Young on coalition options – an edge to Labour

Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, October 7th, 2017 - 21 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, election 2017, labour, national, winston peters - Tags: , , , , , ,

A long and interesting read:

Audrey Young: Labour has the edge if the Left’s seat count rises

Politics, like life, would be a lot simpler without choices. Ask Winston Peters.

This week he seemed burdened by having to make coalition choices when he pointed out that no matter what he did, someone would find fault, the public, the media, or commentators.

“You can’t win,” he told reporters in a moment of unprovoked self-pity.

Poor Winston.

So assuming the specials confirm him as kingmaker, with a reasonable cushion of votes in either option, has he made up his mind?

No, but Labour would probably have an advantage because of the greater policy overlap, a more equal partnership with both being new parties of government, inherently less cause for conflict and inherently less cause for the public to tire of you.

It’s good to see that media commentary has moved on from “largest party rulez” to something a bit more nuanced.

But there are also signs that National may do what it did in 1996 and offer more than Labour.

Keeping deputy leader Paula Bennett out of the first pro-forma courtesy meeting was an appalling decision by English that simply says he was desperate to please Peters at any cost. If a party is willing to ditch its deputy before they have even got to first base then what else is it capable of?

Anything. National are capable of saying or doing anything to cling to power.

The election may have given New Zealand First choices, but there will be pitfalls for Peters’ party in whatever option it chooses.

The biggest pitfalls for the country lie in rewarding the kind of politics that National has engaged in for the last nine years.

21 comments on “Young on coalition options – an edge to Labour ”

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  1. The decrypter 1
    7 October 2017 at 8:06 am

    Winston for king,- Paula for his queen. A very Regal couple. Page boys still to be selected—

  2. patricia bremner 2
    7 October 2017 at 8:36 am

    National thought they had won. They wanted to “Cut out the middle man”, and lost their friends at court.

    Labour grew, and NZ First and the Greens survived the FPP tactics to offer competition for the government benches.

    Sharing caring and cooperating will make this a winning coalition, not losers.

    Who would trust National after even their friends call them liars and desperate.?

  3. garibaldi 3
    7 October 2017 at 8:50 am

    Gosh isn’t Audrey Young neat? Always objective, intelligent and right on the button!
    Why even write about her?!

    • Ed 3.1
      7 October 2017 at 9:00 am

      Her bias is so blatant

      • Bearded Git 3.1.1
        7 October 2017 at 9:31 am

        Yes but despite her bias it has slowly dawned on her that the Nats are toast. So long as Labour makes no stuff-ups in the negotiations that is, and the specials make it 62-58 or 63-57.

        I just hope Shaw and Genter are in the Cabinet.

        • tracey 3.1.1.1
          7 October 2017 at 10:52 am

          Not in the bag either way, surely

          • Bearded Git 3.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2017 at 11:38 am

            I could be wrong Tracey but I think leaking his pension details on top of all the other things the Nats have done to Winston in the past meant that he was never going to go with them.

            National gamboled on the pension issue destroying NZF and failed. They knew all along that Lab-NZF policy alignment was closer.

            • Chris 3.1.1.1.1.1
              8 October 2017 at 10:57 am

              Let’s hope NZF ditching abolition of the Maori seats as non-negotiable was a nod to Labour and not merely in order to lever more out of the nats.

  4. ianmac 4
    7 October 2017 at 9:13 am

    I thought that the tone of that post was mournful, depressed. After years of applauding her National mates and denigrating the Opposition where does it leave poor little Audrey? Tears trickle down her cheek smearing mascara, little fingers twist her sodden hanky, and she squirms and twitches her legs urgent to go, put fearing obsolescence. Don’t you feel sorry for her?

  5. Anne 5
    7 October 2017 at 9:47 am

    I have to disagree with my fellow commenters here. After a quick skim through the item it seems a reasonably accurate summation to me. For example, Peters did have moments of petulance because Labour upended his carefully laid plans by changing leaders at the last minute. It took away limelight that he clearly believed should have belonged to him.

    • veutoviper 5.1
      7 October 2017 at 10:45 am

      I am with you on this, Anne. I am surprised – but it came across to me as a reasonably objective summation as opposed to Audrey’s usual National worship opinions.

      Yes, Winston Peters has shown moments of petulance that his plans were upended by the change in Labour leadership; but I also think he now totally appreciates (or more accurately ‘rues’) the double-edged sword/poisoned chalice he has been left holding.

      Something that is related but partly a separate issue that has been exercising my mind (or imagination!) in the last day or so is — Shane Jones. Not someone I usually think about, but I really wonder whether all is well vis vis Jones and Peters.

      Jones will not be happy that he did not win Whangarei (despite getting the best party results for NZF) ; nor that he is at number 8 in a NZF caucus of 9.

      Two things that have raised questions in my mind over the last two weeks as to where Jones now stands and his longer term plans are:
      (1) his late arrival from Auckland for the first NZF caucus meeting albeit that he arrived with two boxes of ready to eat crays and the almost petulant interview he gave to press at Wellington Airport ; (EDIT – see final link below)
      (2) a thread on Andrea Vance’s Twitter timeline three days ago re the fact that Jones is or was in Niue earlier in the week/late last week – according to Peters not on holiday but to fulfill a commitment.

      https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/915798885792047104

      and https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/915799758664482821

      Not trying to be a conspiracy theorist, but something just does not compute as Jones completed his Pacific Economic Ambassador role months ago in May (?) .

      This link is to his quick interview on Sept 28 on arrival in Wellington is also of interest re Jones’ views of the Greens, and mention of a plan.
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11927639

      So i will be watching this space.

      • Jenny Kirk 5.1.1
        8 October 2017 at 7:23 pm

        The info about Jones needs adjusting.
        Jones came in third on the Whangarei candidate vote – behind Reti (Nat) who had a huge majority and Savage (Labour) who edged Jones into third by about 100 votes. As for the Whangarei Party vote – the Nats gained 18572, Labour 12993, and NZ First 5804 (Greens 2342). It might have been the largest Party vote for NZFirst but in Whangarei, where Jones is well-known – that result won’t be pleasing Winston.

  6. r0b 6
    7 October 2017 at 10:20 am

    Feel I should speak up in defence of Young too. Her default setting is clearly establishment / nat, but she is perfectly capable of speaking the truth to power on occasion. She’s worth reading.

    • tracey 6.1
      7 October 2017 at 10:55 am

      I find her confusing and selective in her writing. Occasionally some truth to power comes through but it is not often, mostly she is following the trend, the pack the Nats.

      I have NO problem with her dissecting Labour’s promises during the election but to pointedly fail to apply any analysis to National’s daily, mounting promises is odd.

    • CLEANGREEN 6.2
      7 October 2017 at 11:05 am

      I feel sorry for the losers on Nationals spinners side as they did think their power was enough to win the day but the people have almost spoken, – they want change of Government.

      Hope the ballot boxes weren’t fiddled with during the process.

    • ianmac 6.3
      7 October 2017 at 12:20 pm

      Audrey does identify a little perceived Labour negative and expands it while ignoring the same sort of flaw committed by her friends and relations in National. Was she condemning of the fiscal hole, rising tax claims as deliberate lie telling?
      No. So I treat most of her opinions as dodgy.

  7. Nick 7
    8 October 2017 at 2:20 am

    I keep thinking blinglish or joyce has pissed her off, so she’s having a bit of writers revenge. 99% of her articles are anti left, so to see one with a negative natz inference is unusual.

  8. Sparky 8
    8 October 2017 at 9:35 am

    My guess for those “finding fault” is and has always been the MSM……

  9. Ad 9
    8 October 2017 at 8:49 pm

    I don’t think Audrey Young speaks the truth to anything, but what I do respect that between her and Soper their information sources are impeccable. They are both go-to proxies for both Labour and National’s hit team. So we should never dismiss what either of them say. They are institutional brokers in themselves.

    But we should always consider hard who her sources are, and what their motivations are.

    Neither young nor Soper are powerful analysts of anything – but they do have refined echo-chambers from decades at listening carefully – so they read the sea and which way it is tilting the ship of state.

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  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 week ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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