National’s gonna National
On two issues, pill testing at music festivals and tax changes to address the housing crisis, National yesterday indicated that it will do what conservative parties do and oppose any meaningful change.
political parties
national
National announces terms of reference for its election campaign review
National wants to work out what went wrong during the last election.
National’s annual conference
National has heeded the calls for change and rejuvination by returning Peter Goodfellow as its president.
Final election result – Labour ascendant National down and out
The Electoral Commission has released the final results of the 2020 election and if election night was a shocker for National the final result is even worse.
Less buzz and more cooperative governing
I liked the process for the Greens and Labour agreement. From Labour’s side after this election it was logically completely unnecessary, except maybe under some weird scenarios. But it is cooperative and that is clearly something that voters reward these days. Politics isn’t about buzz. It is about effective governance.
The boy from Matamata
Trump deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell, who is also a Kiwi, has announced his candidacy to be head of the OECD. The Greens have announced their opposition because he has been part of inhumane decisions and also decisions that undermine international institutions. The right back him because he is a kiwi. What should Labour do?
Large caucuses can be devilishly dangerous as National showed
A post mortem of the 2017-2020 parliament shows that far from being the “opposition from hell” as they had threatened, National’s caucus was as ineffective as Donald Trump dealing to Covid 19. It is a salutary lesson for the new Labour caucus which has won 64 seats in the new parliament. There may be many backbench MPs who are underemployed.
Rangitata and the Future of the National Party
As National reels from the disastrous 2020 election result could a policy based on high tech agriculture represent a way back?
Will Labour go it alone?
Tova O’Brien has suggested that a Labour Green joined at the hip coalition is not going to happen. So what will the next Government look like?
Will consensus building paralyse Ardern?
Jacinda Ardern aims to bet both ways on our future – transforming Aotearoa to rid us of inequality and poverty, and building consensus. She has won a mandate with her historic, landslide victory but can she do both? My question is whether Labour are willing to do that because of her desire to maintain consensus and not rock the waka.
NZ election 2020: Labour win is a watershed moment in the country’s history
The 2020 election was more than just a victory for Labour and more than a crushing defeat for the National Party (New Zealand’s main centre-right political party). This result marks a significant watershed in New Zealand politics which will likely have implications long after this parliamentary term.
Dr Shane is in trouble
Shane Reti is in major strife in Whangarei and special votes may overturn his slim election night majority. And National may have further problems with its list entitlement and Maureen Pugh and Nick Smith are not safe.
Labour crushes election – now what?
Labour’s crushing victory in yesterday’s election and the Green’s strong result means that the Government has a unique opportunity to emulate the fundamental change to New Zealand that the first Labour government achieved.
Your Preliminary Parliament for 2020
On the preliminary results, we have our expected MPs. While Parliament may change a little, we now know its shape, and its likely members- with about three exceptions.
Natwatch election night post
This has been an incredible year for the National Party. Will it implode publicly tonight with a series of attacks on the leadership […]
Pollwatch: 2020 Pre-election rush
We’ve had three recent pre-election polls. While we wait for results on election day, let’s have a look at where things might be headed.
Jacinda or Judith?
With election day tomorrow those who have not voted already need to decide, do they want Jacinda Ardern or Judith Collins to be the next Prime Minister.
Latest Colmar Brunton – Labour Greens ascendant
Labour is coming off strastopheric polling but the Greens are looking safer. And National is still on the decline.
Backbench National MP proposes radical new tax to address deficit *
* but I am not sure that all of his caucus colleagues would be happy with the proposal.
Latest UMR Poll – National sinking
Leaked results of the latest UMR poll suggests that National is under 30% and that Judith Collins campaign techniques are not working. She responded by calling the Prime Minister a liar and fat shaming the population.
How not to campaign in an MMP environment
A recent series of advertisements placed by National MPs in Auckland seeking electorate votes and not seeking party votes show that central control of National’s campaign and discipline are completely lacking.
2020 election campaign – 6 days to go
With six days to go to election day the campaigns have reached interesting stages although the underlying trends and events appear to be good for the left.
National’s 2020 election campaign in billboards
A review of National’s billboards used this year shows what an utter disaster the campaign has been for them.
Ngaro goes negative
National list MP Alfred Ngaro has shown that National’s message discipline has broken down completely by going negative and making some outlandish claims against Labour’s Phil Twyford.
Strong team at leaking
Another day and another story about National MPs leaking against Judith Collins
When campaigns go bad
Every day there is a new catastrophe for Judith Collins. Yesterday she had a walkabout from hell when it was revealed on national news that national activists including Hamish Price had been strategically placed to pretend to be ordinary members of the public and say nice things about her for the camera.
The importance of party unity
If a party wants to become Government there are a few characteristics that is has to have. Fiscal competence is one, unity is another. National currently has neither.
National leaks again
A highly critical email about Judith Collins written by National Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee has been leaked and indicates that National’s Auckland policy was made on the hoof and without reference to the person in caucus with actual responsibility for the subject.
Paul Goldsmith should stop digging
Paul Goldsmith has shown yet again his complete inability to understand how Government finances work by claiming there is a $10 billion dollar hole in Labour’s fiscal plan where there is none.
POTUS, Covid and the New Zealand election
News that Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid will have a significant effect on the US election as well as our local election. It raises the issue who will you trust to lead the country against this most agile yet deadly virus?
NZ First and the SFO
Some random musings on the news yesterday that persons associated with NZ First had been charged by the Serious Fraud Office.
No Right Turn: The transport policy we need
All of these policies will get fossil cars off the roads, reducing emissions.
SFO exonerates NZ First
The SFO has put out a press release a few days before overseas voting starts. They have not laid charges against NZ First or anyone in it. They have laid charges against two other people. What I find appalling is that they waited so close to the election before making it clear that whatever NZF did was lawful. To me that smacks of political malfeasance. And the complainants probably should be brought up on charges themselves for wasting police and SFO time.
Judith Collins, Nicky Hager and Dirty Politics
Judith Collins has said about Dirty Politics author Nicky Hager that he “still needs to meet his maker.” What did she mean by this? And why does she harbour such dark thoughts about Hager?
Mood of the Boardroom: National is toast
The NZ Herald Mood of the Boardroom finance election debate should be for National what it is like attending a Living Wage campaign meeting for Labour. They should be at home and the participants should be solidly behind them. But not this year.
Latest Newshub/Reid Research poll – Labour cruising, National floundering
Labour can still rule alone and the Greens are looking safer.