Reshuffle

28 comments on “Reshuffle ”

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1. Robinsod 1

   31 October 2007 at 12:51 pm

   I notice the Herald describes Mallard’s shift from sport to labour a “demotion”. I guess that the rugby world cup and a bit of yachting is more important than the work rights of four million Kiwis. I suspect that APN may be moving to the thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters model of journalism (it’ll keep their wage bill down I suppose…)
2. Bryce Edwards 2

   31 October 2007 at 1:03 pm

   Not a strong reshuffle for Labour.

   It’s good to see Pete Hodgson finally dumped from health! Why did it take so long? He’s been one of the worst Ministers of Health ever (up there with former Health ministers Simon Upton and Helen Clark).

   Unfortunately for Labour, the new ministers of Steve Chadwick and Maryan Street are unlikely to do much for the party. They charisma-free and talent-free zones!

   And putting Trevor Mallard in charge of the Labour portfolio is idiocy! I hope the union movement doesn’t have any real faith in squeezing any crumbs out of this conservative Government.

   Looks like a government in decline.

   Bryce
   http://www.liberation.org.nz
3. insider 3

   31 October 2007 at 1:36 pm

   Mallard’s demotion was losing his place on the front bench wasn;t it? I’m surprised how limited his demotion was.
4. the sprout 4

   31 October 2007 at 1:48 pm

   “I notice the Herald describes Mallard’s shift from sport to labour a ‘demotion’.”

   that is both hilarious and very telling of the Herald’s biases and talent deficits.
5. rjs131 5

   31 October 2007 at 1:54 pm

   How come Judith Tizard wasnt promoted?
6. r0b 6

   31 October 2007 at 2:12 pm

   Bryce – Health is a difficult portfolio, but I think that Hodgson did some good work there. As to Chadwick and Street, you seem rather too quick (and glib) to judge.

   You’re an angry man Bryce. I get it – I wish Labour was lefter and bolder too. But, will you be any less angry under a National government?
7. Santa Claws 7

   31 October 2007 at 2:58 pm

   Yawn. It must be really irritating for the cheerleaders to find the media focus on Mallards demotion….

   Stuff: Mallard demoted, Burton out
   Herald: Mallard loses key portfolios in Cabinet reshuffle

   I hope Tiny won’t mind this link, since you boyz seem keen on youtube goodies.
8. Robinsod 8

   31 October 2007 at 3:02 pm

   Santa – it’s “Mallard’s” (the apostrophe is possessive).
9. Santa Claws 9

   31 October 2007 at 3:11 pm

   Robespierre – Of course it’s. I’m sure Trev wont mind.

   Heres another couple

   SMH: Demotion for NZ punch-up minister
   TheAge: Royal in gay sex video scandal revealed

   (oops no, thats the wrong one!)
10. Luke 10

    31 October 2007 at 3:12 pm

    I wonder if Hodgson was mover from Heath to less demanding profiles so he would have more time to concentrate on Labour party strategy. He is well known as being one of Labour’s top strategy people, and was marginal seats organiser in the 80’s. I certainly don’t think he has been dumped, and he hasn’t done anything really wrong in the portfolio.
    Maybe also it’s because his public image is not great and although his new portfolios are important, they do not involve the same public scrutiny.
11. Robinsod 11

    31 October 2007 at 3:18 pm

    Yo Santa – I was just concerned for your education, there’s no need to come over all catty. Oh yeah – Fuck off (I think I forgot last time)
12. Santa Claws 12

    31 October 2007 at 3:22 pm

    Luke – lets hope Hodgson continues on strategy – he was so effective over Key’s (see R) residences after all.

    Here are a few more headlines that Helen hopes she will never see:

    Mallard to be charged after Henare punch up
    Mallard keen to settle punch-up out of court
    Punch-up at Bellamy’s
    Survivor speaks out about punch-up
    Sweet cherry peppers punch up pork chops
    Mallard punches Carter after kiss in the house
13. Sam Dixon 13

    31 October 2007 at 3:33 pm

    The media were already locked into a ‘Mallard demoted’ narrative by the time the reshuffle happened.. as long as he lost Sports that would be the headline
14. First Time Caller 14

    31 October 2007 at 8:06 pm

    Interesting re: the Electoral Finance Bill. I had assumed Annette King would be taking over this as new justice minister. But if you listen closely to the PM’s announcement (audio and video is up on scoop’s site) this isn’t the case. The Herald asked who would be taking over responsibility for the bill; Helen Clark: “I think you might find Mr Cosgrove picks up that particular area.”
15. Robinsod 15

    31 October 2007 at 8:34 pm

    I hadn’t picked that one up FTC, but it doesn’t surprise me – he’s a very good operator in a stoush.
16. burt 16

    31 October 2007 at 9:09 pm

    Irish Bill

    It’s a hospital pass. The bill is a lemon and only the most partisan defenders of the indefensible will admit that.

    Labour are digging their own grave with the EFB. Pity that you plonkers over here on “lowering the standard” can’t look at it and say….”How would we react to it if National introduced it?”. Is it too much to to ask for you guys to be objective?
17. burt 17

    31 October 2007 at 9:11 pm

    Ooops, typo…

    The bill is a lemon and if only the most partisan defenders of the indefensible will admit that.
18. steve23 18

    31 October 2007 at 9:27 pm

    It is good that an ill tempered thug like Mallard is removed from the Sport Ministry. His presence there did nothing to enhance our nation’s image.
    That male has given maori Bashing a new meaning.
19. r0b 19

    31 October 2007 at 10:17 pm

    Burt – “How would we react to it if National introduced it?”

    Now I don’t often agree with Burt. In fact, I don’t recall it ever happening before. But this is actually a useful test for anyone’s policy. How would we feel if the other side introduced it?

    Of course, apart from the Labour policy it has adopted, National is going to do its level best to make it to the next election without telling us what its policies are, so that’s going to make it tricky to apply this test…
20. burt 20

    31 October 2007 at 11:01 pm

    rOb

    “Tory Charity” early 2007, fresh policy mid 2007 and now Labour are looking into extending the laws surrounding tory charity. Funny eh, we didn’t need tory charity earlier this year because we have such a great welfare state and now we are looking to make it easier for people to donate via automatic deductions etc. I don’t think a ‘who stole who’s policies” battle is a good thing to start if you are defending a party that has been in power for 8 years.

    So apart from everything is rosy under the Labour led govt, just what are Labour planning for budget 2008, after all budget 2008 is planned for before the election. The ball is well and truly in Labour’s court, are they playing it or are they holding it and pointing at National for not playing it for them?

    The “reverse the parties” and reconsider your reactions test is a great spirit level and also a very good way to differentiate racism from social conditioning. EG: A quota was suggested by Europeans to make sure the All Blacks were 70% European to represent the population of NZ. Just sounds ridiculous but the reverse has been suggested several times.
21. r0b 21

    31 October 2007 at 11:21 pm

    Burt, I can’t make much sense of your last post. I guess one of us is too tired to think straight. Just in case it’s me – I’m off to sleep!
22. gobsmacked 22

    1 November 2007 at 8:59 am

    Morning all! Hey, do you need help working out what to think about yesterday’s events? Don’t fret, an “analyst” is here to help, courtesy of Newstalk ZB.

    “A political analyst believes Trevor Mallard has been promoted rather than demoted in Prime Minister Helen Clark’s reshuffle.

    Mr Mallard lost his front bench spot and sports portfolio, but David Farrar says it can hardly be called a demotion when he has scooped up some more important ones. Mr Mallard is now Environment Minister, Labour Minister and Broadcasting Minister. He also retains State Owned Enterprises. Mr Farrar says it is very much the wet bus-ticket syndrome.”

    Thanks for the “analysis”, David! And well done for including Compulsory Cliche #1 (wet bus ticket), but what about Compulsory Cliche #2 (deckchairs, Titanic)?

    In other news: Clark on top of her game and set for 4th term, says expert analyst Professor Peter Davis.
23. Tane 23

    1 November 2007 at 9:42 am

    gobsmacked, what time was that on ZB?
24. gobsmacked 24

    1 November 2007 at 10:14 am

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=126709
25. Tane 25

    1 November 2007 at 10:28 am

    cheers.
26. Bryce Edwards 26

    1 November 2007 at 3:07 pm

    It seems I touched a nerve at The Standard with my evaluation of the latest reshuffle… It hardly makes me a “angry man” because I point out that Maryan Street and Steve Chadwick haven’t been very impressive in politics. Yes – maybe I’ll be proven wrong, and they’ll be very popular and talented in their roles, but surely you can’t help evaluating their poor performance until now.

    No one was surprised to see Hodgson sacked from Health, precisely because he’s been so crap. Labour was elected to turn the health crisis around – but they’ve merely continued and entrenched it.

    Rob – if you are genuinely wanting to see a bold leftwing political programme, I’d advise you not to wait for it from the NZ Labour Party. You’ll turn into a frustrated old man before that ever happens!

    Bryce
    http://www.liberation.org.nz
27. Robinsod 27

    1 November 2007 at 3:22 pm

    Bryce – you’re an arse. I’ve been following your comments on this blog for a while and (surprisingly for me) keeping my mouth shut but someone from the libertarian left has to say this mate – you’re living in a dream world if you think bagging Labour with Tory lines (‘cos that’s what you’re recycling) is going to make things better.

    In fact I don’t think you want things to be better, I think you want the opportunity to smugly snipe from the sidelines. Now considering you’re in a privileged position you can afford to stay intellectually pure regardless of party political outcomes and good on you for that. But if you were a minimum wage worker, a beneficiary or pensioner or any other vulnerable New Zealander I suspect you’d be a bit less inclined to treat politics so sanctimoniously. But their problems ain’t yours are they Bryce?
28. r0b 28

    1 November 2007 at 3:51 pm

    Bryce, I have to agree with Robinsod’s sentiments (if not his tone). I gave up waiting for change years ago, now I work for it. You could too.

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