The latest Reid Research poll

Written By: - Date published: 4:10 pm, April 12th, 2019 - 173 comments
Categories: greens, jacinda ardern, labour, national - Tags:

It is a couple of days old but news of the poll are still reverberating. 

And so I thought it worthy of a post.  Newstalk ZB has the details:

A new Reid Research poll was commissioned by Business NZ, intended to gauge public support for capital gains tax, has shown minimal support for the smaller parties. 

The poll began on March 15, the same day as the terror attack, and ran until March 23, two days after Ardern announced the detail of gun reforms at her post Cabinet press conference.

As part of it, the 1000 polled were also asked which party they supported.

Once those who did not give a choice of party are taken out, Labour was on 49.6 per cent, National on 41.3 per cent and NZ First and the Green Party were languishing on 2.3 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively.

In the last Newshub Reid Research poll from February, Labour was on 47.5 and National was on 41.6 per cent.

And the bad news for National may not be over.  The poll was taken from March 15 to March 23.  Ever since then I have seen almost universal admiration for Jacinda Ardern.  And on the ground campaigning has shown a warmth for progressives that I have not seen in quite a while.

The plight of the Greens is of concern but I am confident they will improve matters.

National must be worried.  I would confidently predict that the next poll will see them under 40% unless things dramatically change.

The basic problem for all other parties is that right now Jacinda Ardern is burning bright.  And no one is close to matching her. 

173 comments on “The latest Reid Research poll ”

  1. James 1

    “The basic problem for all other parties is that right now Jacinda Ardern is burning bright. And no one is close to matching her. ”

    Hard to argue with that. Pretty much sums it up.

    I do however disagree with you on the greens – they are heading to gone burger.

    • Gareth 1.1

      The poll has a margin of error of 3.1%, so the results look more like:

      Labour 46.5 – 52.7
      National 38.2 – 44.4
      Greens – 0.8 – 7
      New Zealand First 0 – 5.4

      I’d take “languishing” with a grain of salt. You can’t accurately gauge support in this sort of poll when the margin of error is almost the same as what you’re trying to measure.

      • Incognito 1.1.1

        Incorrect, the MOE at 2.3% is 0.93% and at 3.9% it is 1.20%; the mentioned MOE of polls almost always refers to the midpoint of 50% unless indicated otherwise.

        • Sacha 1.1.1.1

          Quite. Which would make Greens 2.7 – 5.1 and Winston First 1.4 – 3.2
          I wish they would report the ranges for each party.

    • Bearded Git 1.2

      I doubt that the Greens have gone James-I appreciate you find it difficult to come to terms with an ethical party getting elected. But it is helpful that you are reminding Labour voters that they are unlikely to be elected without the Greens.

      Nats 45.0
      Lab 44.6
      Greens 4.9
      NZF 4.0
      Wasted 1.5

      Means a National government.

      If you want a Labour-led government tactical voters take note.

  2. Enough is Enough 2

    Labour is doing what National did – cannibalising its support partners.

    It worked for National because they could rely on Dunne, Turia, Seymour winning electorate seats. I am not sure Labour has that luxury.

    • Anne 2.1

      So, you’re saying that Labour arranged for the massacre to take place so that Jacinda Ardern could shine so bright they would be able to “cannibalise” its support partners?

      Some would say that is a conspiracy par excellence.

      • Michael 2.1.1

        If Labour did arrange it, they’ve made Machiavelli look like a bumbling amateur. Sp cunning, in fact, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

      • Rae 2.1.2

        And don’t forget she is to blame for the downturn in the world’s economy.

  3. greywarshark 3

    Why would Labour want to cannibalise its support parties. The whole idea of MMP
    is that everyone in the minorities and lower income levels has or is supposed to have, a stake in the government. If Labour could use their power to do something practical that benefits us all, business included, then it could become the natural leader. If only…Too late….I hope i won’t hear those awful words which I hate as indicating sad, missed opportunities.

    • Why would Labour want to cannibalise its support parties.

      It’s not a matter of what Labour wants or doesn’t want. If Ardern is constantly on the TV being universally adored, that improves Labour’s support, and a significant part of that increase will come from Labour’s support partners.

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 3.1.1

        I agree. Though you’d think it would be based more on policies than photo ops. A common trope bandied around the standard during the glorious days of the Key / English economic renaissance

        Jacinda has performed with such compassion she is the embodiment of her own speech about a new way of government. I’m in Australia right now and they are universally jealous of having a leader like Jacinda

        Simon is doing his best to help her by looking shifty as fuck about everything. Marama and Golriz are doing the greens no favours any time they open there mouths. Shame jones is doing annadmirabke job as a history teacher,reminding the electorate of the last time Nz first were in government.

        I’m only surprised Jacinda hasn’t got 50% of the vote

  4. Come the election all the parties will have some airtime. The Greens have a natural base as do New Zealand First. They are not puppet one man band parties in the way The Dunne and Seymour party are. I think it highly likely at least the Greens will make the 5% mark.

    • Cinny 4.1

      Absolutely agree with you Fairy Godmother, the Greens will get over 5% and they usually gain an extra seat after the special votes.

      Fun fact….. maureen pugh usually loses her seat after the special votes have been counted, it’s happened two elections in a row now 🙂

      As well there should be a good turnout of voters this coming election due to the referendums at the same time.

    • cleangreen 4.2

      Shane will win his seat for sure as lots of RGF funds are going there.

      Winston will stay there as an anchor for NZF as every meeting we went to the older members love him so much.

      Winston will want to keep the ugly ‘Inter-National’ Party out from ruling over his flock.

      I left the greens in 2002 when Rod Donald died and now today’s Green Party has hardly any older ‘seasoned Green Party’ folks around any more, so they are looking very much directionless.

      • mosa 4.2.1

        C.G Rod died in 2005 so at least you gave them three more years.

        • cleangreen 4.2.1.1

          Mosa,

          Sorry yes I had to leave in 2002 as we four Green Party members began a local group ‘Environmental Advocacy Centre’ and the Green Party HQ asked us to leave when we did.

          We kept going to meetings when Jeanette Fitzsimmons and Rod and Sue Kedgley came into a Napier public meeting.

          God we miss Rob he was a visionary and a very powerful but soft persuasive speaker.

          Sorry we have no calibre of that today.

          • Stuart Munro. 4.2.1.1.1

            Yep, I miss him too, had a few good chats with him. He always made a point of listening, which is not terribly common in our form of democracy.

      • Peter 4.2.2

        Shane Jone will only win his electorate, (if he stands in Whangarei again), if there are no other candidates. He registered almost 19% of the vote in 2017.

        And anyway the RGF funds going to Whangarei would hardly equal the amount which incumbent MP Shane Reti is spending on advertising. retirement will fly in.

      • Rae 4.2.3

        I am not at all sure about Winston doing another round. I doubt his health will hold up.

    • Infused 4.3

      Greens have stuffed it with the rabid shit they have been saying the last 6 months. Nzfirst has pissed off all his long time supporters. I dont think either will make the cut.

      2020 is labours to lose. Remember all govts get a bump when a catastrophe happens. What happened here though is that the increase came at the expense of supporting parties. National barely moved.

      • Jenny - How to get there? 4.3.1

        Infused, Instead of ‘spray and walk away’, you could tell us what you think ‘the rabid shit the Green Party have been saying the last 6 months.

  5. Stuart Munro. 5

    Labour is doing well, and I’m not too concerned about NZF, because they generally pick up a lot of dissenters in the run up to an election. I think the Greens have a few problems however. 1080 is by no means a win among all their supporters. Water would be, but it isn’t happening, nor are river recoveries. Offshore land and business sales like ports continue. Plastic bags was good, but it wasn’t legislatively challenging. Their bedrock is pretty solid of course, but they don’t need to lose much soft support to put them near the line.

    • cleangreen 5.1

      True that Stuart, see my take above.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 5.2

      1080, water, offshore land sales, plastic bags

      Hi, Stuart

      The five issues you listed as relevant to the Green Party’s re-election, omitted climate change. How did you miss the 300 pound gorilla riding a stampeding elephant in the front room?

      Any particular reason for ignoring the biggest environmental issue of all time?

  6. ScottGN 6

    Under this poll, once the wasted voted is redistributed to Labour and National, Labour would be a majority government with 65 seats. National would have 55. All the other parties would be gone. Very FPTP in style.
    The previous Reid Research Poll was a better result really. Labour 60 + Greens 7 = 67 a strong MMP majority government. National would have 53 seats. Every other party gone.

  7. indiana 7

    “Ever since then I have seen almost universal admiration for Jacinda Ardern. And on the ground campaigning has shown a warmth for progressives that I have not seen in quite a while.”

    Labour does not needs to be concerned about raising too much money for and election campaign…it’ll be a walk in the park for them.

  8. AB 8

    This is the high-water mark.
    Labour will settle back and the Greens will come up, as there are plenty of people to the left of an Ardern/Robertson Labour party. Winston will survive – 2008 took a concerted National/MSM effort and a manufactured pseudo-scandal to push him under 5% and even then it was close.
    And National will limp to 2020 with Bridges at the helm because nobody else wants the job yet. He will still pull 40% as a large chunk of NZ society will have nowhere else to go..

    Second-term Labour will start to look a bit lame though in comparison to a Sanders defeat of Trump in the same year – which might conceivably happen. However the ensuing conflagration of violent opposition is something we wouldn’t want here – so lame might be good in that respect.

    • alwyn 8.1

      It probably is as good as it gets for Labour.
      Disasters always favour the party in Government at the time, but it never lasts for very long.
      For example in 2011, around the time of the second Christchurch quake, the polls on either side of the quake gave an enormous swing to National.
      The quake was on 22 Feb.
      A poll on 20 Feb had National on 51% and Labour on 33%.
      Then on 17 April, about 7 weeks after the quake the reported numbers were National on 57.5% and Labour on 27.1%.
      By the time of the election about 7 months after the quake it was finally National on 47.3% and Labout on 27.5%.

      I think that Labour will be most unhappy they didn’t do better.

      I think the same thing will happen here to the Labour vote in particular.
      On the other hand both NZF and the Greens have been so overshadowed that I think they are gone for good. After the election we will have a Parliament of 119 members from Labour and National plus a lonely Seymour.

      • Muttonbird 8.1.1

        National are stuck in a very, very difficult place. This is as good as it gets for them with no far right partner.

        41% is pretty similar to the 32%+9% Labour/Greens managed over recent years and they were in semi-permanent opposition.

        National has nowhere to go but down and I am overjoyed at that thought. NZ deserves better than those crooks and their supporters.

  9. BM 9

    Peters could decide to walk at any time and go into government with National.
    Thus ending the reign of Ardern.

    At the moment they’re gone burger, they need some serious win to stay alive, might actually be what saves NZ First?, they desperately need to get out from underneath the shadow of Ardern, that goes for the Greens as well.

    The election is still a very long way off and no one can predict the future.

    • ScottGN 9.1

      As PM Ardern enjoys the right to call an election whenever she wants BM. Ever since the first poll of the year that had Labour in a strong position I imagine that even the remote possibility that she might do that (a la Hooten’s recent opining) has been very focussing for all the parties in the parliament.

      • BM 9.1.1

        How can she call an election if NZ First and National decided to form a government?

        Or is it some sort of get in first scenario? once the current PM says election, that’s it, to the polls we go? is that how it works?

        • mosa 9.1.1.1

          BM on the bottle again !
          Time for some therapy !

        • ScottGN 9.1.1.2

          The PM can ask the the GG to prorogue the parliament anytime he or she wants. In fact Morrison just got the Aussie GG to prorogue the parliament in Canberra, rather than a dissolution to trigger the election over there.
          I guess it’s possible that if Ardern was to inform the GG that she no longer commanded confidence of the House the GG could allow Bridges to test that confidence (i.e. your wacky scenario) with his new-found friends in NZFirst but in the face of a government bust-up like you’re positing it’s far more likely the GG would be within her rights to believe that the resulting administration was lacking in legitimacy and durability and move to dissolve the current parliament and require fresh elections. Commanding confidence in the parliament isn’t the only thing the Sovereign has, or needs, to consider. An election, you’d have to think, is the last thing NZFirst would want right now.

          • BM 9.1.1.2.1

            National + NZ First is greater than 50%, be pretty hard for the GG to say that the resulting administration was lacking in legitimacy and durability.

            An election, you’d have to think, is the last thing NZFirst would want right now.

            Of course, at the moment they’re a dead party walking.

            • ScottGN 9.1.1.2.1.1

              But so is National right? They’ve gone backwards since the last election and are now about 10% adrift of Labour. If Bridges was to try and pull the stunt you’re suggesting the punishment from the electorate at the next election (and I think it would be sooner rather than later) would be massive.

              • BM

                Be the end of Ardern though, the wonder girl would up sticks and head for the far greener pastures of the UN.

                • ScottGN

                  You reckon? Don’t you think the last few weeks have shown that a global audience (you’re assuming I guess that that’s what she craves) is just as possible from Wellington as New York nowadays? she doesn’t need to up sticks and go anywhere.

                • Ankerrawshark

                  BM channeling the useless Kate hawkeby

        • JanM 9.1.1.3

          Have you lost the plot completely? Why would Winston have anything to do with National after the way they have treated him?

    • cleangreen 9.2

      BM In your dreams lad.

      • BM 9.2.1

        More of a nightmare, but Bridges is a desperate Man so I wouldn’t put anything past him.
        Not like he’s ruled out NZ First or anything like that?

        • Muttonbird 9.2.1.1

          Winston Peters hates Simon Bridges more than English, and even Key if that’s possible. Simon Bridges embodies all that is wrong with the National Party. There’s simply no way Peters will endorse a worse product than one which he has already rejected.

          • mac1 9.2.1.1.1

            I’ve heard Peters in public at meetings with Grey Power and on the hustings locally. His dislike of National was real, visceral and clear. His interaction with Ardern in his many questions in the House during Question Time directed to the PM but against National is further and ongoing evidence that what BM is postulating just ain’t gonna happen in this term of Parliament. Wishful, last gasp thinking. All I can think of is Hitler poring over a table full of representations of lost divisions and non-existent armies proclaiming that secret super weapons would destroy the Allies and then the Allies and the Germans would unite to destroy the Bolshevik menace. Bosh!

    • Peters could decide to walk at any time and go into government with National.

      He could decide to shoot himself in the face as well, but the likelihood of either is somewhat remote.

    • left_forward 9.4

      The only thing goneburger bm and james is National.

      • James 9.4.1

        Really you are a special kind of stupid.

        But hey – I’ll take your bet

        I have $10,000 that says national are still in government or opposition after the next election – you willing to make the same bet about the greens and NZF?

        See ?

        You’re an idiot.

        • Skunk Weed 9.4.1.1

          Jimmy the Natzi’s will still be there after the 2020 Election with a severely reduced majority, whether NZF & the Greens can get enough votes to remain relevant is anyone’s guess ?

          Adern is achieving Rockstar Status like Sir John Key did when wealthy NZ property owning New Zealanders and Chinese Immigrants fell head over heels in love with him and his self made wealth “rags to riches” story.

          Adern is being held in high esteem by the world media and leaders as a true talent even Oprah Whitney is beating her drum ?

          • Muttonbird 9.4.1.1.1

            She’s had 10 times the impact on the international stage than Key and she’s not finished yet.

            It’s funny that the hateful right call her a silly little girl when she clearly has 10 time the maturity than drop-the-soap John Key.

        • left_forward 9.4.1.2

          A childish response Jimmy.

    • Peters is an honourable man and sticks to agreements. He lasted in the Clark government because Clark stuck to her side of the bargain. I think Adern will do the same. The reason he jumped ship in the Shipley government was because the Nats didn’t stick to the bargain.

      • Muttonbird 9.5.1

        The Nats and their voter base are not honest people, that’s why. Never have been, never will be.

        • James 9.5.1.1

          Muttonbird wildly calls around 45% (or a bit lower depending on which poll) of the country dishonest with zero evidence and wonders why he comes across as a bitter and envious loser.

          • KJT 9.5.1.1.1

            It’s a shame that 35 years of celebrating, dishonest cheats making fortunes, has bought about that result. Eh?

          • Muttonbird 9.5.1.1.2

            Well, you are not honest for one. There’s all that personal back history you have used in your arguments on this forum which don’t stand up to scrutiny.

            I notice you attacking the man more these days too. Not your usual happy-go-lucky self.

            Everything ok?

        • Skunk Weed 9.5.1.2

          Agree +100% never trust a Natzi ?

      • cleangreen 9.5.2

        1000% Fairy Godmother.

    • Gabby 9.6

      Who’s the nat he’d be happy working under BMmer?

    • mpledger 9.7

      The latest XKCD seems relevant.
      https://xkcd.com/2136/

  10. SPC 10

    If there was an election, some of the Labour vote would go to the Greens to get them over 5% and some of both the Labour (those who support the L-NZF coalition continuing) and National (those who do not support the L-NZF coalition) vote would go to NZF.

    • cleangreen 10.1

      SPC Maybe or not.

    • bwaghorn 10.2

      If i was a nat voter i would consider voting nzf because the nats havnt got a hope in hell at the next election.

      • BM 10.2.1

        That’s what I’ll do if Bridges is still Leader in 2020.

        Be the fly in the ointment.

        • bwaghorn 10.2.1.1

          You already are old chap.

        • Infused 10.2.1.2

          Dont know why. Hes a dickhead. Better voting act.

          My old man voted for Peter’s and never wants to talk about it now. Hes seriously pissed off an older generation. He will be gone next election

          • higherstandard 10.2.1.2.1

            “He will be gone next election”

            No doubt about that the question will be where ?

            Dead ? He’s none to healthy although he did give up smoking some years back.

            Assuming Labour get in at the next election (not a dead certainty but quite likely) or Winston did a deal during the coalition talks I’m expecting a five to ten year sinecure along the lines of Anette King’s for the old trougher. Not that he needs it as he’ll be banking the old politicians super plus perks now and though his dotage.

      • cleangreen 10.2.2

        Waghorn; Actually you have the best advice there as NZF is a balanced common sense party now.

        • bwaghorn 10.2.2.1

          Didnt want them there but i thnk Winston is doing ok .
          Jurys out on the jones boy.

        • KJT 10.2.2.2

          Shane Jones.

          Opposed removing 90 day bills.
          Opposed increasing workers rights.

          On behalf of Talleys.

          “Sensible” if you think accepting bribes/sorry funding for legislation favouring one family business, is sensible.

      • Skunk Weed 10.2.3

        National voters will have to vote NZF at the next Election 2020 as a form of cheap insurance otherwise we will have a Labour Party in control of the purse strings and all hell could break loose with reckless spending on unviable projects and whacky ideology ?

        • KJT 10.2.3.1

          Like the last nine years, eh, SW?

        • bwaghorn 10.2.3.2

          It will help the cosevitaves sleep at night .
          Also if the idea gets out that you better vote winston because the nats are fucked it becomes a self fulfilling
          Proficy. ( sorry for the spelling spell check let me down )😏

  11. NZF will be history once Winston resigns as he has a cult like status with his followers, who will pick up the reins, Shane Jones, Ron Marks or Tracey Martin ?

    • cleangreen 11.1

      Yes correct Skunk weed

      Winston has a very loyal devoted following for sure as we see it every time we attend a meeting he goes to.

      He is a legend.

      • higherstandard 11.1.1

        Is ‘legend’ the tag the young one’s use for describing a piss soaked old troughing bigot these days ?

        • Psycho Milt 11.1.1.1

          Hey, some of us are planning to be at the very least piss-soaked and old at some point, if perhaps not bigots (nor troughers, if only perhaps through lack of opportunity/ambition). In WP’s case, there is a case to be made that someone able to forge a lucrative career out of suckers being born any minute could be called a “legend” – not all legends are attractive ones.

        • Gabby 11.1.1.2

          Nobody’s calling Judee a legend hirestandards.

    • bwaghorn 11.2

      Better hope winston hangs on or well see a cup of tea being shared in nothland between jones and who ever is the nat leader.

    • JanM 11.3

      Tracey Martin is a very fine person = she would be great

  12. Pat 12

    The fact National are still polling above 40% is a positive for them….given all that has occurred….their base is substantial and holding

    • KJT 12.1

      Amazing.

      But as we know, about 40% of the population are below average intelligence.

      10 more bridges to sell you.

    • cleangreen 12.2

      True Pat,

      Crusher Collins doesn’t look to happy?

      Wonder if greens will join them?

      Maybe national will give them a free seat?

      They did this for Act.

      Labour could give NZF a seat as well?

    • ScottGN 12.3

      Yeah but holding the base at 40% (and between them Labour and the Greens have a similar 40% base) isn’t going to deliver government unless they can bridge the gap to 48% to 50% with another party. Still no sign of that happening.

      • Pat 12.3.1

        no it isnt…but sooner or later an alternative will present itself

        • ScottGN 12.3.1.1

          You think so? Whenever something possible comes along National’s instinct is to devour it. It may just be that, intrinsically National won’t support a party on their flank. I mean how much longer do they need to get to grips with the mechanics of MMP?

    • swordfish 12.4

      Pat

      The fact National are still polling above 40% is a positive for them

      Yeah, I agree.

      On the one hand …

      Last year, a whole swathe of media political comentators significantly overstated just how well the Nats were allegedly doing. Much talk of them supposedly defying political gravity … the core notion – pushed by everyone from Chris Trotter to Tracy Watkins, David Farrar to Heather du Plessis-Allan – being that the 2018 Nats were proving almost unique in avoiding the rapid plunge in popularity allegedly suffered by virtually all previous newly-defeated Major Opposition Parties.

      But that simply wasn’t true. Mass voter desertion is not even remotely the historic norm for Major Parties that have just lost power. The claim actually inverts reality … set against historical precedent, the 2018 Nats were actually performing mildly below par (in terms of their post-Election Poll trajectory).

      But …

      Having said that, in the current (post-March 15) political climate … I’d say the Nats could be forgiven for being quietly content with their polling numbers.

      I mean, clearly they haven’t been able to win back their former supporters & other Righties who swung to Labour at the 2017 Election … nor the small segment who clearly swung from Nat to Lab last year … but they have managed to avoid the very real prospect of a plunge following the PMs internationally acclaimed performance over the last few weeks.

      (Although, of course, in the wake of the Christchurch Massacre, it still feels a little distasteful to be analysing Party Support numbers … particularly in relation to the event itself)

      • Pat 12.4.1

        I went back and checked Nationals polling numbers post Jenny Shipley when Bill English took over leadership and discovered a Colmar poll that had them at 39%…I find it surprising that for all the problems National had coming out of Shipley’s leadership they were nothing compared to the contemporary situation and yet that bar hasnt been limboed (yet)…and Bridges is not the politician English was even back then….tribalism in stark relief.

        The event itself (and responses) is only part of the story.

        • swordfish 12.4.1.1

          Yep … the 2017 General Election may have been unusually closely-contested but those voting decisions have also remained unusually stable over the last 18 months. Significantly less support volatility than in past post-Election periods of the 80s / 90s / early Zeros. It’s much more like the 70s.

          (Incidentally, Nat support had started to rebound in the months between (1) MPs making up their mind to dump Shipley once and for all and (2) the actual day of the leadership spill itself. Support then plunged fairly quickly after English displaced Shipley … although, as you’ve implied, not in the initial few polls)

      • Anne 12.4.2

        There are two further factors that need to be taken into account.

        First, the meme which had been steadily growing traction that Jacinda was a nice person but not up to the job. It was started by Bridges and the Nats (of course) but their media stooges quickly picked it up and ran with it. It was a good fit for the conservative and misogynistic among us, but is going to be a good deal less successful in the foreseeable future.

        The second relates to the average age of the media contingent which seems to be around 30-33. The dearth of historical political knowledge among this age group is astounding. You could almost go so far as to mention ‘Norman Kirk’ and they would want to know whether he was a National or Labour PM. That means they are free to pass judgements and predictions without any recourse to historical precedents of any note.

        • Incognito 12.4.2.1

          There used to be another meme too. Ardern was an ‘accidental’ PM and it was rightful for National to be leading Government because of scoring the majority plurality vote in the GE. It was only because of WP that National got denied their rightful place.

      • Sacha 12.4.3

        “pushed by everyone from Chris Trotter to Tracy Watkins, David Farrar to Heather du Plessis-Allan”

        My, what a diverse line-up. 🙂

  13. KJT 13

    If the questions were as leading as the one on CGT, this poll is rather suspect.

    • ScottGN 13.1

      Absolutely. Let’s not forget this was a poll conducted on behalf of Business NZ. As part of their lobbying around a CGT. The only real surprise is just how well Labour did in it. Alarm bells must be ringing in National.

  14. Muttonbird 14

    It should be pointed out that this poll was at the height of the attacks on the CGT so should be a high point for National and yet they are dropping.

    Worrying signs for greedy New Zealanders.

    • ScottGN 14.1

      It was also conducted through most of the immediate aftermath of the terror attack on Christchurch.

      • Muttonbird 14.1.1

        It’s amazing support for the Nats is so high even considering it’s a Business NZ commissioned poll.

        Amazing considering Simon Bridges multiple gaffs and mismanagement.

        Amazing that those polled would still vote for a government lead by a man who has caused so much trouble for his own party through clumsiness and corruption, and who is clearly unfit to lead a country. Those polled will be responding with base, tribal aversion to sharing wealth for the good of all. It is after all the major focus for right wing people.

        Consider how Jacinda Ardern’s qualities have been amplified since becoming PM both domestically and internationally. Then consider how Simon Bridges qualities would also be amplified both domestically and internationally were he to become PM…

        That is a scary thought!

        • WeTheBleeple 14.1.1.1

          An international embarrassment the comedians would make a meal of his accent, then we’d have people throwing Simon at us like Aussies get Crocodile Dundee.

          Mocking our woy of loife.

  15. Fingers crossed this is the end of NZ1st – Horrible centre right party. They only went with labour because Peters was on a revenge mission for 2008 and key’s risk managing, ruling him out all those times because he’s flaky and clearly the majority of people really don’t like or trust him.

    Fortunately, JA isn’t key, and the potential for damage, as repeatedly seen by Jones’ actions and Winston’s senility catching up with him, hasn’t touched her numbers in the slightest. Probably she gains by being seen as his tamer.

    Parliament would be best served without the old tory anywhere near it.

  16. peterlepaysan 16

    Winston is a very,very cunning survivor. Do not write him off.

    We live in an MMP environment.

    National still holds to its cherished white male self entitled rulership rule.

    The mmp referendum (back when?), and the March 15 (2019) massacre might (just) have shifted them out of the 19th century.

    The wealthy payrollers of the natz need to wake up.

    Wealth belongs to all of us that help create it, not to only the capitalistic mafia that is the nz national party.

    If polls mean anything (something I doubt) it is depressing that that some 40% of those polled think that the natz should govern. Highly questionsable on any long term business grounds.

    What sort of fwits would support the natz? Surely not clever business people?

    • cleangreen 16.1

      1000% correct Peter.

    • James 16.2

      “National still holds to its cherished white male self entitled rulership rule.”

      Keep up sunshine.

      Simon bridges is Maori.

      • KJT 16.2.1

        Only when he thinks it will get him votes.

        • cleangreen 16.2.1.1

          Simon Bridges = changeable as NZ weather now is.

        • Muttonbird 16.2.1.2

          Indeed. Can you imagine Bridges embracing the language and culture of Maori? 5% preferred PM would begin to look good.

          James doesn’t understand what is and isn’t Maori, he’s English.

      • Rapunzel 16.2.2

        What does that mean? How does is “thimblespoon” of something relevant? He is all of the other things plus “religious” before he is even remotely “Maori” in any relevant sense.

        • James 16.2.2.1

          So much casual racism. Sorry that you are not happy enough with his maori %age and therefore it’s ok to call him white.

          • Rapunzel 16.2.2.1.1

            I’m just not sure when you decided he is Maori I am suggesting he is more than that and that those plus religion have far more bearing on his thoughts so how Maori he is irrelevant except to you and him when it suits you both.

            • James 16.2.2.1.1.1

              You do understand people don’t get to decide if he is Maori – he is Maori.

              Right ?

              • Rapunzel

                100%? Nothing else? What sort of BS is that?

              • peterlepaysan

                My response was about the national party. Not about Bridges.

                Pay attention.

                If you do not pay attention you mighy be considered a troll.

        • Skunk Weed 16.2.2.2

          Correct Simon and Pulla have only a thimble full of Maori blood in them and pull it out on the odd occasion to appeal to the Maori voters ?

    • greywarshark 16.3

      The sort that will vote nat are the ones who view them as the right party to keep them wealthy. That is the main thing. Utterly materialistic, might go to church if it enhances their image. Not interested in people outside their clique, so tales of houselessness and bad health for others won’t move them. If things look good to them and for them tha’s the ticket.

  17. Grantoc 17

    The circumstances at the time of this poll were unique. The Christchurch massacre had occurred just as polling started and Jacinda was doing a superb job as pm in leading the response to this event. She dominated the media. National, like Labour before it at the time of the Christchurch earthquakes, was invisible.

    Of course Labour improved its position in the polls. Its probably surprising that they didn’t do better.

    However national polities are returning to normality. Debates over the proposed Capital Gains Tax; housing: education reforms, strikes, a slowing economy etc means that National will be back in the game. If anything, if National is half way effective as an opposition, the next poll is just as likely to show a narrowing of the gap between the two major parties.

    Arden has a considerable amount of political capital in the bank right now. Strategically her best move may well be to call an early election. In doing so there’s a very good chance that NZ First would not be returned (and maybe the greens as well). Under this scenario Labour would be returned decisively, unencumbered by NZ First and with a strong mandate to carry out its agenda. NZ First are on the wrong side of the debate right now and are very vulnerable if there were to be an early election.

    • Stuart Munro. 17.1

      “if National is half way effective as an opposition”

      I’m not sure they’ve quite come up to that standard as yet, they still seem to kvetch randomly rather than strategically.

      And there is still a declining trend which need not have bottomed out yet. A lot of it will be based on Gnat non-performances that they were able to conceal while they were in power – things like mass immigration fraud, appalling mismanagement of the Chch rebuild, poo in the rivers, nitrification of aquifers, and mycoplasma. These issues also limit their ability to attack productively in each sphere.

  18. Observer Tokoroa 18

    About Winston

    I think there is a bond between Jacinda and Winston. Not only a Bond – but a very strong Bond.

    I believe that the public are aware of that. They know that Winston has performed his roles with a very adept Hand. Time and time again.

    Not only that, he looks a fine distinguished man when on Overseas Assignments. That’s because he has a finely chiseled Mind. He is always ahead of the assignment.

    Every time the Dames of Simon try to demolish him they fall on their fat bottoms. They lack elegance, wit or ANY ideas. Not just Judith. But Frau Bennett too.

    Simon has been hanging around Police and Parliament for many years now and National are looking shabby.

    Worse still, they are shoveling money into the hands of the very wealthy, while fine Workers are struggling monstrously – courtesy of Hosking, granny herald, flushy Boag, John Liar Key, Billy low life English. All of whom are monstrously wealthy.

    National is on the cusp of Anihilation. All down to GREED.

    Fortunately, Seymour is allowing National to kill themselves off without a doctor .

    • Rapunzel 18.1

      There is no way the Winston Peters will go any where National, by the time, if they do or can do anything to redeem themselves to electable he probably by then will have retired. Even if they have not been properly called to acccount for what they did to the NZ housing market that has put many middle NZers on the back foot or entirely out of the market forever the so-called internal enquiry plus the continuation of chucking staff under the bus and bad mouthing MPs that they refuse to “comment” on are warning signs enough they have learned nothing.
      Living in Tauranga I have moved to the Maori roll so my candidate vote is not wasted again and if it looks to be necessary I will party vote NZF because while no one has a “magic wand” and never did the coalition is providing a fine and much better balance for NZers than any other option would ever go close to.

    • cleangreen 18.2

      Observation Tokoroa

      Yes we agree “Inter’National” are clutching at straws again tying the old ‘discredit policy on Shane Jones on today’s ‘The Nation”.

      The attempt by the Natz ‘stool pigeon’ -Toba O’Brian’s loaded accusations just effectively bounced off Shane as he wiped the floor with her stupid questions and lack of respect.

    • Bazza64 18.3

      Distinguished on overseas assignments- Does that include when he was in Turkey doing a Robert Mugabe & having a kip while he was on NZ business? Not a bad job getting paid to sleep, to be fair maybe he was scared the Turks would lock him up if he complained about Ergodan

  19. James 19

    I think this is a high point for Jacinda (I feel people are voting for her – not labour).

    Once labour start with the CGT sell (when they finally make up their mind at the end of the month) and the gun buyback (which I predict they will short change a lot of people because they are scared of the total cost). People will see a very real impact for them in the pocket and labour’s numbers will come down.

    • Rapunzel 19.1

      You’re wrong, this person – me for one – is voting for the coalition and not the leader, that the leader is performing well and working well with her deputy and govt partners is just a plus.

      • James 19.1.1

        Sorry I should have said a lot of people – obv not all. There will be some that vote for the col but the current big swing is behind JA. Just read the comments they are all about her and her image.

        • Rapunzel 19.1.1.1

          If you want to get hung up on image in my view there was/is an “image” that the National Party was competent expecially fiscally so and also in my view that around 40% of NZers stick to that “idea” as they view it as the “safest/conservative” option. Some economists opinions seem to be that globalisation/expansion has reached a peaked and more organic ways to live other than purely focussing on “money” are the new “norm” that people are heading to willingly or not. If Ardern represents a new “norm” that people relate to and which they perceive as being of better all round benefit to them and their families it is a counter option to what has been the “norm” previously.
          The new norm I think is healthy and useful, but it requires the sort of thought and participation that looked to have become a thing of the past. Just a small hint at this is parents/young people being more relaxed, and I have seen happier, about them taking up everyday trades rather than the fiction they will go to university and be the new “Hawkings/Gates/Jobs or whatever”.
          Engagement of more people and their participation is the “ideal” that needs to be worked towards.

    • KJT 19.2

      Every poll but one, which used a blatantly leading question, says the majority support a CGT.
      And only a few care, if the owners of Rambo guns, don’t make a profit in the buyback.

      So. These are unlikely to affect poll numbers.

      You may be right in that the endless, “lying in unison” on Nationals behalf will drop Labour/Greens numbers again. And NZF without Winston is gone.

      • James 19.2.1

        Time will tell but I predict when the election comes CGT is not going to be a vote winner

        • KJT 19.2.1.1

          Maybe not. Given the massive volume of well funded lies about it, from the greedy.

          • James 19.2.1.1.1

            Let’s wait and see how bullshit the buyback is going to be. #speakingoflies

            • KJT 19.2.1.1.1.1

              Yeah. Let’s see how many Rambo’s are unhappy the Government won’t let them make a profit on their WMD, eh?

              • cleangreen

                KJT

                Put James as Rambo # 1 on that list.

                He needs a ‘rapid fire weapon’ to down his prey.

                As he is a lousy shooter as is a blogger.

          • patricia bremner 19.2.1.1.2

            The use of the CGT money will be key to how people finally react.

            Further James, they have used the Aussie buyback model for the weapons, to avoid errors. It worked there so should work here, as Aussies by and large are more right wing than Kiws.

  20. Observer Tokoroa 20

    It is good to read your Comments.

    I am no Guru, But I do feel that Jacinda – who Simon despises – has risen to heights that give only great credit to Her – and to we the people of Aotearoa.

    For our young ones – voice will be raised saying: “I lived in the age of Prime Minister Jacinda, and the whole World loved Her.”

    ” Jacinda helped us get Heating. Jacinda helped us get Housing. Jacinda heleped us get some free education. Jacinda respected all our Whenua. Jacinda respected all our Pakeha.

    Unlike Billy English and John Key (both of whom made themselves Knights of the Realm) Jacinda never rubbished the Youth of New Zealand. Not once!

    I believe the Queen of New Zealand should definitely and deliberately remove the Knighthoods she gave Key and English.

    For those two damned all New Zealand Youth. Treasonous ! The Queen should Speak and Act. After all, She is Elizabeth 11. Betty Windsor. She would not wish her children to be dumped on as Rubbish.

    National never stood up for their own kids. Too busy grubbing money off the Chinese.

    Am I right or wrong ?

    • Incognito 20.1

      I am no Guru, But I do feel that Jacinda – who Simon despises – has risen to heights that give only great credit to Her – and to we the people of Aotearoa. [my bolds]

      You are projecting.

    • James 20.2

      “Jacinda helped us get housing”

      You are right – you are not a guru.

      You may missed the entire prize clusterfuck that is kiwibuild.

      While Jacinda has handled the Christchurch massacre very well – her other programs have been a disaster.

      • Incognito 20.2.1

        While Jacinda has handled the Christchurch massacre very well – her other programs have been a disaster.

        The massacre was one of her “programs”!? What are you saying, James? You do know that her reaction was not scripted at all, don’t you?

      • KJT 20.2.2

        A net thousands of houses already, ahead of National is hardly a disaster.

        It takes time to turn around nine years of disastrous vandalism.

        It is people like you who slow down, or prevent, solving problems

      • Skunk Weed 20.2.3

        Problem is with Kiwibuild it is difficult to build reasonably priced homes in NZ because land prices have been pushed so high by National’s Mass Immigration Plan and the price of building materials has gone through the roof ?

      • Ankerrawshark 20.2.4

        James “her other programs have been a disaster”. Minority viewpoint isn’t noted.

      • patricia bremner 20.2.5

        James, Social housing continues, in spite of Kiwi build… You are lying by omission.

        • James 20.2.5.1

          No I’m not. They had a program kiwibuild with all sorts of promises. It’s an unmitigated failure.

          It stood along as a program. Trying to add bit to make it look less shit is bullshit spin.

    • cleangreen 20.3

      I hope you are right Observer Tokoroa.

  21. Observer Tokoroa 21

    Hi Incognito

    Love your leanings on the Bold.

    You are announcing that you are un – projecting.

    I take it that your children are Rubbish – according to John Key, Billy English and National withdrawal.

    • James 21.1

      “I take it that your children are Rubbish – according to John Key, Billy English and National withdrawal”

      Bringing others children into it (if they even have them) is uncalled for.

    • Incognito 21.2

      I’m projecting my observation of your claim that Simon Bridges “despises” Jacinda Ardern.

  22. Ad 22

    An 8-point gap at this point is amazingly good for National.

    Cataclysmic leader, no policy, media suck-hole to the Prime Minister.

    At 41% I would be pretty chuffed.

    • Skunk Weed 22.1

      I would have thought National would be happy at 41% with there poor performance over the past 18 months.

      • cleangreen 22.1.1

        Skunk weed

        “Inter-National” were hoping for a magic fall in labour polling after the ‘week of negative shit they threw at Labour and NZF’ MP’s.

        But alas; – it didn’t shine for them; – boo hoo!!!.

    • Muttonbird 22.2

      Rubbish. This was the point at which the CGT was going to sink this government and kick the Silly Little Girl out back into the kitchen where she belongs.

      And she just widens the gap.

  23. Sanctuary 23

    The thing is politically Christchurch stuffed the narrative from the right.

    The whole theme of a “silly little girl” being bossed around by Winston is a wonky accidental government vanished, to be replaced with exactly the opposite narrative – a stellar leader who has grown into the role, with an accidental opponent whose authority is diminishing before our eyes leading a party with zero relevance.

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    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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