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.
Politics
political parties
O Winston I love you
Some reasons for us to miss Winston’s exit from politics.
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.
This should have been the climate election
A new Ministry for the Environment report on New Zealand and the climate crisis is sobering. If you haven’t voted, climate is still by far New Zealand’s biggest challenge, and it’s the Greens that have the plan for what to do.
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.
About the Greens…
Here’s the thing about the Greens. They want change. They want change more than they want power. I think that they fully understand that we are out of time on climate, poverty, the environment and now is the time to act boldly.
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.
Greens: will push for more climate action to match the scale of the crisis
“The Green Party welcomes Labour’s commitment to reduce climate emissions in the next term of Government, but would go further and faster to address the true scale of the crisis.”
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.
Labour Increases Protection for Kauri Dieback
In an announcement that will probably gain them few extra votes but still warms the cockles, Labour have promised to put Kauri Dieback on the same scale of national disease response as Bovine Tuberculosis and Kiwifruit PSA.
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.
About that wealth tax
There are some issues to be ironed out, but this is the only thing I am seeing that attempts to resolve poverty in New Zealand rather than tinkering around the edges.
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?
Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Health
Jacinda Ardern is a contender for winning a Nobel Peace Prize. If she were to get it for anything, it will be for her leadership response to the national health crisis response to COVID19.
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?
What forming a Labour/Green government might look like
Shaw said that what he is hearing from people is they want Labour to have to talk to someone while in govt and not be able to make decisions by itself.
The question then becomes, how much does the left want Labour to be encouraged greenward and leftward?
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.
Snow storm shout out to the undeserving poor
Why does Labour still not have a plan for unwell and disabled people living in poverty?
What Have Labour Done For The Poor, Exactly?
There’s been plenty of criticism about Labour’s policies not being effective enough to alleviate poverty. Time for a bit of perspective.
Latest Newshub/Reid Research poll – Labour cruising, National floundering
Labour can still rule alone and the Greens are looking safer.
National’s alternative budget doesn’t add up
If ever you needed a symbol of National’s current plight it is the handling of the release of its alternative budget. It has been a complete and utter shambles. A clusterf&*k of epic proportions. Because if there is one part of National’s reputation that needs to be defended at all costs it is the perception that they are competent financial managers and making multiple billion dollar mistakes in your alternative budget at election time is the one thing over all else that will hurt that part of your reputation.