The Peters principle

70 comments on “The Peters principle ”

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1. Pete George 1

   2 August 2011 at 7:43 am

   But I can’t help but wonder if with this promise, he might not just have found a way back in.

   I think the electorate has grown wary of lolly scramble promises, especially from someone who is unlikely to be able to deliver.

   And I agree with Bryce Edwards, Peters is looking tired and not “with it” like he used to be.
   • Colonial Viper 1.1

     2 August 2011 at 8:57 am

     Lolly scramble? Sounds like a serious proposition to keep skills and ambition in NZ. It show NZ young people that we are willing to put resources behind them, not just their parent’s generation.
     • Ari 1.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 10:45 am

       Yeah, I think there will be many young voters who think that this is a serious and worthwhile policy idea. It could even bump Peters up past 5%.
       • mik e 1.1.1.1

         2 August 2011 at 5:08 pm

         Labour should give Peters Chris Carters seat so he can drag in 6or 7 seven seats
         • R 1.1.1.1.1

           2 August 2011 at 6:24 pm

           much as I loathe Winston, I loathe Key and Brash far more; I think you have a *very* good idea there.
     • felix 1.1.2

       2 August 2011 at 11:36 am

       If you believe that govts have no business improving the lives of ordinary people, then you can define all sorts of things as lolly scrambles.
       • Craig Glen Eden 1.1.2.1

         2 August 2011 at 3:18 pm

         Pete George reminds me of one Roger Douglas he was all anti the super gold card the country couldnt afford he said but when it came to politicians travel expense, well that was different it was his contactual right and he had earnt it! So what was Keys tax cut for the rich Pete pixie dust? Felix has got your number Pete thats fore shore
2. Trevor L 2

   2 August 2011 at 7:52 am

   Whether people like Peters or not, and whether his ‘dollar for dollar’ student loan policy is vote buying – I would have to say it makes perfect sense.

   Students currently flock overseas taking all their knowledge and skills with them, in return we get (at times at least) second or third rate immigrant proffesionals to fill the jobs they could have taken.

   If we can do something to keep them here, then it will in the long run save the country money and make the Country way better off socially, and be a stronger attraction for investors and other more highly skilled immigrants to come and work in.

   As for ‘not being able to achieve his promises’, well I think that is quite unfair. In past years he promised free Drs visits for children (we got it), 1000 extra Police (we got them), pay parity for Primary School Teachers (they got it), and so on.

   It will be a great shame if people do not see sense and give NZ First their party vote at least, as we deperately need accountability put back into Gov’t, as there has been none in the last three years.
   • Gosman 2.1

     2 August 2011 at 8:19 am

     There is little to no evidence to support the view that increased state funding of tertiary education makes much difference to the economic growth of a country. However there is evidence to suggest that money spent on early childhood education makes a huge difference in later life. The solution is therefore easy. Slash spending on Tertiary students and instead spend it on pre-school kids.
     • Colonial Viper 2.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 8:58 am

       Apparently Gosman thinks that a country with a McDonalds-barrista economy doesn’t need many university graduates in the work force.

       And you would be right, you idiot.
   • Gosman 2.2

     2 August 2011 at 8:20 am

     BTW Trevor L, how did NZF bring accountability to the last Labour led Government?
3. tc 3

   2 August 2011 at 8:24 am

   I’ve always thought we should notionally forgive student debt by say 10pc of each years salary in the workforce, after 5 years the debt would be way down and we’ve got the benefit of their education contributing.
   Also they’re likely to return after going offshore having laid roots and maybe families in NZ first if they go at all.
   Make it more a system that rewards contributing not a straight debt mechanism.
   This policy to me makes sense and I’d like to see the nats have the guts to adopt.
   • Gosman 3.1

     2 August 2011 at 8:41 am

     As I stated there is little evidence to support the belief that state funding of Tertiary education makes a difference to the economic performance of a country so why would you want to do this?
     • mik e 3.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 5:27 pm

       Gosman which economics books did you read.Once again its well proven that people with tertiary education have higher incomes ,are more healthy, live longer, work longer, their children achieve much higher . Economies with better a better educated population have higher and more sustainable growth, with thinking like yours we will continue the slide down the OECD. No beef with you on early childhood education.But its not going to make a big Difference until we deal with the ghastly 25%of our children living in poverty, the right are bashing them by neglecting to do any thing about this abhorrent Reality it is costing our economic development now and is going to cost us heaps more in the future when they grow up unskilled and even poorer! A permanent drag on the economy, But that doesn’t seam to phase the right its their fault so just leave them in poverty they deserve it any other solution gets knocked down to being envy.
4. vto 4

   2 August 2011 at 8:49 am

   ha ha ha

   I find Peters even more amusing than Key.
   • the pink postman 4.1

     2 August 2011 at 3:51 pm

     Im afraid I
     • the pink postman 4.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 4:04 pm

       Im afraid I do not find either funny.both want power at any cost. Peter’s would stand on his head for a vote. However one can see what he’s up to. Key unfortunatly scares the shit out of me . He is the most dangerous politician /PM we have ever had ,and that includes the Fascist S Holland and the drink crazed power mad Muldoon . Columist Yasmin Brown once said the two most dangerous men in the world were Aussie PM Howard and Murdoch. I would agree but Key is high on the list of deceitfull dangerous men with power. That is what scares me .
       • gnomic 4.1.1.1

         3 August 2011 at 12:19 am

         Agree – Key is the very epitome of a hollow man. Seeing him on the Letterman show again of late is utterly cringeworthy. Look at me, I’m on Letterman. Sad really. You can’t buy dignity. Not what the country needs at a time of crisis. Or ever for that matter. Holidays in Hawaii, says it all.

         http://www.cassiopaea.com/cassiopaea/psychopath.htm

         This lack of “soul quality” makes them very efficient “machines.” They can be brilliant, write scholarly works, imitate the words of emotion, but over time, it becomes clear that their words do not match their actions. They are the type of person who can claim that they are devastated by grief who then attend a party “to forget.” The problem is: they really DO forget.

         Being very efficient machines, like a computer, they are able to execute very complex routines designed to elicit from others support for what they want. In this way, many psychopaths are able to reach very high positions in life. It is only over time that their associates become aware of the fact that their climb up the ladder of success is predicated on violating the rights of others.”
5. Trevor L 5

   2 August 2011 at 9:14 am

   Gosman. NZ First stood up (in the most part) to their original principles with all the Gov’ts they supported. Key in particular attacks Peters by saying “Well, he was fired from almost every Gov’t he was in so I wouldn’t work with him”. Um – hello – he came out of the Gov’t position he was in because they wanted to do something anti-NZ and anti-families in every case, in other words – he didn’t relent on what he said he stood for, unlike Key.

   With Labour (by the way I despised Labour for what they did and didn’t do) he at least kept things mostly visible to the public, as they knew he would expose anything they tried to get up to behind the scenes. What we have had for the last three years is National making so many backroom deals it is frightening. Even when we finally learn of them, the media does everything it can to stick up for Key and his failed Gov’t – so the public just lets them get away with it, every time.

   As for ‘why would we want to keep NZ graduates in NZ?’ – your question is hard to fathom really. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to? I for one get more and more nervous when I have a hospital visit and am seen by Dr’s and nurses who barely speak understandable English, let alone the soaring rates of medical misadventure we now have. I would much prefer NZ medical graduates over some from 2nd and 3rd World countries where the training is, to say the least, questionable.

   I guess people will get what they vote for. Vote National and have our assets sold and see the rich get richer while the majority of us sink towards poverty, and possibly destroy NZ permanently, or party vote NZ First and have a chance of keeping our assets, students, and reversing law changes that 85% of people didn’t want made.
   • higherstandard 5.1

     2 August 2011 at 9:21 am

     Trevor you are both a complete numpty and a casual bigot.

     “As for ‘why would we want to keep NZ graduates in NZ?’ – your question is hard to fathom really. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to? I for one get more and more nervous when I have a hospital visit and am seen by Dr’s and nurses who barely speak understandable English, let alone the soaring rates of medical misadventure we now have. I would much prefer NZ medical graduates over some from 2nd and 3rd World countries where the training is, to say the least, questionable.”

     There is no more medical misadventure among immigrant health professionals than there is amongst locally trained health professionals, not only are the immigrant health professionals put through a fairly rigorous review before being registered in NZ but I’ve found the vast majority to be extremely hard working and caring individuals and am delighted they chosen to come here to work and often make NZ their home.
     • Trevor L 5.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 11:35 am

       So – I am “bigot” because I like to be able to understand what a Dr or nurse is saying to me?

       So when a Dr gives a nurse instructions, yet she can barely understand what he has said, that isn’t at all dangerous?

       Where is your evidence that there is not any more medical misadventure from Drs who were trained in 2nd or 3rd World countries compared to NZ trained Drs? Do you have any evidence, or are you just a “complete numpty”?

       What a sad state the World has come to when if you even mention the words ‘English” “accent” or “immigrant” you are instantly labelled a ‘racist’. I provided reasons and facts, you just provided assumptions and emotions. I guess I win, unless you want to back up your claims with facts?

       To be fair, my claims are backed up mainly by correlation with increasing medical errors and increasing numbers of immigrant health professionals. But also by much experience in the health system due to congenitive heart problems (as well as working as a health professional). On at least two occasions I have had newly immigrated Dr’s make potentially life threatening decisions about my health care, that were luckily corrected in time by NZ trained health professionals. I wonder how many more have had this happen to them?

       But hey – lets just let all NZ born citizens leave, and replace them with immigrants – isn’t that what National and their supporters want?
       • vto 5.1.1.1

         2 August 2011 at 11:49 am

         Yes Trevor L you have to watch out for that as there are quite a few words and questions and issues which, if raised, instantly label you racist. You just struck a couple of them. Funny thing is you are not allowed to apply the reasoning back at the accuser – apparently that just further confirms your bigotry.

         Certain issues must be worded in one particular way and other issues can be worded in any way you please. Buggered if I know how the system works – it lacks all logic and reason.

         Questioning near anything in the Maori world is one. Immigrants is another. Religion of course (certain types). The list is quite extensive. Basically anything that lacks an element of white western middle class and male is just not allowed.

         But don’t worry about it just keep asking the questions if you think they are legitimate. I do it all the time and you should see the shit that gets thrown at me.
       • higherstandard 5.1.1.2

         2 August 2011 at 2:45 pm

         Trevor you are a numpty and a casual bigot due to the fact you’ve attributed a perceived increase in medical misadventure to non-NZ trained health professionals – there is no evidence that this is the case whatsoever.

         You’ve then proceeded to smear any non-NZ trained health professional.

         I’ve worked in the public and private health sector for nigh on 3 decades and am offended that you have smeared a large section of my colleagues and support staff unjustifiably the vast majority of whom are first class in both the standard of care they deliver and the manner which they interact with patients.

         If you have had problems with congentive ?? (I suspect you mean congenital or congestive) heart problems please accept my sympathies if you have had a poor standard of care I suggest you take it up with the HDC immediately.

         Ps I called you a bigot not a racist – look up the difference in a dictionary
         • Trevor L 5.1.1.2.1

           2 August 2011 at 3:49 pm

           A couple of points for you to consider Higherstandard.

           Firstly, I know what a bigot is, and from your comments to date the description seems to more fit yourself than me. I am raising my opinion, and you seem to not be able to tolerate it – the definition of a bigot.

           Secondly, I didn’t say all immigrant health professionals were sub-standard, but again from my experiences, several news articles over the years, and experiences of others that I have been told about – a worrying amount of them are. Keeping in mind every Health Professional should be at a very high standard, and even one sub-standard one is a dangerous thing.

           I didn’t even include in my accounts to date my last Fijian Indian Dr in Auckland, who was a lovely lady to be fair – and I am sure studied hard to get her Doctorate. However you lose a little confidence when, after suffering a suspected heart attack, you are told by her over the phone to come straight in and see her – then to be asked “So, what is it you want to see me about?” lol. She then went on to listen to my heart and exclaimed “You also now have a heart murmur” – I told her I was born with two heart murmurs and she had heard them about 15 times before over the last two years. :-). Again – to be fair, one bad Doctor doesn’t make them all bad because they are a certain ethnicity – but when you come across a few trained in other countries who are sub-standard, surely we must at least question what is going on?

           So I stick to my original point – if a Party and Politician is going to at least fight to keep NZ Students in NZ, they get my vote.

           ps. Yes congenital not congenitive 🙂
           • higherstandard 5.1.1.2.1.1

             2 August 2011 at 5:30 pm

             “Firstly, I know what a bigot is, and from your comments to date the description seems to more fit yourself than me. I am raising my opinion, and you seem to not be able to tolerate it – the definition of a bigot.”

             Apparently you don’t know what a bigot is Trevor – unless there is a hoard of Trevor’s having a go at non locally educated health professionals for perceived inferior medical care.

             I’d hazard a guess that I’ve come into contact with far more health professionals trained outside of NZ and now practicing locally than you have and can once again only state that the vast majority of are first class in both the standard of care they deliver and the manner which they interact with patients and are not inferior to locally trained health professional in any way.

             If you have indeed had close calls…….

             “On at least two occasions I have had newly immigrated Dr’s make potentially life threatening decisions about my health care, that were luckily corrected in time by NZ trained health professionals. I wonder how many more have had this happen to them?

             It is unfathomable why you have not reported these incidents to the HDC so as to protect other members of the public.
   • Gosman 5.2

     2 August 2011 at 1:17 pm

     Name me the things that Winston Peters kept mostly visible to the public in the last Labour led Government that he was a part of?
     • The Voice of Reason 5.2.1

       2 August 2011 at 1:23 pm

       NO!
       • felix 5.2.1.1

         2 August 2011 at 3:22 pm

         😀
     • mik e 5.2.2

       2 August 2011 at 5:37 pm

       I can’t remember any thing because labour carried out their policies but he put Shipley and English in their place making the follow through on their tax cuts in 1998 which National wanted to delay through till the next election for bribes causing the National coalition to split. Over another broken coalition deal not selling assets
       • McFlock 5.2.2.1

         2 August 2011 at 6:13 pm

         GPs visits for under 5s in the late 90s, as I recall. Funded it out of a tobacco excise increase, but I don’t particularly hold that against him, given the dicks he was in coalition with. Of course, I DO hold it against him that he went with them in the first place, so I’m a bt ambivalent.
6. Afewknowthetruth 6

   2 August 2011 at 9:50 am

   Peters is the perfect tool of the ruling elites.

   Keep the masses distracted by providing them with commentary which is totally irrelevant to the real game.
7. Canter 7

   2 August 2011 at 10:17 am

   It’s not true Anthony that Peters isn’t being his racist redneck old self. He’s going about to grey power meetings up and down the country striking fear into pensioners about the Chinese.

   “Mr Peters has told a Grey Power meeting they had better start buying more clothes and blankets because they won’t be able to afford the rising prices if the Chinese or the Australians move to buy the power stations.

   He also warns that Chinese are hungrily eying our dairy farms, saying it’s our main source of wealth and should remain in New Zealand hands. He says they’re also a major source of protein in a world running out of food and China is one of the only countries with any money.

   Mr Peters claims another Chinese bidder is trying to buy the Crafar dairy farms which he claims the Government is trying to keep under wraps until after the election.”

   So the Chinese are to blame if they need to buy more clothes in winter. The Chinese are “hungrily” eying dairy farms.

   The cynical bigoted old bastard is back to his old tricks.
   • Draco T Bastard 7.1

     2 August 2011 at 11:12 am

     He’s stating basic economics. It’s a pity he’s tied it to a particular country but he’s right about selling off our assets as all the previous sales to foreign owners have shown. We are much worse off for doing so.
   • felix 7.2

     2 August 2011 at 11:22 am

     What in those statements (his, not yours) do you dispute?
     • Canter 7.2.1

       2 August 2011 at 1:56 pm

       It’s a dog whistle Felix, just as his anti-Chinese immigration in Auckland stance from 1996 was a dog whistle.
   • Trevor L 7.3

     2 August 2011 at 11:37 am

     Why is wanting to keep NZ in NZ hands racist? Who else can he blame if it is mainly those from China buying our assets, blame Russia – so people can’t claim he is anti-Chinese?

     Sigh.
8. felix 8

   2 August 2011 at 11:26 am

   I’m a little sceptical about his social media ventures, for two reasons.

   1. I remember the last time he tried blogging.

   2. If you have to announce (via the msm, lol!) that you’re going to do some of that new-fangled social media stuff to connect with the kids, you’re probably doing it wrong.
   • The Voice of Reason 8.1

     2 August 2011 at 12:11 pm

     I note that NZ First’s candidate on the North Shore is having difficulties both with the new media and the new reality. His fb address is ‘MayorAndrewWilliams’.
     • Lanthanide 8.1.1

       2 August 2011 at 1:16 pm

       Facebook only lets you change your ‘vanity URL’ as they call them once after you’ve set one.

       Seems kind of dumb really.
9. clandestino 9

   2 August 2011 at 12:35 pm

   If he stays serious about this policy I know plenty of people who will vote for it and many who have already expressed their favourable opinion. It’s just a pity the Greens don’t get the same coverage of their excellent policy on this issue. My generation’s $11 billion debt load is crying out to be addressed and is a ticking time bomb waiting to be exacerbated by an economic depression.
10. SHG 10

    2 August 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Peters is an amoral demagogue who will say anything to anyone if it will return him to Parliament.
    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      2 August 2011 at 2:23 pm

      So, just like Jonkey and NAct then.
      • higherstandard 10.1.1

        2 August 2011 at 2:48 pm

        And Labour, Greens, Mana……. and every politician since the year dot.
      • SHG 10.1.2

        2 August 2011 at 8:00 pm

        Having morals you don’t agree with is not the same as having no morals at all.

        I think most politicians try to convince you that what they’re selling is what you want. Winston Peters on the other hand works out what you want first and then tells you he can get it for you.
        • McFlock 10.1.2.1

          2 August 2011 at 10:08 pm

          As opposed to knowing what you want, and lying about it so people will vote for you? The wonderful Labour-lite National in the 08 election springs to mind.
           
           
          • Colonial Viper 10.1.2.1.1

            2 August 2011 at 10:27 pm

            I do believe that National is still shit scared of Winston.

            And they should be, because he is a throwback to the National Party of old that the neoliberals gutted and then abandoned as a rotting carcass.
11. Frank Macskasy 11

    2 August 2011 at 2:35 pm

    Mr Peters’ superannuitant constituency may suffer from poor memory – but I seem to re-call Mr Peters when he was Treasurer in the 1996 Bolger-led National/NZ First coalition government.

    Not only did Mr Peters not buy back any state assets (including the Forestry Corporation of New Zealand Ltd – where he promised to “send the cheque back”) – but he actually over-saw the privatisation of both Auckland and Wellington Airports. All while he was a Minister in a coalition government that facilitated these asset sales.

    Winston Peters was Treasurer from 16 December 1996 – 14 August 1998.

    Auckland Airport was privatised 28 July 1998.

    Wellington Airport was privatised 14 August 1998.

    The privatisation of Wellington Airport was the catalyst for the break-up of the National-NZ First coalition – yet only the previous month, Peters made no attempt to halt the sale of Auckland Airport.

    It was only when the public objected to Wellington’s airport following suit, and being sold off, that Peters realised his mistake.
    • Trevor L 11.1

      2 August 2011 at 3:53 pm

      So what you are saying Frank is that Peters and NZ First listened to the people, even at the cost of his job?

      Seems like yet more reason to give them a party vote this year.

      BTW, there are a lot of people from 18 through to their 80’s who vote for NZ First (I am in my early 40’s). The media and John Key love to portray them as only an old persons party – which simply isn’t true.

      In fact the latest statistics show mainly the elderly and/or the very rich vote for National, along with the brainwashed Young Nats of course.
      • Frank Macskasy 11.1.1

        2 August 2011 at 7:12 pm

        So what you are saying Frank is that Peters and NZ First listened to the people, even at the cost of his job?

        Seems like yet more reason to give them a party vote this year.

        No, Trevor. What I’m saying ios that Peters allowed the sale of Auckland Airport to proceed in July 1998. There was considerable opposition to that sale, but Peters went along with it.

        When the sale of Wellington Airport was announced, the public uproar finally forced Peters to side with public opinion. But by then, of course, it was far too late.

        NZ First got into bed with National in 1996 and went along for the ride. If Peters isn’t (partly) responsible for what happened – then who is?

        Remember, the late ’90s was also the time of other unpopular or socially divisive issues;

        * the proposed moving/demolition of the Beehive

        * the 1998 referendum on Peters’ superannuation policy

        * the death of Southland dairy farmer Colin Morrison (42), who died on a waiting list – illustrating how hospital waiting lists were getting totally out of hand

        The Bolger-Peters government was probably the most contemptible since Richardson delivered her “Mother of all Budgets” in 1991.
    • mik e 11.2

      2 August 2011 at 5:40 pm

      frank Peters has been double crossed by national twice now he will never do business with them again!
      • higherstandard 11.2.1

        2 August 2011 at 6:51 pm

        Winston would do anything short of changing his hairstyle to get back on the government benches.
        • prism 11.2.1.1

          2 August 2011 at 8:37 pm

          hs 😀
        • R 11.2.1.2

          2 August 2011 at 10:48 pm

          … Whereas Peter Dunne’s made a youtube video about his hairstyle as part of his contribution to running the country.

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb2YaFMrAr8

          (apologies, don’t know how to link it properly in edit mode)
          • mik e 11.2.1.2.1

            4 August 2011 at 12:43 am

            I wonder if he uses the same hair gel as Cameron Diaz R
        • mik e 11.2.1.3

          4 August 2011 at 12:41 am

          So Key is exactly the same.
12. Josh 12

    2 August 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Peters should stand in either Te Atatu or Manurewa. Both may be traditional Labour strongholds but with the incumbents bowing out I think they will be vulnerable. It’s hard to predict the outcome of a three way race in Te Atatu but let’s not forget Prebble’s successful bid for Wellington Central in ’96, or Fitzsimons’ victory in the Coromandel in ’99. ACT and the Greens both struggled to be taken seriously until they were seen to have a serious chance of winning an electorate seat. I suspect this is a strategy NZF will try to mirror. They certainly have nothing to lose, and everything to gain from it.
    • ChrisH 12.1

      2 August 2011 at 9:03 pm

      Yes well that might just stuff things up completely for highly competent Labour candidates selected for safe seats, presumably because they are good. As a Westie I don’t personally know too much about Louisa Wall apart from this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Wall but absolutely the last thing the country needs is for Phil Twyford, who is basically the guy who would make the super city work if Labour got in, to dip out on a seat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Twyford . Not least, because if Labour poll badly, he won’t get in on the list either. We could have a coalition government with Peters in the place of one of Labour’s most competent Auckland MPs, an interesting outcome for coalition-builders to ponder.
      • Colonial Viper 12.1.1

        2 August 2011 at 9:47 pm

        Happy to report that Louisa Wall is a solid candidate. Very tenacious, very left wing, has stepped on toes before to make an important point which needed to be made and have no doubt that she would do so again if the situation necessitated.

        In summary, she’s got the kind of steel that LAB needs.
        • Shazzadude 12.1.1.1

          3 August 2011 at 4:44 pm

          Louisa Wall does seem to be completely different to the popular long-serving outgoing MP, George Hawkins though. I presume Louisa Wall won’t be supporting Hawkins’ bill on Manukau prostitution that him and Manukau East MP Ross Robertson supported?
13. Shazzadude 13

    2 August 2011 at 7:18 pm

    Well this might help smash the perceptions that New Zealand First are anti-Asian:

    http://www.istars.co.nz/portal.php?mod=view&aid=11616

    Ho Peng has been announced as a candidate for New Zealand First. Winston also talks about immigration in the story; he is not anti-immigration, rather he only wants immigration that’s to the betterment of the country.
    • Josh 13.1

      2 August 2011 at 7:41 pm

      Yeah, and I understand they also have a Chinese candidate in Maungakiekie and an Indian candidate standing in Mt Roskill. Interesting.
      • Colonial Viper 13.1.1

        2 August 2011 at 9:53 pm

        Damn smart move, a few of us saw this one coming
14. red blooded 14

    2 August 2011 at 7:35 pm

    If the NZ public rejects MMP in the survey at this year’s election, it will be largely because of the antics over a number of years of the amoral demagogue Peters. He is the one who argued in the 1st MMP election that the only way to be sure of dumping the National government was to vote NZF, then spent two weeks playing the Nat.s off against the Labour Party (who had gained more votes), before signing up with the good old Nat.s, taking on the farcical role of “Treasurer” (never needed one of those before…) and then sitting back and betraying pretty much every promise he’d made to his electorate over the next few years. He and his guys were the ones who split-up midway through a parliamentary term (so much for a uniting political philosophy), allowing him to walk away from a toxic government but also allowing it to be propped up until the end of their term by a group of self-interested sell-outs. New Zealand First pretty much invented the now cliched concepts of “holding the country to ransom” and the smaller party as a “puppeteer”, while at the same time set us up to see MMP as unstable and flawed in design (the issue of the 5% threshold). The only good thing about the political environment of the last 2 years has been the lack of Peters. He’s a prick. 
    • Shazzadude 14.1

      2 August 2011 at 8:21 pm

      Errr, Labour didn’t have more votes in 1996. If they had more votes, Winston would’ve gone with them. The problem for Winston in 1996 was that it was either guarantee a stable government with National, or rely on Jim Anderton as well for a stable Labour government.
15. higherstandard 15

    2 August 2011 at 7:40 pm

    What has the Northshore done to deserve this ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5378188/NZ-First-selective-about-candidates-information
16. chris73 16

    2 August 2011 at 7:42 pm

    In a democracy everybody has the right to be heard…but gee Winston and Hone don’t make it easy
    • higherstandard 16.1

      2 August 2011 at 7:44 pm

      They are indeed cak …. however have you tuned into question time at all, some of those twats make Hone and Winston look statesmanlike
      • chris73 16.1.1

        2 August 2011 at 8:59 pm

        Winston sounds very statesman like (just thats hes a liar)
        • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1

          2 August 2011 at 10:30 pm

          Read my lips! NO GST INCREASES WHEN IM PM!

          🙂
          • higherstandard 16.1.1.1.1

            3 August 2011 at 7:33 am

            I didn’t know you were standing.

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