Who will be the next National leader?

Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, December 5th, 2016 - 119 comments
Categories: john key, Judith Collins, national, paula bennett, Steven Joyce - Tags: ,

Judith Collins joker

With John Key’s resignation only hours old the question will be who will take over as National leader?

The timing is interesting. Nominations for Helensville’s candidate slot are no doubt open and Key had a limited time to indicate what he will do. I thought he would go list only so that if he lost the next election he could bail out quickly. But clearly he has had enough. He has looked very out of sorts lately and maybe he reached the stage where he could no longer stomach working with the National Caucus week in week out.

He has attempted to ordain Bill English as his successor.  The short time before the vote occurs  (7 days) means that English’s chances are good but I question the wisdom of this decision.  English led the party to 21% party vote in the 2002 election and clearly did not resonate with the electorate.

Other contenders will include Paula Bennett, Steven Joyce, Simon Bridges and perhaps even Amy Adams.  No one else should have a chance.  But there is one member of the caucus who is already doing the numbers and who not rest until her ambition of becoming leader has been satisfied …

 

119 comments on “Who will be the next National leader? ”

  1. Psych nurse 2

    Paul Foster-Bell, that’s why he came out yesterday.

  2. Keith 3

    A barren wasteland of truly awful candidates.

    Did the shareholders (donors) say enough?

  3. The Real Matthew 4

    I don’t think Bill English will have any desire to become leader. He is better suited to a behind the scenes role doing the hard yards for the frontman or frontwoman. I think English stays in a senior role to ensure a smooth transition but doesn’t take the leadership.

    Judith Collins would be an interesting choice. Behind her intimidating exterior she is a personable women who has a firm grip on policy. I think New Zealanders would warm to her no BS persona much like they warmed to Helen Clarke despite her lack of charisma.

    Interesting times ahead.

    • Keith 4.1

      She is about as endearing as a cactus.

      And who can forget Oravida?

      • cathy 4.1.1

        true true.

        thing that gets me is all the smarmy hypocritical things people are saying about key. it always happens, even andrew little is saying or implying what a great job he’s done.

        bullshit. this resignation would have been better if it happened six years ago.

        key has arguably done more harm to new zealand than any other politician since piggy.

        or possibly roger douglas, although we’re not supposed to say that.

    • Stunned Mullet 4.2

      Despite you and Whale and a few others pushing the Judith barrow i don’t think the NZ public would warm to her at all ?

      Despite all her strengths there’s too much baggage she brings with her and making her leader would be too much of a gift for Labour and Little.

    • Have a slice of Orivida pie , The Real Mattew….

      and play it again John ,… once more with feeling.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFojIOL_qZc

      • Murray Simmonds 4.3.1

        yep, that was one of the all-time great ads from a time when television was watchable . . . . .

        My guess?

        Yes, she will wind up with the nomination, and no she won’t be elected (I hope). Too many swamp Kauri “Tabletops” and other dodgy deals in her past.

        As for the fascinating question of “Why now?” for JK . . . . .; my “tuppence worth” goes like this:

        One of his old mates from Merrill-Lynch advised him of an impending GFC-2 by mid 2017 at the latest. And this, along, with a lot of other factors weighed into the mix.

        A bank failure or two in the USA along with one in Germany and/or Italy and, well, basically “that’s it” for the “Old Guard” economic system. Of which Key was a part. (As is the National Cabinet including Ms Collins).

        Incidentally, John Campbell gave a fascinating interview with Key on RNZ National last night (around 5.30 roughly). Fascinating because Key came across as relaxed, non-defensive and . . . . . well . . . . even articulate. Quite different from what we’d heard before and to which we have become so accustomed. Very interesting! (And congratulations to John Campbell for achieving that.)

    • wellfedweta 4.4

      If English wants it, it’s his. Collins, Joyce, Bennet (in that order) could all do the job better than anyone on the other side, but my pick is English.

    • repateet 4.5

      ” no BS persona” ?

      Do you mean “no BS persona but a BS reality”?

    • A piranha fish would be an “interesting choice” for PM, it does not matter how personable Judith Collins is in person its her “crusher” Collins image that is going to be known and remembered and I dont think a Clark style makeover would be enough, not with less than 12 months.

      Amy Adams, now that would be an interesting choice.

    • Patricia duff 4.7

      I agree with you, may best person win

  4. ( ‘ Other contenders will include Paula Bennett, Steven Joyce, Simon Bridges and perhaps even Amy Adams. ‘ )

    Of the first 3 , it would be very good for us all. They are all equally as unpopular , worthless and riddled with skeletons in the closet.

    But the 4th one, ( not Amy Adams – the one on the next sentence down … ) … exceptionally so.

    If any one of these buffoons are chosen , look forwards with unqualified certainty of a centre left govt with Andrew Little as Prime Minister in coalition with the Greens , NZ First and possibly Mana and the Maori party.

    That’s a cert.

    Act will be obliterated and Dunne will be gone..

    • Alan 5.1

      National 41- 42 plus Winston 10-12 = 2017 election winners.

        • red-blooded 5.1.1.2

          Hey, I hope Winnie wouldn’t go with them, but let’s remember that he campaigned in the first MMP election on the premise that the only way to change the government was to vote NZ First, then signed up with the team he’d been excoriating and went along for the ride. Of course, it all ended in tears, but the fact remains that that guy’s got form. He’s not trustworthy.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.2.1

            Winston got badly burned on that and I don’t think he’ll do it again. And then there’s the policies – NZ Firsts’ policies are completely counter to National’s.

            • Jenny Kirk 5.1.1.2.1.1

              Draco T B – I don’t think NZF policies will make any difference as to whether Winston jumps into bed with the Nats, or not. He’ll go where he thinks its best for him …… and its looking more and more like the Nats’ bed will be it.

              • It’s worth remembering that Winston isn’t going to be around forever and so he’s going to be a bit more concerned with his legacy than he was before. While I would never rule out being surprised by NZF, it would indeed be a surprise if his memory of the failed coalition with National isn’t still so fresh in his mind that he would actually consider going into Coalition with them.

                His entire party has been hugely anti-government this term. It would be an exact repeat of the 90s if he turns around and does a deal with National, and potentially it would risk NZ First exiting parliament again.

      • David C 5.1.2

        more like Nat 45% and NZF 15%.

        Winnie as Deputy PM !

        • NZF is dipping above and below 10% at the moment. If they end up with 15%, it’ll be because soft National voters are completely abandoning the party, in which case, I’d be surprised to see that Nats above 40%.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.3

        Nah, it’s going to be National 22 – 23 seats. Key’s taking most of National’s support with him.

        • Enough is Enough 5.1.3.1

          Where is he taking that support exactly?

          Are the supporters suddenly going to stop voting or jump ship?

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.3.1.1

            National had support due to Key’s personable façade. Not because of policies or because National’s any good at being government.

            What a lot of those supporters are going to do will depend upon who becomes National leader – and I’m pretty sure that a lot of them will simply go to Winston instead.

            How do people feel about a NZFirst led government?

            • Tamati Tautuhi 5.1.3.1.1.1

              Winston will definitely get 15% may even get 20% party going pretty good I hear through the grapevine and good turn outs at NZF Meetings?

              • 20% for NZF would require a 9-14% shift in the party vote to NZF from National, or a shift from Labour and the Greens to NZF as well. (assuming NZF’s current average support of roughly 8% is correct, and accounting for likely errors in relative party vote levels) That’s an insanely high shift, as historically (since MMP) when support drops sharply for one party, it’s almost always two or three other parties that benefit.

                It’s reasonable to say that NZF might be the primary beneficiary of lost National party votes. But a shift of more than 4-5% to NZF would be unprecedented. (That is to say, I don’t expect NZF to overtake the Greens)

        • james 5.1.3.2

          time will tell – but I dont see it going to the left.

          • WILD KATIPO 5.1.3.2.1

            I cant even BEGIN to imagine the sheer panic of all those hurriedly put together meetings and contingency plans happening right now in the National party –

            And all those clandestine phone calls and e mails that will be going on as they all jockey for position….

            And these GNATS come on here as if there ISN’T division among that lot…

            The best they can hope for is an interim PM ,… to which the voting public will not be convinced…. the only one they can be with is Bill English , – however, – going by his former track record of PM he was an unpopular, ineffectual leader – and in the end – found out to be just as corrupt as the current PM, Hence the nickname … the ‘Double Dipper from Dipton ‘.

            Things are not looking good long term for that party at all.

        • AmaKiwi 5.1.3.3

          “Key’s taking most of National’s support with him.”

          Correct. Our elections are personality contests.

          The first Labour government was clearly defined as the workers versus the capitalists. Today you need a divining rod to tell the difference between Nats and Labour. May the most entertaining liar win. He did in the USA.

  5. taxicab 6

    I see WO has stopped publishing stories since this broke no doubt Slater has been rushed to the Collins war room so it’s all on ! Boy is this going to be messy .

    • Brutus Iscariot 6.1

      You may be right there…

    • Muttonbird 6.2

      Dirty Politics Farrar has also not posted since the press conference. They are either sobbing in a corner somewhere or have been called in to their respective bunkers. Fatty to Collins’ war-room, and Penguin to the ninth floor to do some desperate polling.

      • wellfedweta 6.2.1

        Sorry to correct you, but Farrar posted at 1.03pm, immediately after the presser.

        • WILD KATIPO 6.2.1.1

          So what if he has or he hasn’t?

          It no longer matters.

          Farrars cushy place in the PR hierarchy has evaporated along with Key being PM.

          Farrar will struggle to have the same impact simply because the quality of his subjects have all been involved in either scandal or are seen as ineffectual.

          Transference for the spin more than likely will be moving more towards the general influence of the MSM… and to date?…

          They haven’t been that amiable with the housing bubble, immigration issues , homelessness to name a few.

          • wellfedweta 6.2.1.1.1

            I’m not sure about that. Farrar is the outstanding political pollster in NZ, and his association with National goes way deeper than Key.

            • WILD KATIPO 6.2.1.1.1.1

              Yes… that may indeed be your opinion of Farrar,.. but that still doesn’t change the fact that Farrar is now stuck with working with a set of less- than – desirable political material …

              And being totally honest about it… ALL of them have had some sort of major public deficiency… whether that be by gaffe, scandal , … or just plain old public unpopularity… and it will be that,… that lessens Farrars impact…

              Or to say it in laymens terms…

              He will now be ‘ trying to push shit uphill with a pointed stick ‘.

              • wellfedweta

                Hold on. On one hand you decry Key, and on the other you claim his departure is a problem for Farrar. Spin, spin, spin.

                ‘ALL of them have had some sort of major public deficiency…”

                And Labour MP’s, and the current leader, haven’t?

                • I think you are not quite that naive , but also seem to display a penchant for deflection / twisting the obvious intent of meanings to your advantage.

                  And while it is true that Key leaving these shores scot free and not being held to account for the damage he has incurred on this country ( see Winston Peters talk on accountability issues and a tanking economy ) is bad enough , the fact was that behind Keys personality was a well run PR machine by the likes of David Farrar that were careful to always put him in best light.

                  In other words , the Key construct was not only that , – a construct – but it was also a very guarded one. There is no denying his every word and deed was carefully crafted on core issues pertaining to the neo liberal ideology. It was no accident that this govt relied heavily on groups such as Crosby / Texter , polling company’s , private media and the like to reinforce the Key image/ brand .

                  Key also came to NZ politics with no discernible or easily traceable political baggage – at least to the casual citizen observer.

                  Unlike ALL of the rest of the line up for the PM’s job – who will also be seen as scrabbling for position amongst themselves. Which will further add to the perception of ( and publicly known ) division and factions .

                  And it is at THAT POINT that Farrars job becomes so much harder,… he now has to contend with individuals that have a known ( and negative ) track record in NZ politics . ALL of them come with serious political deficits in the public’s mind. All of them carry past baggage , – whether that baggage be incompetencies, scandals, gaffes , poor public image, unpopular advocation of policy’s that run contrary to the greater public’s wishes and so on…

                  • wellfedweta

                    So you failed to address my point, OK. Now you claim the economy is ‘tanking’. Despite record employment, record low interest rates, low inflation and low debt. Is it possible you simply can’t see past your derangement over Key to recognise when you’re talking nonsense.

                • Tricledrown

                  Dinosaur dung beetle
                  Stop crying in your beer.
                  No one on the front benches of National has Keys charisma.

    • Blackcap 6.3

      What do you mean? So to see the WO blog is still posting every half hour after the story broke. Well so to see they are. Not sure what you are implying there. Its all good to speculate etc but lets be honest and take the high road here.

  6. Skinny 7

    Here is real leadership from an opposition leader, on RNZ today. Most certainly not the gutless dribble Little & Shaw served up;

    NZ First leader Winston Peters told RNZ that it was always clear the Prime Minister “would cut and run before the next election”.

    Mr Peters said “Mr Key was resigning because his popularity rating was falling. He also said the economy was not as strong as the government claimed, and people would start to realise it.”

  7. Enough is Enough 8

    The person who can best manage and work with Winston.

    That is their only chance of success now

  8. Irasible 9

    Rumour in Botany is that Jammy Lea Ross is organising as bag man for Judith Collins in return for being shuffled into her cabinet as finance advisor. Being the only MP with a sourced donation from Dong Hua Liu.

  9. Andrew Little’s comments on Radio regarding Key’s resignation was sincere well mannered and in my opinion Prime-Ministerial . No slick remarks and no sleazy smart put down. I’m proud to have a leader that is decent and well mannered. It makes a change to what we have had for the last few long years.

  10. Andre 11

    Prostetnic Vogon Joyce making his pitch to the caucus.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysb-TwA7JCQ

  11. EE 12

    Rumour has it that a certain ex-alblacks captain could be helicoptered into the position

    • Rae 12.1

      If it is Jack Nicholson eyebrows we are looking for here, Judith Collins could be a fair substitute.

  12. esoteric pineapples 13

    I know who is the perfect next leader of the National Party – Winston Peters! I wonder if there is any way National could coerce NZ First into joining forces with it to the point where they could campaign together with the express understanding that if National wins, Winston will be PM.

    • ianmac 13.2

      Many a true word there esoteric! Anything is possible. Better ask Michelle Boag first though.

    • David C 13.3

      LOL

      Winnie is likely to get 1/4 the votes the Nats will get and you think he will get offered the top job?

      • WILD KATIPO 13.3.1

        The housing bubble is about to explode…. do you really think Key wanted to be around when that happened?

        All that talk about the ‘ Rockstar economy ‘ … the ‘ Brighter future’…

        And just like that housing bubble bursting – so too will all those thousands of paper millionaire investors assets burst ,..and the fury will be intense. It is well Key has a house in Hawaii.

        I find it amusing that the die hard sycophants just cannot dislodge themselves enough to see the treachery he has dealt his own political party by resigning. His successor will be left to bear the brunt of the sheer rage of thousands of angry New Zealanders who are about to get burnt badly.

        To them , Key has been like a drug.

        Expect there to be a plummeting of housing prices which have a knock on affect to the greater economy as untold housing investors try to lighten thier portfolios.

        Ironically,.. perhaps the greatest thing Key could have done to alleviate the pressure of that housing bubble was to resign .

    • geoff lye 13.4

      Geez what a horrible thought.

  13. tc 14

    The hollowmen have got what they wanted so will leave team national to squabble.

    Timing is interesting, something big may be about to come out and this is a class A distraction their msm puppets can run with.

    • Thinkerr 14.1

      I thought so too, when I was thinking about what news or catastrophe is about to rear its head.

      But I thought again and decided he simply might have been waiting until the votes were counted in Roskill.

  14. Draco T Bastard 15

    English led the party to 21% party vote in the 2002 election and clearly did not resonate with the electorate.

    And I suspect that with names like Blinglish and Double Dipton following him around like a bad smell it hasn’t improved any.

    • Ovid 15.1

      I don’t know. I do think this is good for Labour, but the voting public can be a funny beast. I don’t think this means a change of government next year is yet a foregone conclusion. That said, the field of contenders have a lot of baggage.

    • Richard McGrath 15.2

      The double dipper’s party got just 16% of the eligible vote in 2002

  15. UncookedSelachimorpha 16

    Plenty more scum left in that pond.

  16. b waghorn 17

    time to find out if national is the slickly run business they appear to be, a smooth seamless transition will tell us they are in it together in always. personally im hoping for
    https://youtu.be/BXmyd1WxdHE?t=9

  17. swordfish 18

    Here’s my March 2016 overview of public opinion on a post-Key successor (Polls over the last 5 years)

    http://subzpsubzp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/next-national-leader_14.html

    • miravox 19.1

      Oh, go on, go for it Judith! Rev that DP machine up and give it everything you’ve got. This sort of opportunity doesn’t come along twice.

      *Popcorn*

  18. Rosemary McDonald 20

    OTOH….rumour, from a reliable source, 😉 😉

    is that Simon “Koikoora” Bridges is a contender….

  19. rod 21

    Looks like John has finally seen the light. Bye, thanks for nothing.

  20. james 22

    “English led the party to 21% party vote in the 2002 election and clearly did not resonate with the electorate.”

    Yet – you think that little on 23% in the polls is a potential PM in waiting.

    (of course this was how the polls were last week – next week could be different).

    Regardless Bill has had a lot of time under Keys wing since then – and has learnt a lot, and the government has performed in the eyes of the majority of voters (again according to the polls).

    So I see Bill English as the replacement best contender (and who I would want), but then part of would love to have Judith Collins as PM – if just to read the comments on this blog.

    • mickysavage 22.1

      Labour is not on 23% in the polls. The Roy Morgan is a laughing stock. The last Colmar Brunton was at 28% and I understand the internals are even better.

      • alwyn 22.1.1

        Last time the “internals” were any good, well at least better than the public polls Little Andy published them.
        If they are as good as you claim he would be doing it again, wouldn’t he?
        If he is keeping them hush-hush we must assume that they are just as crappy as are the Roy Morgan figures.

      • Pete George 22.1.2

        Little suggested slightly better. Hooton said the last UMR was 29%. Curia apparently a little lower.

        I think there will be another Roy Morgan poll this month as well as UMR and Curia non-public polls, but people are switching off politics at this time of year and in any case it’s too soon to tell what effect if anything the leadership change will have. I think it will be a few months into next year before we get a reasonable idea.

    • Frankly James I would love to see Judith Collins as their new elected leader,…

      What with her Oravida fiasco , her rivalry amongst her own peers , abrasive political style and divisiveness she would be the best choice.

      Unfortunately it will fall to Bill English instead . Not such a good option for us , but something that is workable, nonetheless.

      And he, … along with his affectionate nickname ‘Double Dipper’ and total lack of socially popular appeal will serve the purpose well.

      Very well, in fact.

  21. Ad 23

    Bridges Deputy.
    Appealing English combo for 2017.

  22. b waghorn 24

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87218655/john-key-resigns-who-are-the-contenders-to-replace-him-as-prime-minister

    It’s very hard to believe that stuff wasn’t informed of this coming when they produce the very slick next leader info the have added to this story, x factor nz pm

  23. Editractor 25

    The question of who will be the next National party leader is inseparable from the question of who will be the next PM. The latter is sure to involve plenty of ego as unelectables in other conditions consider the letters and titles they might accrue.

    • red-blooded 25.1

      Editractor, you do realise that the next Nat party leader is definitely going to be the next PM, don’t you? There’s still almost a year till they have to call the next election…

      I think it’s most likely to be English, and I wouldn’t be too comforted by his (long distant) previous defeat. He’s not particularly articulate or charismatic, so some of the bling will wear off the Nats (about time) and maybe, just maybe, there can be more of a focus on competing policies. Wouldn’t that be a change?

      • AmaKiwi 25.1.1

        @ red-blooded

        This is the Roman Empire. We want entertainment. If the people wanted policies, Trump would not have won a single primary.

  24. ianmac 26

    If Key loves to win, I wonder if those Leadership popularity figures declining, made him fear becoming a loser?

  25. outofbed 27

    I find it strange that as Key resigned to be closer to his wife, you would have thought she would be by his side when he announced his resignation with a big smile on her face!

  26. Paul Campbell 28

    Oh please brer Fox, not Judith Collins

  27. swordfish 29

    Judith Collins’s popularity

    .

    (1) Next National Party Leader Polls

    Respondents preferring Collins:

    Herald-DigiPoll (Nov 2011) …. 16%

    Herald-DigiPoll (June 2013) …. 13%

    Colmar Brunton (July 2013) …. 11%

    Colmar Brunton (Sep 2014) …. 2%

    Fairfax Ipsos (Sep 2014) …….. Too Low to Register

    Herald-DigiPoll (Aug 2015) …. Too Low to Register

    Why the fall in Public Support ? …

    .

    (2) Oravida scandal (May 2014)

    Colmar Brunton Poll (carried out for Q+A)

    As the Oravida scandal swirled around Collins, Colmar Brunton carried out a poll for Q+A that found New Zealanders evenly split (42/42) over whether she should remain a Minister. As you might expect, a majority (61%) of Labour and Green supporters wanted her gone. But so too did a healthy minority (20%) of National voters (with another 13% of Nats Unsure).

    In the same May poll, 50% of respondents agreed that Collins’ behaviour had been damaging to National (63% of Labour/Green supporters and a sizeable minority (38%) of National voters) and almost a quarter of the entire sample agreed they would factor the scandal into their voting decision come Election Day (including 8% of National supporters).

    .

    (3) Dirty Politics scandal (August 2014)

    Should Judith Collins be stood down / Resign ?

    ……………………….Resign…………..Remain Minister………DK

    Entire Sample……61………………………..26…………………….13

    National Voters…44………………………..43……………………..14

    High Stood Down/Resign %

    – Green Voters … 89
    – NZF Voters ……. 81
    – Maori ……………. 73
    – Labour Voters .. 72

    High Remain Minister %

    – National Voters …. 43

    As you can see, even National voters (slightly) favoured her resignation over a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket.

    Voter antagonism towards Collins had, of course, been building for quite some time, her aggressive public persona possibly playing a long-term role in undermining her popularity in the run-up to these scandals.

  28. Incognito 30

    National has got so much talent to choose from.

  29. swordfish 31

    English shaping up as the anointed one, the continuity candidate, one half of the Dynamic Duo and so on …

    … Wonder if his path will be smoothed to the extent that no formal contest takes place ?

    Interesting to see just how many Tories at kiwiblog feel he lacks both the charisma and “bloke-ish-ness” to keep the “Centre-Ground”

    • Pat 31.1

      and the only viable option (not a lot of talent to choose from)….unless theres a real dark horse out there

  30. alwyn 32

    The comments on this post scare the hell out of me.
    Imagine an election where the leaders of the four largest parties were;
    National – Collins
    Labour – Little
    New Zealand First – Peters
    Green – Turei
    SCREAM. I think I would emigrate.

    On the other hand I suspect the four largest parties AFTER the election would be, in no particular order.
    ACT
    United Future
    Maori
    Mana

    • framu 32.1

      its turei/shaw – but regardless, the only change there is collins. Is she that terrifying? 🙂

      ” the four largest parties AFTER the election would be,” – what?

  31. mac1 33

    “Who will be the next National leader?”

    Amy Adams- bright, young,personable, a woman who has shown good qualities locally around visiting rural areas and working hard. Not my pick, but that of a politics insider with a nose for a good political story.

  32. Adrian Thornton 34

    What about Stuart Nash,the new leader of the National Party…. a centrist in his own words, not tied to any positions or principles that would get in the way of staying power, in his own words, a bonafide populist..sounds like a match made in heaven (or hell if you are that way inclined).

  33. Sam the man –unless nick edges him out in tightly fought leadership contest . go sam.

  34. mosa 36

    Key told English in September that he was standing down so plenty of time to plan this resignation and English time to decide if he wants the job and the campaign for the year ahead.

    English must have agreed to take the leadership on as Key has publicly endorsed him as his successor and that would have carried considerable weight with the caucus and the public.

    Win or lose next year it will give English a year as PM and then retirement as the deputy elected shortly will take over if they win.

    The deputy elected will be the future leader.

    Thats the vote to watch.

    • Id say your quite right , Mosa…

      September was a while before anyone else got to know about it- and why only confide in English?

      English will be the next – interim- PM. Not only because of that confidence, but the fact Key has already named his preference for English. But here’s another thing. That housing market. Its going to blow within the next year or so.

      And when that happens – NO ONE will want to be the incumbent PM. Its going to be very , very ugly.

      Which gives credence to your point about English taking over then retiring- and the next in line becoming PM. That PM ‘s tenure as a PM will be short lived ,… and that will mark the start of the long march in the wilderness for the National party.

      I dont even think they will win the coming election. Without Key , National have no one. What they do have is a collection of around 4 persona’s – each of which has been marked by scandal or general unpopularity . So Nationals wilderness march will probably be starting a lot sooner rather than later.

      • mosa 36.1.1

        Also i think the desire for stable leadership and business as usual will mean no early election.

      • Brutus Iscariot 36.1.2

        It’s all relative…”no-one” might still be better than what Labour are offering right now. Cunliffe’s departure leaves the talent pool pretty shallow.

        They don’t have to be as good as Key, they just have to be better than Little and his team, and able to work with Winnie.

    • Thinkerr 36.2

      English gets his name on the list of NZ Prime Ministers.

      Then, if he retires at the next election, his super would be calculated at the higher payscale.

      All he has to do is take the country through the Christmas & New Year season, then the government will go into hibernation while parties hit the campaign trail. Which, if you had decided to retire, wouldn’t be so stressful.

      Then, onto a series of board-ships, while collecting the super as well.

      That’d be what I would do.

  35. Tamati Tautuhi 37

    Bill English a safe pair of hands which have guided NZ through the GFC and developed NZ into a true “ROCKSTAR ECONOMY”.

  36. Thinkerr 38

    maybe this way he can get a gong in one of the two remaining honours lists before the next election, without risking it being another party’s decision?

  37. Puckish Rogue 39

    It’ll be English probably but my heart (and soul) belongs to Jude

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_MjCqQoLLA

  38. Muttonbird 40

    National Party mouthpiece Tracey Watkins saying Bill English knock-on with the try line open.

    This doesn’t surprise me, Bling is not in any way leadership material and that was proven in 2002.

    Brash did English…Key did Brash…and now they are going back to English!

    If the re-annointment of English is supposed to be renewal then I’d hate to see the alternative. Shipley? The exhumation of Muldoon, perhaps?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/87279426/nationals-dilemma-status-quo-or-change

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    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. ...
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    24 hours 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, ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    6 days ago
  • 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 ...
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    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 ...
    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
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
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    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 ...
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    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
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago

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