark but the whole cancelling this, this and this and ruling out this and this to me was just letting National control the narrative. Far too responsive to pressure – whatever happened to good sound policy and researched based decision making.
It just came across as throwing a little tanty while trying to show he was decisive.
I guess if he had opposed the things he cancelled when they were first proposed I might have some thought that he was at least being consistent and not simply being impulsive but saw no evidence of that.
Agreed, chippy moved into the centre and got run over by both sides, there's a lesson there.
His captains calls on policy and tax were calculated risks which backfired IMO as polls show a wealth tax has widespread support. Also not explaining co-governance to skewer NACT with along with so many other areas he allowed their narrative oxygen instead of smothering it with facts and history.
I do hope he stays on long enough for a new leader who grasps the importance of working the left block as a cohesive unit can take over.
And as has been already said, a left bloc where Labour is a partner (not the leader sitting at the head of the table anymore) and has to work with the Greens and TPM, rather than thinking they are the big player throwing crumbs to everyone else.
Labour are a centrist, neoliberal party that needs to find its soul and heart again and move left if it wants to be part of a strong left bloc to resist Nactional over the next three years.
Being not so shit as Nactional is not good enough. Is Labour really going to acknowledge they got it wrong by unleashing neoliberal Rogernomics on New Zealand? Somehow I doubt it.
Who would have thought it, that the England team that made it into the semi-finals would be the one with the larger oval ball.
Afghanistan doing what the ref and the hand of Farrell would not allow Fiji to try to do late in the QF.
If the English surprise the Boks, a 2019 rematch looms … in the oval ball game.
Barring Maradona like hand bandit actions of course.
Improvised sporting drama, like watching larpers who are good at what they do.
Hammered by Afghanistan….larf…much deserved after that stitch up 4 years ago
Speaking of hand ball , how the @#$% does Smith get sin binned for his picking touching the ball in a reaction situation, and the bloody great saffa smacks the ball into the dirt with no hint of trying to catch it and it's play on?? A bit of consistency would be good!
The ruling was that the ball did not go forward, the guy had such long reach he was able to lineout tap it back.
French cowardice, taking a shot 9 minutes from time when you're 4 points behind , they didn't deserve it,
Just watched 2nd half.
good point bwag…I forgot that. The AB's would have run it.
Smith touch made it a deliberate knock on the other one went backwards
Just read in N Z Herald that Kiri Allan has set up a new consulting business. All power to you Kiri and I hope your new venture succeeds. Of course the Herald had to have a wee snarky comment at the end about her voice mail box, yes, it needs to be corrected and I'm sure it will in the fullness of time. Kia kaha Kiri, you go girl.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-labour-mp-kiri-allan-launches-new-consultancy-business-months-after-losing-cabinet-position/AXGQI5WIY5EAHJD2YLT5R336YY/
My husband heard Key on tv stating “we won”. He is micro managing National. IMO he is still serving his American masters. he has never gone away. He has popped back up to manage Luxon…… Luxon does not have the wit or the ability to think on his feet.
"Luxon is also in communication with key figures from the John Key era, including Key himself, Bill English, their chief of staff Wayne Eagleson, and former minister Steven Joyce………………….."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300989574/nz-election-2023-live-luxon-taking-advice-from-john-key-as-he-starts-coalition-talks
The "voters who are never wrong” (Luxon campaign remark) just voted in a hairless programmable glove puppet version of Key set to a rewind Nu Zilland back to 2017………..
Looking at the voting numbers it is now beyond a shadow of a doubt that at least half of the electorate are either stupid or asleep…….quite possibly both….
That's not surprising at all; Keys puppet and only in it for the same reasons too.
Question time will be funny, he couldn't ask a question, how's he going to answer any. Perhaps he'll have a phone to his ear so Key can tell him what to say.
He will make sure that the speaker he appoints is programmed to say 'I believe he has addressed the question' when the opposition appeal to the speaker that the question hasn't been answered.
Maybe he'll take JK's lead and never show up to parliament thursdays, immediate risk reduction.
Prime ministers and the main Opposition leaders to not attend Thursday question time. Their places are usually taken by the deputies.
It's a test of nerve for bureaucrats in Wellington.
Should they find alternative employment before they find out whether they are laid off, or not? If they wait, there is the risk of competing with others for jobs next year.
Some might run down their leave entitlement to do some job search and or work as a temp to build up their non government resume.
Then there is the option of transfer to Oz federal and state government jobs. Or local government work here.
Then there is the sabbatical to a post graduate course at university (popular for those with working partners). Maybe teaching …
Those who stay might face increased work pressures, as per understaffed wards etc. Or the horror of working for W and I under NACT/NZF