Out with the old – in with the old

Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, December 12th, 2016 - 110 comments
Categories: bill english, john key, leadership, national - Tags: ,

So today Key’s 8 long years draw to a close. More than enough has been written on his legacy of nothing, I’m not going to add to it. Bye John, out with the old.

And in with the old. Shortly the Nats will anoint the chosen one, Bill English. A pre-failed leader. Mr 21%. The greedy double dipper. The boring, conservative choice for a boring conservative party.

Given the tail-wind from Key it’s likely that Bill will do better this time than last. Time will tell whether he does well enough to get the Nats another term. For the sake of the country, particularly the poor and vulnerable, the environment, and the future, I certainly hope not.

Time for a change. Time for a government that is realistic about the challenges that we face, that can plan for a future beyond the three year electoral cycle, and that has the interests of all New Zealanders at heart. Gentle reader, if you are not already working for the leftie / liberal / progressive party of your choice – why not? The time to start is now, or we will get more of the same old same old.

110 comments on “Out with the old – in with the old ”

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  1. Carolyn_nth 1
    12 December 2016 at 10:26 am

    Gordon Campbell on the new team:

    Bling and Pulla”

    Things will be just the same, but really, really different! Its so exciting! Bill English is from the South and I’m from the North! How great a team is that? And can I tell you again how awesomely talented all my colleagues are? Yikes. I have a feeling we’re going to get very tired of the chirpy chops ebullience of our new deputy Prime Minister in a very short period of time. Grumpy, less charitable thoughts do come to mind. As in… is someone, anyone on the new team going to ensure that Nick Smith and Murray McCully are shot at dawn this week, and replaced by people even more awesome than they are?

    Now that the charade of a contest for the National Party leadership is over – the pre-arranged succession had about as much drama as the upcoming transition from Queen Elizabeth to Prince Charles – attention will shift once again this week to the minor placings.

  2. EE 2
    12 December 2016 at 10:37 am

    I’ve read a lot of commentary on Key’s style over substance, legacy of nothing.
    What about his oversight of NZ spy agencies and the increase of mass surveillance…
    Isn’t that going to be historically remarkable?

    • Carolyn_nth 2.1
      12 December 2016 at 10:43 am

      It’s a variation on 2 track politics: a lot of public superficial style; behind the scenes a whittling away of democratic processes, the rise in the surveillance state, and the remnants of the social security state.

    • tracey 2.2
      12 December 2016 at 11:05 am

      By remarkable do you mean it was bad under his leadership, then when the fire got hot, he ran away and gave it to Finlayson, and under Finlayson some light has been shone on it?

      Also interesting to observe the big brave journos all suddenly saying he has achieved bugger all and been bland and , and , and AFTER he resigned.

      Sir John Key in new Years Honours. He lies that it doesn’t matter to him.

      • b waghorn 2.2.1
        12 December 2016 at 12:10 pm

        ”Also interesting to observe the big brave journos all suddenly saying he has achieved bugger all and been bland and , and , and AFTER he resigned.”

        yes its had me shaking my head gutless toads,

        • tracey 2.2.1.1
          12 December 2016 at 2:58 pm

          But Audrey is back in puppet mode drooling over Bill’s first press conference, so normal transmission resumed.

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3
    12 December 2016 at 10:44 am

    Apparently there’s one significant difference between the old and the old: the right to choose abortion.

    …and this…

    He voted against the legalisation of same sex marriage. He voted against civil unions. He voted against prostitution law reform. He voted for a 2005 bill that sought to clarify that marriage should only be between men and women.

    • Sabine 3.1
      12 December 2016 at 11:33 am

      well he is a righteous Christian and is very concerned about morality.

      • michelle 3.1.1
        12 December 2016 at 11:52 am

        If he is concerned about morality how come his policies aren’t morally fair or fiscally right English has been kicking the poor in the guts for 8 years while selling our assets and now I hear him talking about social services that he gutted. And still holding fast to a tax cut bribe of 20 bucks a week wow Bill you will have to do better than that mate if you want to win the next election.

        • garibaldi 3.1.1.1
          12 December 2016 at 12:10 pm

          It’s alright Sabine, he’s probably only going to go for the Protestants, atheists, muslims hindus, women, the poor and other minority groups!

        • Whispering Kate 3.1.1.2
          12 December 2016 at 1:15 pm

          Its okay Michelle, he more than likely goes to confession each week and will be given absolution of his sins otherwise he won’t be able to take the sacrament at Mass each Sunday. Like all faithful Catholics with a clear conscience its easy for him the following week to work on his punishing policies on the vulnerable as he knows he is forever going to be forgiven for implementing them. Always has been that way with the church, even mortal sins disclosed in the confessional are sacred and private so sure as hell all his venal sins he commits won’t keep him awake at night.

        • Gosman 3.1.1.3
          12 December 2016 at 2:44 pm

          Why is selling assets somehow immoral? I don’t believe I’ve seen anything in the Bible stating ‘Thou shalt not sell stakes in commercial enterprises owned by the State’.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1.3.1
            12 December 2016 at 2:50 pm

            The Bible is Gosman’s guide to ethical behaviour. That explains a lot.

            • Gosman 3.1.1.3.1.1
              12 December 2016 at 2:57 pm

              Not me. I believe it was michelle who was trying to argue that English should have some sort of moral dilemma with selling assets as a result of his religious beliefs.

          • michelle 3.1.1.3.2
            12 December 2016 at 3:14 pm

            Telling porkies is that immoral Gosman what about claiming monies you are not entitled to and selling our state homes when so many people are homeless.

            • Gosman 3.1.1.3.2.1
              12 December 2016 at 3:28 pm

              If a State house is sold to housing charity how does that impact the homeless? I presume the housing charity also helps the homeless or those in housing need so overall the net social effect is neither positive nor negative.

              • Rosemary McDonald …
                12 December 2016 at 4:57 pm

                “If a State house is sold to housing charity how does that impact the homeless?”

                Funny that the charities don’t want a bar of it Gosman….

                http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/87341873/sale-of-state-houses-regrettable–salvation-army

                With only one major ‘charity’ getting involved…http://www.accessibleproperties.co.nz/about/

                which qualifies as a ‘charity’ only by the loosest of definitions.

                But don’t panic Gosman….your Buddies in the House are off to Aus, seeking willing buyers…http://www.powerhousingaustralia.com.au/

                a member of the multinational charity….http://internationalhousingpartnership.com/

              • wellfedweta …
                12 December 2016 at 8:48 pm

                Correct. It’s the same as when private investors purchase state houses and enter long term agreements with housing NZ. In my view there is no need for the government to own a single house. Not one. Capital would be freed up to, repay debt, for example.

                • crashcart …
                  12 December 2016 at 9:46 pm

                  Yea cause the market has proven to be real effective at providing social housing thus far. Shit the private market has done a shit job on housing all round.

                  That is of course what happens when you have a market where the supply can never meet demand and demand is inflated by it being a tax haven for those who set up their affairs correctly.

                  No invisable hand driving that market to the magic equalibrium. Has all the basis in reality of Blinglishes fairy god father.

                  • wellfedweta …
                    13 December 2016 at 9:26 am

                    Actually the private market does an excellent job at providing ‘social’ housing. It gives the government the flexibility to access housing where and when there is need, rather than be left holding housing stock in places or in configurations it no longer requires.

                • Paul …
                  12 December 2016 at 9:54 pm

                  There is no such thing as society, eh?
                  No point debating with folk like you. You are devout followers of the Randian cult and impervious to reason.

                  • wellfedweta …
                    13 December 2016 at 9:27 am

                    The government is part of society. Private housing providers are part of society. What is your point?

        • Robin 3.1.1.4
          12 December 2016 at 6:52 pm

          That $20 is averaged out over everybody. So the rich will get much more than that amount and the poor will get a lot less. Just like last time

    • Cinny 3.2
      12 December 2016 at 1:19 pm

      I heard on the wireless he is going to support same sex marriage now… I wonder how his church feels about that, is he allowed to go against the church in order to push his own political agenda without any backlash? Is his local congregation and priest so stupidly star struck that their religious morals are suddenly flexible?

      Or is the new outgoing PM so simple minded he allows his own religious brainwashing to dictate political decisions that impact every citizen of NZ.

      That pisses me off, if you are going to call yourself a catholic, walk the talk or rot in hell. Cause the catholics are happy to use satan as a scape goat, so I’ll call em out on the same.

      Maybe Satan made Bill change his mind, quick off to confession and all is forgiven. FFS Dumb and dumber. Bye bye Bill you are a gone burger mark my words, tat taaa

      https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/44/03/3b/44033bc3336871f278e3cfce5d1e08d4.jpg

      • tracey 3.2.1
        12 December 2016 at 3:01 pm

        Not quite. After 2 months of backroom training he is already in Key mode. He says if the vote were today (which it isnt) he would vote for same sex marriage. No one can say his is wrong but nor will we ever know. So he gets to seem socially liberal when he is really socially conservative. See the bait and switch that 2 months training does?

        • Matthew Whitehead 3.2.1.1
          12 December 2016 at 3:43 pm

          I think a better way to put this is that he wouldn’t vote to overturn marriage equality, which is good, but like, the very least you can do.

          English will absolutely vote against progressive social policy if any future conscience votes around issues like say, trans rights, or queer homelessness, come up in Parliament.

    • JanM 3.3
      12 December 2016 at 10:02 pm

      He is a Catholic, isn’t he? He really doesn’t have much choice.

  4. Ad 4
    12 December 2016 at 10:51 am

    English is to Key what Hillary was to Obama.

    Slightly darker, more project-focussed, more about the substance than the rhetoric, more skilled in operating all parts of the machine.

    The left are very, very lucky that Key’s resignation now gives them a chance.

    I sincerely hope that the left gives all voters something really clear and strong and proud to vote for. And that they win.

    • aerobubble 4.1
      12 December 2016 at 11:05 am

      Key was a lazy distraction in a time when the NZ economy always does well, when the world economy does not, its got nothing to do with managing, the wealth of the world needs a place that works while it chokes and splurters. Free trade lets the world take over the NZ economy, its a big white flag surrender, Nz wont fail as its so rorted that in bad times the wealth centers lean off NZ. Fear good times in the Northern hemisphere, unlikelt though, Climate Change means shit on shit.

      • Gosman 4.1.1
        12 December 2016 at 2:55 pm

        What evidence do you have that the NZ economy always does well when the rest of the World isn’t doing well?

        • aerobubble 4.1.1.1
          16 December 2016 at 11:00 am

          Risk and facts. When unemployment rises in UK,US,EU, kiwis start for home. Like i said when the economy does worse overseas its should be obvious to those with knowledge about kiwi oe that there is a boost to the nz economy.

          Second. Investors like the rigged nz economy exposed without tarriffs etc, low trade borders coupled with the higher risk bonus interest rates, venture here with a lower cost from border restraints and invest with a higher rate of return.
          Which comes out of nz living better, for obvious reasons. Swiss protectionism exemplifies how to do it properly, as does swedish welfare state shows how a govt does that successfully.

          But when you have an elite who dont do govt, let markets function hands off e wheel, its no wonder the once higherest living standard decades ago is nolonger.

          You see you need both your head in the ecomonic decisiins NZ has and is making, and imagination that its more than leaving imagination to markets.

          Good govt beats markets everytime.

  5. aerobubble 5
    12 December 2016 at 10:52 am

    John Key started with SCF and ended with TPP, he noted off the bat the s.Auckland crisis and even laid claim to kiwi gfc refugees return in stadium size quanta, yet remarkable did nothing about housing and rivers. Sure he claimed the Green Labour insulation scheme, even the digital fast broadband was arguably signed off for…

    So what did Key actually do? Well dotcom got in with million dollar migrants who cant speak English, tourism rises yet no new infrastructure, well okay, the dual carriageway that should have been built fifty years ago. Now we find free trade is verticalizing industry, and dereg key lets them pollute rivers, force timber prices high, and then shock horrror with Trumps victory where mainly white rural males agree with that competing with low wages is bad and makes America lousy… …what does Key media do! declare how farmers cant find workers coz they are to lazy, wtf, the wages are artifically lowered by cheap foriegn labour!

    So what has Key done, the waikato bypass and broadband, that govts should have and would have. Its what Key hasn’t done, infrastructure, building second roads as eaethquake resilience, buulding tourism support, stoping shitty rivers…

    Key, supported from the begunning by an insipid and banal media, glowing endorsements for his leadership. Thats his only real success. I did not vote for him, not my PM, good riddens.

    • BM 5.1
      12 December 2016 at 11:01 am

      It’s what Key hasn’t done, infrastructure, building second roads as earthquake resilience, building tourism support, stopping shitty rivers…

      Read this and get a bit better informed.

      http://www.infrastructure.govt.nz/

      • tracey 5.1.1
        12 December 2016 at 11:07 am

        BM, you are not putting much stock in the “nonsense” from Treasury are you?

        • BM 5.1.1.1
          12 December 2016 at 11:16 am

          The National Infrastructure Unit

          The National Infrastructure Unit was established in 2009 to deliver the government’s objectives relating to infrastructure. The Unit is based within Treasury, and its responsibilities include:

          Formulating, and monitoring progress on, a 20-year National Infrastructure Plan (NIP);
          Establishing robust and reliable cross-government frameworks for infrastructure project appraisal and capital asset management, and monitoring the implementation and use of those frameworks

          Have a read of some of the reports, after decades of under investment NZ finally has a decent plan and road map in place that’s going to help NZ grow and develop over the next few decades,

          People will thank Key in years to come.

          • tracey 5.1.1.1.1
            12 December 2016 at 11:18 am

            You are right about a road map. I think you will find if anyone can take “credit” for it over the years it will be Mr Joyce…. John key’s Karl Rove.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.1.2
            12 December 2016 at 12:29 pm

            After eight long years, the Gnats finally have a plan!

            1. The market will provide.
            2. ???
            3. Profit!

            • Red 5.1.1.1.2.1
              12 December 2016 at 4:44 pm

              Stop dribbling

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                12 December 2016 at 5:01 pm

                I’ll see if I can make the point clearer for you. After eight years, with all the resources of government, the fact that all they’ve got is a plan is pathetic, and if it’s anything like the “predator free by 2050” “plan” it will be worthless too.

          • Sacha 5.1.1.1.3
            12 December 2016 at 2:19 pm

            “People will thank Key in years to come.”

            Like most govt policy over the last 8 years I believe you will find it’s English and Joyce’s doing, not the departing frontguy.

            • michelle 5.1.1.1.3.1
              12 December 2016 at 3:27 pm

              what ever Sacha you expect us to believe Key had no part in the policy or lack of policy we have had under the gnats

              • Carolyn_nth …
                12 December 2016 at 3:48 pm

                Key definitely championed the following:

                TPP

                Extension of the surveillance state, including to draw in ideas of economic threats – began work on that soon after he became PM – brought in his mate Fletcher, etc

                Asset sales… slow & sometimes stealthy

                Undermining democratic processes – urgency, OIA obfsucation, etc

                Supporting NZ as finance centre – attracting offshore money via lax disclosure regime

                2 track dirty politics

      • aerobubble 5.1.2
        12 December 2016 at 11:10 am

        Like TPP, it worked for Kaikora.

        Key stateshow he raised benefits… ..lol… he tax switched the poorest to remain stagnated while lower burdens on wealthier nz, then he raises family benefits effectively lower single benefitaries. Opening the gates to cheap migration forcing down wages, and housing costs up by million dollar migrates without housing infrastructure.

        yeah, infrastructure.

  6. Infused 6
    12 December 2016 at 11:08 am

    So deluded. Keep telling yourselves lies. Hope it makes you feel better

  7. Wensleydale 7
    12 December 2016 at 11:31 am

    Front page on Stuff…

    “Key Gets A Hamper”

    Stay classy Fairfax. That’s what I call cutting-edge journalism.

  8. Siobhan 8
    12 December 2016 at 11:38 am

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/320149/hnz-accused-of-meth-witch-hunt

    “Great work” from the Department run by Paula Bennett, well deserving of a promotion in this fine and fair land of New Zealand.

    In any properly run business you would get fired for such incompetence.

  9. Sam C 9
    12 December 2016 at 11:55 am

    “And in with the old. Shortly the Nats will anoint the chosen one, Bill English. A pre-failed leader. Mr 21%. The greedy double dipper. The boring, conservative choice for a boring conservative party”.

    Well if that is in fact the case, surely a Labour/Greens government is inevitable next year? I thought that would make you happy?

  11. Richard Christie 11
    12 December 2016 at 1:36 pm

    English is a climate science denier, he just won’t outrightly express it, instead talks about debate in the science etc.

    It’s manifestation of a position rooted in theology.

    Expect even less action on climate/carbon front while he holds the reins.

    • Robert Guyton 11.1
      12 December 2016 at 1:41 pm

      Bill’s a Southland farmer*. Southland farmers drive tractors and tractors need diesel. You can’t deny a Southland farmer his diesel. I learned this from Eric Roy, who told me the facts about climate change (see above).
      *opinions may vary

    • RRM 11.2
      12 December 2016 at 1:50 pm

      Good!

      NZ could shut everything down, cut its emissions down to zero, and a few DAYS’ worth of of China’s growth in emissions would replace all of that.

      Why should this country flog itself to death for nothing, on the altar of “climate change is the issue of our time”..??

      • Richard Christie 11.2.1
        12 December 2016 at 2:34 pm

        The Stupid runs deep in your reply, RRM.

        Every country can play your stupid and ultimately losing game.

        The object of collective agreements such as Kyoto and Paris is to collectively move toward emission reduction which (has been) is sabotaged by short term thinking exemplified by National party and Fed farmer’s gutting of the emissions trading scheme.

      • Robert Guyton 11.2.2
        12 December 2016 at 2:40 pm

        RRM – “NZ could shut everything down…”

        You mad, crazy greenie zealot eco-terrorist, you!

      • One Anonymous Bloke 11.2.3
        12 December 2016 at 2:42 pm

        Nek minnit – “Personal responsibility! Personal responsibility!!”

        Nice to see the lie exposed again.

    • Bearded Git 11.3
      12 December 2016 at 1:58 pm

      Not sure if that (“less action on climate change”) is possible Richard.

  12. RRM 12
    12 December 2016 at 1:44 pm

    “…Mr 21%…”

    He and Andy Little should have lots in common then eh?

    Two chumps who inherited defeated and broken parties at rock bottom.

    Bill English went on from there to become the best Minister of Finance in a lifetime, keeping all of Labour’s lefty state services funded throughout the GFC without having to raise taxes or bankrupt the country.

    It remains to be seen whether Angry “I can’t even win a backwater electorate seat” Little will go on to be the best at pretty much anything…

    • Richard Christie 12.1
      12 December 2016 at 2:41 pm

      Bill English went on from there to become the best Minister of Finance in a lifetime, keeping all of Labour’s lefty state services funded throughout the GFC without having to raise taxes or bankrupt the country.

      GFC would have been a disaster for NZ if the 5th Labour govt had taken Nat’s advice and used its surpluses to reduce taxes.

      Instead the Nat’s borrowed against NZ’s track record of debt management. In effect the Nats did nothing positive to manage the GFC fallout. Zilch.

      Nat’s = competent fiscal management? my arse.

  13. mosa 13
    12 December 2016 at 1:45 pm

    After watching Andrew Little’s interview on Q+A on Sunday with James Shaw i think they should swap leadership roles for the campaign next year.

    Shaw comes across and performs so much better in these interviews.

    Andrew even though i respect his abilities communicating in tv interviews is not one of them.

    The leadership debates will be exciting (sarc)

    • Gosman 13.1
      12 December 2016 at 3:00 pm

      Yes but then the question would be ‘What is the point of Labour?’. In fact can someone from the left tell me what the point of Labour is again given The Greens seem to be a more effective opposition party.

      • michelle 13.1.1
        12 December 2016 at 3:31 pm

        What is the point of Act and United how many party votes did they get Gosman and yet they have managed to get policy from f.. a votes

  14. Gosman 14
    12 December 2016 at 3:03 pm

    The danger for the left here is that you lot think you’ve basically won it already and fail to actually work on becoming an alternative government in waiting.

  15. michelle 15
    12 December 2016 at 3:33 pm

    The danger for the right is they think they are always right and the main reason they were elected has now gone

    • Red 15.1
      12 December 2016 at 5:00 pm

      The danger for the left is they externalise all their issues and live in an echo chamber and then are mortified when no one buys their kool aid

  16. Ad 16
    12 December 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Amongst the volumes of Christmas gatherings I drag my self to one bar at a time, a theme I get really easy agreement on is the hollowness of the promise of New Zealand:

    We put ourselves out there to the world as this spectacular collection of all the world’s known virtues; the best to women, the best to the environment, the best to indigeous peoples, the friendliest people to deal with …

    .. and all of that true on a superficial level when compared to everyone else …

    …and yet ask all the newbies and the imports, they will tell you New Zealand is a trap;
    – you are never going to be paid well
    – you are never going to be managed well
    – you will never be able to save
    – you will never be able to afford a house
    – you are hardly ever going to work for a company of any note globally
    – you will not be treated well
    – your children will go to mediocre schools
    … and if they ever get the chance they tell their professional friends not to bother coming here because of all of the above, because it’s a trap and you can never get out especially if you have children and you really try and settle here.

    We have a moral superiority complex and are in most measures economically inferior. To me, that is the most lasting John Key’s legacies.

  17. billbrowne 17
    12 December 2016 at 5:13 pm

    It’s deja vue all over again.

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  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
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  • Judicial appointments announced
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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