Where’s The Opposition?

Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, October 13th, 2024 - 61 comments
Categories: Chlöe Swarbrick, chris hipkins, greens, labour, maori party, marama davidson, privatisation, Public Private Partnerships, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Let me start with –

Yes, I know National, ACT and NZ First are very well funded and supported by friendly platforms, promoters, and our wealthiest – pre and post-election.

I also remember when David Seymour personally attacked journalist Benedict Collins, then ‘suggested’ he would “review” TVNZ and make them pay a dividend despite its financial struggles.

Seymour went on to call NZ media “hateful” and promised to change the media landscape with over 800 new appointments, as his host advocated for a “pogrom” of government critics.

i.e. The media is struggling financially but also significantly weakened under this government.

Next – our system is predicated on money.

In the 2023 electoral year, National raised $10.3 million, more than doubling the $4.7m raised by Labour.

RNZ has a graph showing that:

Yeah, the Coalition government’s donations significantly outgunned parties on the left.

And while there were wealthy folks who donated to Labour and the Greens, it was incomparable compared to NZ’s richest individuals and families donations:

3 more points:

  1. These are only the known and declared donations
  2. Paul Goldsmith buried the Independent Electoral Review recommendations ie. canned improving electoral donor transparency laws.
  3. ACT and National are supported by cashed up groups which act for them – during elections and after. For example, Taxpayers Union has been called “ACT in drag” and a “political apparatus” of the National Party in Nicky Hager’s ‘Dirty Politics’. Taxpayers Union had income of $2.8 million in 2022.

These right wing allies including Taxpayers Union, Groundswell, Hobsons Pledge & an unverified American group called “Vote Better NZ” all spent big during the official election period last year for the Coalition.

RNZ:

i.e. A lot of money went in – and the right wing government won.

Even before hand, Jordan Williams boasted to Atlas Network it was in the bag:

“An upcoming election is expected to deliver a government more favorable to market-based thinking in New Zealand..[We will] establish New Zealand as a pro-freedom policy laboratory.”

Finally, one of NZ’s richest families, the Wright Family which runs Best Start, funds Sean Plunkett.

Now that is all said to make clear the right is extremely well resourced.

Overpoweringly perhaps.

Still and despite this all –

Where is the opposition?

To be fair – I have seen the left bloc parties in Parliament and they are all doing a great job at holding our government to account there – and responding through press releases.

This is one I recorded –

But still – it’s not enough.

The media is not leading with Opposition headlines – as they did when Luxon and Seymour were in opposition.

Many are not even bothering to properly cover opposition perspectives in their articles. e.g. Stuff when quoting Simeon Brown’s 3 Waters comments earlier in the year.

And Stuff were very happy to pursue Golriz Ghahraman over a few dresses, and camp outside her home for days – but exhibit restraint and relative silence when it comes to Casey Costello’s obvious tobacco links that will cost Kiwi lives, or Nicola McKee’s gun lobbyist ties and her lying about her role in the Christchurch terrorist gun laws.

The opposition leaders and narratives are not coming across.

So where is the responsibility?

  • Is it a matter of money and resources?
  • Media alliances? [Ignore NZME – there is no doubt here]
  • Influence?
  • David Seymour’s “promises” having a chilling effect on media?
  • Corporate ad money?
  • The strategy by this government to throw so much out so fast that media simply cannot catch up?
  • Struggling media landscape – hemorrhaging money in some quarters such that their resources are unable to cope anymore?

Chlöe Swarbrick once said she wanted the Green Party to be the leading left wing voice. Which I thought at the time meant a non-collaborative approach. And Chris Hipkins and Labour appear to be largely re-calibrating after their loss. Te Pati Māori are solid in Parliament, but largely absent from media.

So many are wondering where the opposition is.

I personally see the unions speaking up and standing strong – and that is very welcome – especially for a sector that has been effectively annihilated in strength through successive Labour and National governments.

But can we have more leadership all round?

Yesterday, David Seymour announced the government would make it easier for wealthy foreigners to buy up NZ.

That’s after revelations Ministers Chris Bishop, Shane Jones, and Simeon Brown instructed their fast-track “independent” advisory panel to ignore all and any environmental implications, and take all applications on face value i.e. accept whatever the applicants say.

No coincidence $500,000 of political donations overlapped with ‘successful applicants.

Then there’s the rapid increase in jobseekers from a government that has eliminated almost 7000 public service roles while simultaneously making it harder for people out of work, crashed the construction sector before moving in to underwrite private developers with taxpayer money, increased debt – not for productivity measures – but rather $12bn of govt borrowing for tax cuts, put more children into poverty, overturned ~10 years of NZ court decisions to bring seabed mining to NZ, and increased speed limits around school zones despite evidence it saves lives.

And I haven’t even touched on Luxon’s message that everything in NZ is up for privatisation under their government – our hospitals, health systems, schools, water infrastructure – while his govt. systematically underfunds Health in a replay of the UK and facilitates easier money laundering.

So I think it would be good – if possible – for Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori to form a united front and muster genuine co-operation.

That could be a strength.

Can it be done?

I don’t know.

But I think it’s a country over party type of moment – and I for one hope that we’ll see more of our Opposition united, co-operating and leading.

Reposted from Substack.

PS Acknowledging the selfless efforts of Ingrid Leary on Dunedin hospital (comment below) confirms that the left block are doing work – but it’s not translating out to media focus or PR/comms effectiveness.

61 comments on “Where’s The Opposition? ”

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  1. I Feel Love 1
    13 October 2024 at 12:52 pm

    A few murmers down here in Dunedin while I've been out & about & the topic comes up is why aren't/weren't any Labour (or any opposition) MPs protesting about the hospital or support after the floods (our RW mayor was filling up sandbags, that stuff gets noticed, where were our Dunedin based MPs?). Just no visibility at all. For all we know down here they support the downsizing of the hospital & do not give a fuck about Dunedin (esp South Dunedin). It seems an ideal place to start some kind of grassroots fightback. It's really disapointing & disheartening.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1
      13 October 2024 at 2:41 pm

      Imho, "just no visibility at all" might be stretching the truth a little too far, and “they [Labour MPs] support the downsizing of the hospital & do not give a fuck about Dunedin” definitely is. To be fair, standing out in a crowd of 35,000 protesters isn’t that easy.

      Up to 35,000 people protest over proposed cuts to new Dunedin hospital project [28 Sept 2024]
      Local Labour MPs Ingrid Leary, Rachel Brooking and [Dr] Tracey McLellan were among the 35,000 protesting in Dunedin over the proposed hospital cuts.

      Not sure if any Green or TPM MPs were there. Pretty sure there weren’t any NAct MPs, unless they were part of a counter-protest. As for NZF MPs – anyone know?

      “Defend Division by Wealth”

      • Matiri 1.1.1
        13 October 2024 at 3:03 pm

        Also Tracey McLellan has just been in Nelson with Rachel Boyack MP to start the fight to save the Nelson Hospital rebuild.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1.1.1
          13 October 2024 at 3:21 pm

          yes Good.

          • I Feel Love 1.1.1.1.1
            13 October 2024 at 4:29 pm

            That's great, I wish they were more visible, I understand they may not just be getting the attention. Glad to be wrong.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1.1.1.1.1
              13 October 2024 at 4:41 pm

              yes Like you, I wish they were more visible, and perhaps vying more for (media) attention. Maybe it's deliberate, two years out from the election, and maybe they're still developing political strategies, policies and potential pacts.

    • Ingrid Leary MP 1.2
      14 October 2024 at 12:29 pm

      Just not true. I was all over the electorate where roads allowed both before and immediately after the floods, didn’t sleep for 30 hours and was all over the media asking why the Govt hadn’t read the Dunedin Futures flood adaptation proposal, why we have to put up with a leaking hospital etc. Plus both Labour MPs and many of our members were at the protest. Not sure how you missed us.

      • I Feel Love 1.2.1
        14 October 2024 at 8:38 pm

        Not just me I'm afraid, but like I said I am glad to be incorrect & will correct anyone I hear complaining. It's a tricky time & hard to feel positive, thanks for the effort Ingrid & I hope to see you around I don't mean to sound ungrateful.

      • Mountain Tui 1.2.2
        15 October 2024 at 9:49 am

        Thanks for your efforts, it's not easy to work in public service.

      • weka 1.2.3
        16 October 2024 at 11:07 am

        thanks for correcting this Ingrid. If you ever want to do a Guest Post on The Standard about Dunedin issues, please let me know. We don't have enough South Island perspectives here.

        The 'how you missed us' stuff might be worth exploring.

    • gsays 2.1
      13 October 2024 at 5:08 pm

      Well if the reset doesn't work there's a future for him writing for The Civiliian.

      "Congratulations to Keir Starmer and the UK Labour Party on a resounding win. A great moment for progressive politics."

  3. weka 3
    13 October 2024 at 4:08 pm

    So I think it would be good – if possible – for Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori to form a united front and muster genuine co-operation.

    People say this, but I never know what it means. Do you mean something like the agreement between Labour and the GP before the 2017 general election, where they publicly worked together to change the government?

    I agree they seem absent atm. The Greens twitter account is hardly used, and they are putting out press statements on the website, but it's kind of slow.

    the thing that few will talk about is how much everything has been changed by the pandemic, that this is ongoing. Then there is climate stress. I really hope the Greens in particular are using this time to strategise and plan in the background and then come out hard, because without that it's going to be a long, difficult road.

    • Mountain Tui 3.1
      14 October 2024 at 10:06 am

      To me, it simply means work together as opposition parties to hold this government to account. How it plays out will depend on their strategies, polling feedback, intentions etc. Yes the devil is in the detail but it starts with the firm commitment to stand with each other and recognise the key objective is to ensure the NZ Tory party goes in 2026.

      That involves key comms strategies and even pooling, sharing, leveraging each other's strengths and use of resources as needed.

      I agree about strategising but there is so much happening and I cannot hear an effective, insightful voice come out and speak about it – especially when there is so much at stake. I believe that many people who are not politically aware don't even understand what is happening outside of the government narratives, but perhaps I'm just being pessimistic.

      • Descendant Of Smith 3.1.1
        14 October 2024 at 12:56 pm

        Nah Labour and Greens will keep competing against each other, split the left vote and let the tories back in.

        Labour looks nostalgically at the past when they were the only opposition to National – albeit a pale blue Labour.

      • weka 3.1.2
        16 October 2024 at 1:10 pm

        well I agree with you that lots of people get a skewed impression because they're not political tragics like us following closely. But thus it ever was. What I don't get is why the left bloc aren't more proactive atm. For the Greens it might just be the transition from Shaw to Swarbrick, plus the Tana bullshit is a major distraction and drain on their capacity. But CS was meant to be leading this new movement across the country, where is that? Is it because it's the first year after the election?

        To me, it simply means work together as opposition parties to hold this government to account. How it plays out will depend on their strategies, polling feedback, intentions etc. Yes the devil is in the detail but it starts with the firm commitment to stand with each other and recognise the key objective is to ensure the NZ Tory party goes in 2026.

        That involves key comms strategies and even pooling, sharing, leveraging each other's strengths and use of resources as needed.

        Sorry, but I still don't know what that means. For instance in 2016, a year ahead of the election (from memory) the Greens and Labour agreed to work together and change the government. They did major public and media work on this as well as behind the scenes planning.

        I can't see this working currently because the Greens have a new leadership and direction and they are going after Labour votes in a new way. So any working together has to take that into account. How would that work?

        • Mountain Tui 3.1.2.1
          17 October 2024 at 2:23 pm

          It works by the parties deciding it will work – and that takes some courage, leadership and education.

          Writ large, besides Chloe's declaration she wanted to take over the left as the dominant voice – they should be allies, although I note that many in the Green Party didn't like James Shaw for being a pragmatist who achieved a lot but looked too suit-like for them.

          PS I understand this may feel wishy-washy but I believe it’s practically true. If the parties can agree to agree on country above party, then I believe the way forward is clear. Furthermore, they’re not strong enough against the current lot.

  4. SPC 4
    13 October 2024 at 5:30 pm

    Winston is fairly sure …

    Labour were now a middle class elite

    (Hat-tip NZ First planning unit, the party is re-branding as both a working class party for retired people and one to hold the hand of foreign investors)

    But others had lowered the tone, and thus elsewhere standards were in decline

    "Those standards are to be cherished and preserved, not trashed on the daily basis that we are seeing today." He said people were coming into Parliament with t-shirts, sandals "and even bare feet".

    The Beehive Civilian notes there is a large gap in income between National Party Ministers and backbench MP's (a larger group than normal with all the NZF and ACT Ministers about these days).

    Some of these MP's, have become flatmates to share costs and have returned Lord of the flies like to their student lifestyles, while away from their electorates (and families).

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/10/13/normal-people-are-endangered-peters-speaks-to-party-faithful/

    PS Desi says Chloé is a French luxury fashion house (and they have sandals and cause "shout out" teeshirts)

    • Muttonbird 4.1
      13 October 2024 at 6:21 pm

      It's incredible how a party rarely or never out of single digits commands such media coverage of a conference. They invite controversial speakers; Jacinta Price, Ro Edge, Dennis Maga. They have protesters. They propose strange policy; $100B future fund, and don't say how it will be funded. They attack the media.

      But the media loves it a) because they are actually invited*, and b) because there are sure to be some column inches.

      I guess this is what you can do as a minor party, which begs the question, why are the GP (regularly in the double digits) not doing this? One glaring reason is they don't have the institutional experience that Peters does.

      *take note, Labour. Labour could smack any of these parties out of the park with the cultural and entertainment resources willing to contribute to a conference spectacle…

      • SPC 4.1.1
        13 October 2024 at 7:27 pm

        The Greens have had the change of leader and the remaining co-leader in time out mode, they will probably do their re-boot next year – "caucus" in parliament and then conference.

        Labour have the opposition role to continue with (it's hard to promote former policies after a loss, those left after the bonfire), it is more the we did not do that because .… .

        NZF played its greatest hits/achievements in government, the Gold Card (2005-2008), a rising MW (2005-2008 and 2017-2020 and the PGF (2017-2020) – all with a Labour partner and now playing to its 2023 mandate within the coalition.

        PGF into "Regional Infrastructure" …

        If it wants to be a working class party – FPA, contractor issues etc it knows where the ideas are (and natural partner is).

        Labour needs to find some sense of mission, declaration of purpose at/for the 2025 conference

        • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1
          13 October 2024 at 7:56 pm

          I was talking about the size and coverage of the event which a 6% party has no right to be producing. But it's retail politics and Peters is a retail politician. Labour and the Greens are invested in policy, not promotion. That might appeal to you and me but in the end eyeballs matter.

          Also it a major coup to have Dennis Maga speak with zero blowback from either coalition partner. Almost as if it were staged…

          • SPC 4.1.1.1.1
            13 October 2024 at 8:10 pm

            My point was that, the two parties have to be in the position to promote something to the public, if/when they get the eyeballs. If not, wait for election year and avoid disappointing everyone.

            • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.1.1
              13 October 2024 at 8:30 pm

              You've already outlined that NZF did not promote anything new. Labour have a capital gains tax to promote. They could also attack the treaty principles bill. There are six months of free hits on Luxon, Seymour, and Peters on that.

              Like I say there are massive human resources behind Labour on those two issues. Can they work out a way to harness it? Do they even want to?

              Meh.

  5. gsays 5
    14 October 2024 at 8:55 am

    A few have observed that there is a young bloc of voters coming through.

    While the post cites 'the media' and gives a couple of examples from The Herald, more and more, that ain't the media.

    Legacy media might work for the fossils (I count myself in that group) but there is a need to engage the younger demographic.

    I think it was Hipkins saying over the weekend/late last week, that Labour were all over FB but eyeballs had moved to tik tok or Insta. (I'm not sure of the exact names but you get my gist).

    Time to have the policies in the background, but the Comms message needs to short, sharp and big on hyperbole when on the attack.

    • Mountain Tui 5.1
      14 October 2024 at 11:19 am

      Same thing – where is the opposition?

      • gsays 5.1.1
        14 October 2024 at 12:17 pm

        I couldn't agree more with you.

        I reckon I relentlessly put the boot in, I thought I would offer something positive.

        Where I live there is an issue with an essential road becoming tolled. I'm not aware of any protest from Tangi Utikere nor McNulty. Easy runs to be had.

        On the subject of Turanga Te Ahu, it really grates that a road is proposed, a contract and cost put up. Then the inevitable price increase which the tax payer pays for. The neo-liberal solution is for the people to be tolled.

        • Mountain Tui 5.1.1.1
          14 October 2024 at 2:53 pm

          On one level I really feel for them. On another site, someone mentioned the Greens only have a few experienced MPs and they are completely stretched – and Davidson is sick obviously.

          I don't know – it just feels painful though.

    • Res Publica 5.2
      14 October 2024 at 3:23 pm

      Yeah, that's basically what modern political comms has become. It's not about the content you put out, but the content others put out that features your material.

      For example, Labour could wheel out Barbara Edmonds and get her to give a detailed hour-long speech on tax policy where she promises that a new government will introduce and wealth tax and CGT.

      But unless it's meme-able or has a TLDR that the kids these days can clip and share, it's not going to get any traction.

      We oldies (including older millennials like me) need to remember that we exist in an attention economy where voters may only consume something like 5 minutes of political content in a year. And only then by accident. So any media we put out needs to be punchy, pointed, and cut through all the bullshit hedging of "normal" political speak.

      • Mountain Tui 5.2.1
        14 October 2024 at 4:27 pm

        This is regrettably accurate, and why National are successful – supported by marketing slogans and catchy phrases

        • Res Publica 5.2.1.1
          14 October 2024 at 10:30 pm

          The good news is there's no reason the left can't do as good a job as them. Or even better.

          • Obtrectator 5.2.1.1.1
            15 October 2024 at 12:05 am

            I can think of one reason, my old thing – money. The left is short of it by comparison with the other lot. The sort of approach that you advocate needs some clever people to do it, and they don't come cheap And maybe some don't even want to do it if it benefits their perceived enemy (the left).

          • Mountain Tui 5.2.1.1.2
            15 October 2024 at 9:44 am

            I concur with Obtrectator – it's money and resources. I just saw Ingrid Leary's comment above and that confirms it's a matter of coverage and PR comms.

            • PsyclingLeft.Always 5.2.1.1.2.1
              15 October 2024 at 9:57 am

              Morena Mountain Tui. I did have a feeling of needing a vent..

              https://thestandard.org.nz/wheres-the-opposition/#comment-2014087

              leading to the vent was attempts to get some response from some Left MP's. Ok I realise they are busy. And sadly? they probably maybe realise that as a concerned person raising those matters…I'm hardly going to change from my Left belief ?

              However , positive forward actions are also needed (What keeps me going : )

              Have you heard of Wise Response? They have a very Diverse range of Concerned/Thinking/Action people…

              https://wiseresponse.org.nz/

              https://wiseresponse.org.nz/supporters/

              https://wiseresponse.org.nz/supporting-organisations/

              All the best. Stand Up. fight Back !

            • luke Doidge-Bailey 5.2.1.1.2.2
              15 October 2024 at 10:04 am

              You can still do a lot with $4.7 million. If you're clever enough.

              Realistically, we just have to accept that the Right in New Zealand has a whole bunch of inbuilt financial and systemic advantages. They own the system. And for the most part, use that to drive our national political narrative. Unfortunately, they've also parlayed that into an effective social media presence they can use to whip up anger against Maori/Labour/the enemy du jour.

              But there's still plenty of opportunities for the Left to carve out space and attention by being nimbler and more focussed. It's unlikely anyone consuming serial television or paying for a Herald subscription is going to vote for a left-wing party anyway.

              So don't bother with them.

              Where the left can have an advantage is by being relatable. Being real.

              Get MPs out there filming themselves talking about issues that matter to them and their constituents. Spray it all over social media. Keep hammering away at every opportunity. It costs a great deal less than a traditional media campaign and staffing but can be flexible, microtargeted down to very local issues, and builds a ground-up counterpoint to the Government's many mendacities.

  6. Susie 6
    14 October 2024 at 11:32 am

    Hmmm. Mountain Tui’s post is amazing, and to me clear. Unless the Opposition parties, visibly and powerfully oppose the devastation that the Coalition is wreaking on Aotearoa, and get their A into G with a full-on, orchestrated and collaborative strategy to get rid of them, who the heck is going to do so? Anne Salmond?

    And I agree, SPC, they need to promote something, though this is hardly rocket science. To restore half of what this government has torn up, could be a good start. But right now the job is to scrutinise what the Coalition are doing, and raise one almighty protest, armed with basic values and clear facts. In other words, the job of being an effective Opposition.

    I’m reading comments about whether Labour or Green politicians show up at the right public events. Really? As far as I know, each MP is paid about $160k and I nurture the (possibly deluded view) that this is actually in order that they serve the country, full time. Which would include, right now, to expose – in every public domain possible – the Coalition’s lies and disinformation, racist fairy tales, destructive, grossly libertarian policies, their incompetence and nastiness, and the horrific extent to which party funders have bought political outcomes. And which indeed I don’t believe that many NZers currently have a clue about.

    And to recognise that this is truly the ‘nuclear moment’, and while some folks may not like Keir Starmer, ‘Country first, Party second’ is exactly where an Opposition party worth its salt has a moral duty to stand.

    I truly wonder how this can happen though, if both Labour and Greens continue in their apparent obsession with polishing their own Party identities. The first shock to me was when right at the start, while the Coalition seemed to be dismantling one environmental or social protection every 20 minutes, Labour disappeared, so as to contemplate the fine tuning of its proposed policies for 2026 and beyond. When we needed a roar of protest, they were completely absent. I even imagine how Labour and Greens might even now be considering how each can differentiate against each other in voters’ perception, while the Coalition takes the country apart and trashes everything of value – seemingly with total impunity.

    “It is not a long step from the absence of an organized Opposition to a complete dictatorship”.

    Are we not already there?

    • Obtrectator 6.1
      14 October 2024 at 1:12 pm

      "I truly wonder how this can happen though, if both Labour and Greens continue in their apparent obsession with polishing their own Party identities …. I even imagine how Labour and Greens might even now be considering how each can differentiate against each other in voters’ perception …. "

      A sadly familiar story with regard to left-leaning parties. Take the forthcoming victory for granted, and promote your own particular faction so that it becomes the dominant one afterwards. Have they really learnt nothing from the Spanish Civil War (to cite just one example)?

  7. Dean Reynolds 7
    14 October 2024 at 11:37 am

    The best way we can show our opposition to this shitty government is to attend the "Fight Back' demos on October 23. The CTU's website has the times & venues for all the demos across NZ on October 23.

    On October 23, let's all 'Stand Up, Fight Back!'

    • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1
      14 October 2024 at 3:44 pm

      yes "The coalition is trying to divide us and are sowing the seeds of division." QFT.

      Fight Back Together
      Maranga Ake

      On the 23rd of October the NZCTU are hosting hui across the country to fight back against the Government’s ongoing attacks on workers’ rights. We are calling on working people to stand with us and send a strong message to those in power.

      In just one year in power, the coalition has already:

      • abolished fair pay agreements,
      • brought back 90-day trials,
      • ordered mass public sector layoffs,
      • cut back increases to the minimum wage,
      • undermined Te Tiriti and Māori rights,
      • scaled back work on pay equity claims,
      • cut back funding on health services, education, public transport
      • scrapped essential infrastructure projects,
      • made life harder for migrant workers,
      • given huge tax breaks to landlords while cutting public services
      • caused a dramatic increase in unemployment while stopping income insurance

      There are also proposals to:

      • block workers from taking employment cases to court,
      • weaken health and safety protections,
      • and reduce sick leave and holiday entitlements.

      This is on top of the relentless and ongoing attacks on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rights. The coalition is trying to divide us and are sowing the seeds of division.

      https://www.together.org.nz/fight_back_together_maranga_ake

      https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/maranga-ake-fight-back-together/

    • Bruce 7.2
      15 October 2024 at 10:16 am

      A better way is to get out and vote, that's the system we have get out and use it. mobilise and encourage others, get the people who can make the country benefit all in power. I believe the left have the numbers but unfortunatly many lack the motivation.

      Advance policys that motivate, I think the pot referendum bought out many left leaning voters that would have stayed home. I have over 20 years working in polling booths that I base this on.

      And I'll repeat yesterdays plea to Aucklanders , get out and vote in the Entrust election, make a difference set the stage for positive rebirth of positive policys.

  8. feijoa 8
    14 October 2024 at 3:30 pm

    Unfortunately, silence from the Opposition leads to the COC dominating the narrative. NZers are very tolerant at putting up with shit, and when the COC say the country is broke and we have to put it right, many shrug and say, oh well then….

    I do see Labour are pushing the line about the choices the COC are making are bad choices, they are choices to benefit the few, and that is all fine, I get it, it is true, albeit rather meek. Yet I feel I am just picking up on this because I am interested in politics and that single message about choices needs explaining, and a soundbite doesn't give you time to explain, and it all just lacks cut through.

    For Christ's sake, this COC is morally bankrupt, their policies will kill people! Think smoking, guns, speed limits, healthcare, broken ferries etc,

    Balls need to be grown in the Labour and Green parties.

  9. Adrian 9
    14 October 2024 at 4:10 pm

    "" When your enemy is making mistakes do not interupt him". One of those Chinese wise men.

    • Mountain Tui 9.1
      14 October 2024 at 6:11 pm

      To a degree but at this point the opposition look under resourced and/or weak.

      Edit: Acknowledge many great MPs are out there doing grassroots work. It’s a leadership issue, and a PR/comms money thing perhaps.

      • tc 9.1.1
        15 October 2024 at 7:49 am

        Going with cowards as theres ample material in the public domain.

        A few agreed phrases they all use on whats being done to health, maori, cost of living etc…that thing they promised to reduce to name but a few.

        Certainly not getting value for our tax dollars the coalition must be loving this non opposition.

  10. Maurice 10
    14 October 2024 at 4:57 pm

    Too late the ooomph ran away and the fairy dust has all been used up.

    The only party with any renewal was National with 20 plus new MPs

    By and large Labour now consists of last terms failed hacks with a rejected leader – not a good base to rebuild on.

    • Incognito 10.1
      14 October 2024 at 6:17 pm

      I counted 10/15 new MPs of the Green Party, and the newcomers have broad experience in political activism and local politics.

      National only recruits from the zombie army of wannabe real-estate agents and expats with ego-guided moral compasses; links with tobacco industry is a bonus.

    • Mountain Tui 10.2
      14 October 2024 at 7:26 pm

      I think you mistake the need for fairy dust. It's the currency of the spin masters, but not a credible and serious government.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 10.3
      14 October 2024 at 8:10 pm

      Too late…

      smiley Hi Maurice. Imho, it's too early to rule out the possibility of a one-term CoC govt.

      The party with the greatest renewal by far after Election 2020 was Labour, with ~22 new MPs, although (unsurprisingly) there were new MPs in other parties.

      A year later, the Nats by and large consisted of the previous term's failed hacks, with a rejected leader (Collins) – not a good base to rebuild on, and look at them now.

      Two years is a long time in politics – who would have given tuppence for Labour's chances 3 months out from Election 2017. Bet that one still smarts – we wuz robbed!

  11. observer 11
    14 October 2024 at 7:14 pm

    There are many conscientious Labour/Green MPs who are working hard to oppose this government, as Ingrid Leary and others have pointed out.

    But most voters are not engaged with Labour because the party's leadership is discredited. Once that credit is lost, it does not return. Sorry, but that's harsh reality in politics.

    No defeated NZ Prime Minister has returned to power at the next election since … anyone remember?

    If you answered 1960 you win the quiz. (There have been a few cases in other countries, but it is extremely rare).

    Labour ran a bizarre 2023 campaign based on ruling things out. The same leadership cannot now credibly rule things in. Nobody is listening (including their own frustrated supporters). Labour MPs know what to do. Face up to failure and look to the future. They cannot expect the voters to rally to them, if they cannot rally themselves.

  12. PsyclingLeft.Always 12
    15 October 2024 at 8:24 am

    Being empathic…one could think that Labour and Greens were shell-shocked? Some form of political PTSD? But FFS, enough. We, who are suffering the reality of NACT1's carnage/blitzkrieg attacks on NZ ,are definitely looking for actual Leadership.

    Someone ? Needs to step up and actually LEAD.

    • Res Publica 12.1
      15 October 2024 at 3:10 pm

      That and Labour in particular needs to stand for something and provide a compelling alternative to the economic and environmental vandalism of the CoC on one hand, and 30 years of cautious, middle-of-the-road incrementalism on the other.

      To paraphrase Jim Bolger: "Bugger the focus groups". In the modern political environment being bold and loud counts for more than being careful and "correct".

      • gsays 12.1.1
        15 October 2024 at 3:22 pm

        You touch on something important there.

        What do Labour stand for?

        When you have strong abiding principles, it's easy to do all that's been suggested.

        Easy to appear sincere, to be bold and loud, to provide meaningful opposition because you have a better proposition.

        • Res Publica 12.1.1.1
          15 October 2024 at 4:52 pm

          Precisely my point, gsays.

          Pick a smallish (say 4 or 5 max) set of simple, clear, easily understood principles. Constantly hammer them home in every speech and press release. Focus on a few local issues where you can build a narrative around them and draw a clear and demonstrable difference from the government.

          Drop a few F bombs. Make people uncomfortable. Break a few rules. The more you can make granny herald and the Taxpayer Union crowd clutch at their pearls the better: because attention is more important than their approval.

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