Written By: - Date published: 6:58 pm, October 19th, 2017 - 416 comments
Winston Peters has announced that he will be going into coalition with Labour and Jacinda Ardern will be the next Prime Minister. Let the attacks from the right about how unfair it is that a minority party did not ascend into Government and how MMP needs to be reformed begin. For the rest of us – this is a time of hope…
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, October 19th, 2017 - 103 comments
It appears that Winston is about to announce the decision of the NZ First party about their coalition partner today. For those who seem to think that coalitions should be formed with rapidity, they simply shouldn’t. That is the path to making stupid decisions, and I am yet to hear a single good reason to do it.
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 16th, 2017 - 120 comments
* but delays are possible.
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, October 16th, 2017 - 30 comments
Maybe Peters learned from history and is not doomed to repeat it. If we get a Labour led government, what should be its top priorities in the first 100 days?
Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, October 15th, 2017 - 102 comments
Peters has the opportunity to put an end to this useless government (and turn National into “the opposition from hell”). I think he’s going to ’96 us, but I’d be happy to be proved wrong
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 14th, 2017 - 104 comments
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it now favours higher taxes on the rich and has demolished the myth this might adversely affect economic growth. The authoritative Washington-based think tank in its influential half-yearly monitor also argued for taxes on capital, suggesting a wealth and/or land taxes should be considered, something that will make Gareth […]
Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, October 12th, 2017 - 195 comments
D day approaches. What will happen? Will we have a decaying toothless National Government moderated by coalition with New Zealand First or will we have something more exciting?
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, October 12th, 2017 - 26 comments
It’s the last day of coalition talks (probably). Peters has certainly created big expectations of “change”, but what they will mean in practice is still anyone’s guess.
Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, October 12th, 2017 - 12 comments
If the Greens prioritise change over power, then the whole ‘they have no leverage’ rhetoric becomes less important than the fact that the Greens are necessary to form government but still have choices in how they participate in that.
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, October 11th, 2017 - 41 comments
A guest post by Swordfish on the implausibility of the claims by Dr Claire Robinson’s odd claim that the 2017 election result was a win for the status quo.
Written By: - Date published: 11:34 am, October 9th, 2017 - 318 comments
Gross political incompetence, not immigration, is what lies behind and beneath New Zealand’s infra-structure problems. Only a excited donkey’s dick waving in a stiff breeze might point accusingly towards immigrants and immigration as the problem.
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, October 8th, 2017 - 173 comments
The prospects of a Labour led Government have improved dramatically following the release of the final election results.
Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, October 7th, 2017 - 206 comments
The final election results have been announced with Labour and the Greens each picking up an extra seat.
Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, October 7th, 2017 - 21 comments
Audrey Young on the coalition dance: “Labour would probably have an advantage because of the greater policy overlap”, “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”.
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 5th, 2017 - 28 comments
A tongue in cheek list of reasons why it may be best for National to form the next Government.
Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, October 4th, 2017 - 25 comments
I suspect that ETS has become a political football in the next parliament, but probably not part of a coalition agreement with either National or Labour. My guess is that both NZ First and the Greens will want it off the table unless it is agreed that it will go. That leaves them able to vote against further stupid patches being added to it.
Written By: - Date published: 9:46 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 86 comments
I have very mixed feelings about a Labour Green NZF government. I certainly don’t think that Labour should “pay any price”. So I’m pleased to see Jacinda Ardern acknowledging the Greens.
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 57 comments
There is no “strong and stable” government to “lead” us. Maximum uncertainty! No end in sight! According to received wisdom (and all those people in a self-interested rush to ordain the born-to-rule-party) the market should be panicking! In fact…
Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, October 1st, 2017 - 132 comments
The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, September 30th, 2017 - 88 comments
You know that old saying about how generals always prepare to fight the last war? That’s National and their FPP election campaign (hello creepy joggers). There will be a certain poetic justice played out if Labour’s MMP campaign is the winner in the end.
Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, September 30th, 2017 - 101 comments
A possible National/Green coalition deal? Matthew Whitehead discusses why and why not from a Green perspective.
Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, September 29th, 2017 - 13 comments
The Winston Peters interregnum provides New Zealand with the opportunity to work out what are core values and what can be the subject of compromise.
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, September 28th, 2017 - 24 comments
A significant and positive development late yesterday. Labour held firm on the Māori seats, and Peters has decided that a referendum is probably not a bottom line after all. This early progress bodes well for future negotiations.
Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 178 comments
Labour didn’t deserve to win on Saturday because, firstly, because it failed to bring a fully-fleshed tax policy to voters, and, secondly, it never attempted to win the ideological battle over tax. To succeed at the next election, Labour must begin work today to frame this debate.
Written By: - Date published: 4:59 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 66 comments
Some analysis of where the increase in party vote for Labour occurred.
Written By: - Date published: 11:55 am, September 24th, 2017 - 153 comments
Some post election thoughts on what James Shaw said last night, what the post-election options are, and that given the Left got a possible reprieve not an outright win, what are we going to do next?
Written By: - Date published: 9:17 am, September 24th, 2017 - 44 comments
The fact that we could even hope for a Labour Green win is remarkable – was inconceivable just 2 months ago. Labour’s surge has been incredible. Thank you Jacinda Ardern, and thank you all who worked so hard! Now it’s up to MMP…
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, September 24th, 2017 - 361 comments
Some thoughts on the morning after a bitter sweet election result for Labour and the Greens.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, September 23rd, 2017 - 419 comments
Election night post for discussion. Updates during the evening.
Written By: - Date published: 6:10 pm, September 22nd, 2017 - 5 comments
From the legendary Matafai family and West Auckland Labour how campaigning really should be done …
Written By: - Date published: 4:39 pm, September 22nd, 2017 - 9 comments
The final election pitches – Ardern inspires – English in a hole.
If you haven’t voted already – vote wisely tomorrow!
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