Key’s gone …

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 469 comments
Categories: john key, national

john-key-work-here-is-done

John Key has announced that he will be standing down as Prime Minister from December 12, 2016. May the National Caucus civil war begin …

468 comments on “Key’s gone …”

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      3. 1.1.3

        Paul Henry, it was Paul Henry, wasn’t it, and they are running away together, Paul Henry is winding up as well. Well, who’da thunk it?

      4. 1.1.4

        Always an affair, always slanderous, get your own perfect righteous life in order
        John Key goes out on high note. look back in time .,.Helen was great P.M. but slippery slope she left behind.

    3. 2.3

      Haha are you kidding? I see no path to winning with any of the likely options for the new PM. English or Collins are the most likely competitiors- English is already a loser, Collins is a scandal magnet and she can’t run the Key strategy of conceding to liberal policies. Bennet and Joyce are just as bad picks. Who’s left other than that? Nobody good.

    4. 2.4

      He reach the limit of what was for sale. The fire sale was complete. Good riddance to him.maybe got his green card from Obama

        1. 4.1.1.1

          If you like. Have you heard of ‘the deep state’ ?
          Methinks certain elites went down with Clinton.
          Our geopolitics has not changed.

    1. 5.1

      @ marty mars (5) .. oh yes.

      The National caucus is about to become something similar to a whaling station, blood, guts and blubber flying everywhere! Collins and Bennett will be going for it, hell for leather, while Joyce flaps his gob, spinning the BS! And Blinglish …. dear God, I dread to think!

      Some political entertainment to look forward to in election year 🙂

  6. 6

    I could feel sorry for the parasites who’ll be desolated by the backside they’ve lived up no longer being there. But I won’t because I know Hosking will quickly find another residence.

    And Collins and co. will go into overdrive reformatting their plans. And plots.

      1. 9.1.1

        spot on BM, election 2017, Labour up a bit, greens much the same , National 41-43%, Winston (or maybe Shane Jones by then) 10-12%.
        Act, The Maori Party and Peter Dunne will not come into play.

    3. 9.3

      That’s my thoughts.

      Key was the reason why an NZ First National coalition was unlikely. With him out of the way English and Winston can get down to business.

      Scary scary

      1. 9.3.1

        You really think Key is the only reason not to go with National? You think NZ First don’t remember the comparative experiences of being in Coalition with Bolger/Shipley and Clark? Their last coalition with National was a disaster, do they expect anything different if they try again? Why?

        1. 9.3.1.1

          I am not so sure past history will have any significance on what way Winston goes. Certainly not history from two decades ago.

          What I do know is the relationship will be a lot easier to create and sell to the NZ First supporters now that Winston’s main antagonist is out of the way.

          I just think a coalition is more likely between them then it was 24 hours ago.

      2. 9.3.2

        Yep.
        English and Peters will get on very well, Peters has a very similar personality to Key.

        It’s hard to know how this will effect National though, I can’t see a mass exodus to Labour/ Greens and a lot of NZ firsts rise in the polls was due to National voters dissatisfied with the way Key was running the country.

        2. 9.3.2.2

          Hahaha I like the idea that a leader that isn’t Key would reverse an exodus from National to NZ First. The only chance of that is if they pick someone like Collins, but then the Exodus to Labour is going to be just as big, so there’s really no winning option.

          1. 9.3.2.2.1

            He was a rather polarizing character, you either liked him or you didn’t, very Helen Clark like.

            Collins would be the same but without the skill set Key had, which is why I reckon English would be the best option by far.

            1. 9.3.2.2.1.1

              Key is polarising now because the electorate are/were catching on to him and his two-faced nature, and the fact that he’s been banking all that political capital not because he’s a savvy leader but rather because he didn’t have any vision for where to take the country. He was initially not very polarising to the general electorate, just to big political junkies.

              Collins is very much the reverse: The only people who like her are dyed-in-the-wool National Party faithful. I’ve never heard any sort of centrist express much sympathy for Collins, in fact I don’t know any who don’t agree that she’s probably corrupt.

              Collins not only lacks Key’s social intelligence, (she bulls through somewhat with aggressiveness, but you can only do that so much as Shipley learned) she is also surrounded by the stink of scandal, and has the disadvantage of being a very conservative MP in a nation that has some very liberal sensibilities. (That’s not to say Collins can’t hit populist areas- it’s why she’s frequently been in Justice and Police roles in her political career rather than being on the track to Attorney General) Overall, Collins is about the worst PM they could pick for going into an election, as we’d have 8 months or so of her doing her worst to relive on the campaign trail. She could surprise us and pull off a Trump-style victory with some law and order cred, (although arguably she’s too much of a politician to manage it, the same problem Peters has) but if not, she’s likely to be the biggest possible gift to Labour the National Party could come up with.

    4. 9.4

      It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but it’s not the direction NZ First policy has been leaning lately. They have a lot more in common with Labour, and without Key in the PM’s chair, it’s possible they won’t even have the numbers to pull a coalition with NZ First.

    2. 10.2

      Who else can get away with giving only a weeks notice?

      Still, what a great day it is for anyone in NZ apart from those apparent 36% who prefer him as PM. Wonder if they feel let down or do they, in their strange state of cognitive dissonance think “what a great guy for giving it all up for his family” and adore him even more?

      Who knows? Who cares! Boo Hoo to them!

  13. 13

    Hooten doing his usual on Natrad right now….said how Key took the party to the left….so my ears shut down….

    “Spend more time with family….”

    Yeah, right.

  14. 14

    Resigned just in time for the New Years honours list. Arise Sir John the poor boy from a state house who made good and looked after the rich

  15. 15

    I just wish he had done something substantial with all that multi-year political capital riding up there in the polls. He had a chance to really shape the entire country for the long term good … it just didn’t happen.

    I admire him taking the decision at the request of his wife.

    Far too often politicians choose the career parliamentary life and deliberately destroy their marriages.

    Takes quite an emotional measure to reverse that at the top of the game and top of the power elite, and choose your core relationship over your career.

    1. 15.1

      Very gracious comment Ad. I admire that. But “he had a chance to really shape the entire country for the long term good”?
      No that was never going to happen. It’s just not in the National Party’s DNA

      1. 15.1.1

        It’ll take a few months and perhaps well into 2018 to figure out his legacy.

        I sure don’t need to defend this lot, but I’m hoping Key will have done three things at a minimum:

        – Deliberately managed the housing market to plateau and gradual deflation
        – Permanently altered the public service – local and central – to prepare for nation-wide shocks
        – Strengthened the transport core of New Zealand as a whole

        I’m scratching my head otherwise to figure his lasting positive legacy.
        The arguments will go for a while on this one I am sure.

        1. 15.1.1.1

          I’ve got to credit him with the nous not to claw back Working For Families or interest free student loans and resisting the temptation to go full austerity after 2008 (although that was largely due to Michael Cullen’s stewardship of the economy). He didn’t stand in the way of marriage equality. The UFB rollout was a positive policy that is seeing us leapfrog Australia – especially in the climate of their minerals collapse. But it’s not a large list of achievements for 8 years.

        2. 15.1.1.2

          Extending free healthcare to Under 12’s
          Increasing benefits above the rate of inflation for the first time in x years (50 was it?)
          Working with Fonterra and Sanitarium to introduce breakfast in schools
          Landmark Tuhoe settlement under which Te Urewera became a legal entity
          TPPA (got it to signing and I am sure there will be more to come on this in future)
          The Christchurch rebuild (National increased vote share in ChCh over this time)

          I’m sure there is plenty more, but that’s a start

          1. 15.1.1.2.1

            Off the top of my head:

            Pike River murder and betrayal.
            Turning New Zealand into a tax haven.
            Law Society warned the UN about his government’s attacks on human rights and the rule of law.
            Abuse of Parliamentary urgency.
            Lying reflexively.
            Trichophilia.
            Cameron Slater.

              1. 15.1.1.2.1.1.1

                I’m glad Dear Leader has resigned. He was the worst Prime Minister this country has ever seen.

                He has poisoned our water forever. Nixon will be remembered as a classic case of a smart man shitting in his own nest. But he also shit in our nests, and that was the crime that history will burn on his memory like a brand.

                Hunter S Thompson on the death of Richard Nixon.

              2. 15.1.1.2.1.1.2

                You really are a bitter and twisted individual.

                Can’t help it. All those years living under shonkey’s reign does that to a person.

            2. 15.1.1.2.1.2

              It’s not twisted to tell the truth Sam C, even if it is unpleasant.

              Key’s wealth and power probably insulated him from the reality of the damage he was doing to ordinary kiwis.

          2. 15.1.1.2.2

            Definitely the healthcare moves are going, but hardly a groundbreaking legacy.

            The Treaty of Waitangi settlements are also noteworthy – but even for New Zealand they are Business As Usual under both kinds of government.

            The Christchurch rebuild, well, anyone would say it’s been far too slow, not very imaginative, and barely left Christchurch better off than when he started in office, which is the core measure of leadership. I referred to it when I mentioned ‘responding to shocks’ above.

            Even Key has said he would have preferred that he had won the flag referendum, to show he had made some tangible difference.

            He didn’t.

          3. 15.1.1.2.3

            “Extending free healthcare to Under 12’s” – this was at the expense of three-month free health checks for the oldies, Bob.

            “Working with Fonterra and Sanitarium to introduce breakfast in schools” – and this was a community initiative which Key jumped into for photo ops.

            The Tuhoe settlement was always going to happen, the Ch’ch rebuild has been a huge disaster for many home-owners with repairs having to be made to rebuilt homes, increasing benefits made no difference to the disaster brought down on beneficiaries by the Richardson-Shipley govt.

            Nope – I don’t think Key has left us much of a legacy, except more money for the rich, and much less for the ordinary NZer in the middle, let alone those who are poor.

            1. 15.1.1.2.3.1

              The Tuhoe settlement was certainly going to happen, after the bruising raid by the police under Helen Clark’s Labour government. A really good case of one in the eye for Labour.

        3. 15.1.1.3

          Deliberately managed the housing market to plateau and gradual deflation

          He pushed to keep it going.

          Permanently altered the public service – local and central – to prepare for nation-wide shocks

          He undercut and underfunded the public service to give tax cuts for the rich.

          Strengthened the transport core of New Zealand as a whole

          He wanted more cars and underfunded Kiwirail.

        4. 15.1.1.4

          Ad. History will not look too kindly upon John Key, the most dirtiest politician this country has ever had the misfortune to have. Key’s legacy is one of abject ruin.

    2. 15.2

      More likely keen to resign before more panama paper expose’s come calling to NU Zilland and there’s no point now his main focus TPPA/cash4cronies looks dead.

      1. 15.3.1

        If anything – the man should be investigated for how hes treated New Zealanders .

        Him and the rest of the Nats. All those laws they pushed through under urgency, especially the many attacks on human rights.

        Even worse this prick had the audacity to lecture other nations on human rights issues when his government was working hard to destroy ours!

    1. 17.1

      Exactly what I was thinking: did John Key just throw a huge dead cat on the table?

      I know that he told Bill English in September but timing is everything in politics.

      Anyway, I wonder what the weather is going to be like tomorrow …

        1. 17.1.1.1

          The Mt Roskill by-election was just a single nail but it can’t explain the coffin; that took time to put together …

          Very odd …

  18. 18

    After ten years of wondering which stumbling fool of a leftist was going to ask me whether I stood by my statements today, I’d be ready for a break too.

    Best PM ever.

    Andy “gravedigger” Little might be in with a chance of raising labour in the polls now…?

        1. 19.1.1.1

          And that’s just the problem with you sycophants – you never read because it just might expose the REAL motives and WHOS behind the shit – and pour cold water all over those precious vested interests .

          Guess you reckon the slaughter at the battle of the Somme was the fault of the lazy foot soldiers as well , eh?

          Your type never change.

  20. 20

    With the election only several months away, it will be interesting to see who the National Party selects.

    They won’t want anyone who will startle voters.

      2. 20.1.2

        I heard he was considering stepping down.

        Nevertheless, he would be their safest bet considering the time-frame till the next election. The public know him well.

        1. 20.1.2.1

          Yeah, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had stepped down after the election. He didn’t seem like he was imminently retiring, so it’s reasonable to conclude that it’s for personal reasons.

        2. 20.1.2.2

          “I heard he was considering stepping down.”

          How do you know? When was that?

          When Key himself didn’t know until after the defeat in the Mt Roskill by election.

          2. 20.1.2.2.2

            On the right track imo Leftie @20.1.2.2

            Just watched the news on TV1 and TV3. His reasons are corny and don’t fit with his known persona. If you were to believe him its all about putting his family first… putting his supporters and colleagues first… putting the country first. Rubbish. The byelection result was the final nail… He saw the writing on the wall.

            Ok, there might be truth in considering his wife and family who might well have had enough of it. (I would if I was in their shoes.) But the rest is not believable. He talked about “having always been honest with the public”. Many people with moderate to severe memory failure will fall for the line hook, line and sinker (including the sycophantic media) but its hogwash. We’ve put up with years of lies from John Key and BliP’s lists are testament to it.

            In the meantime the Mt. Roskill by-election results have fallen off the bottom of the news ladder. Oh well done John Key but sorry mate… it won’t wash forever because sanity usually prevails in the end.

            1. 20.1.2.2.2.1

              “The byelection result was the final nail… He saw the writing on the wall.” is bang on Anne, and true to form, John key is lying right til the end.

        1. 20.1.6.1

          Long time ago and a bad choice at the time, far too young.

          Just because you didn’t win first time around doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again, that’s the attitude of a loser.

          1. 20.1.6.1.1

            Correct. Oz PMs have lost the party leadership and come back – John Howard of “Throwing Babies Overboard” infamy. Kevin Rudd. It’s not a high bar you know.

      1. 22.2.1

        The enormous financial bubbles are why I would resign right now if I were a politician at any level in any country.

        The people’s rage will intensify as economies get worse.

        Success has a thousand fathers. Failure is an orphan.

        1. 22.2.1.1

          “The people’s rage will intensify as economies get worse.”

          60% of Italian voters just canned their PM via a referendum. Their economy is in tatters.

  24. 24

    Good riddance to a terrible PM, but might not change much except for the politics of personality (plenty of Nacts with the same lousy values to follow).

    I think this marks the end of a huge, wasted opportunity for Labour. An opportunity to have debated the issue of the very rich who hold most of the nation’s wealth and don’t contribute their share. Key was a classic example, but was not challenged even slightly on this (e.g. his own tax contribution vs his wealth).

  25. 25

    If it has been planned its a great move.

    National can go into the election with changes to Super on the table and in a better position to negotiate with Peters.

    Going to be an interesting election.

    1. 25.1

      Yea, it sounds like the Nats weren’t going to be able to form a government without NZFirst and Key had said he’d never work with Winston Peters. Winnie must be loving this – Key got pushed before he retired.

  26. 26

    Good news! My first thought was what is the ****** must be hiding something. But maybe the tea leaves were just pointing to a defeat next election. Does this clear the way for National + NZ First coalition?

  27. 27

    Wonderful news and what a relief we don’t have to put up with the smiling assassin’s lies and and crafty manipulations anymore. And if the pundits are correct and he is the popularity of the Natzi’s we can look forward to a change of Government next year. Whoopee!

          1. 27.1.1.1.1

            L0L !…

            Stay calm , breathe deep and have a lie down.

            Then you might just be able to take the shitstorm that’s going to erupt in the near future with your beloved tory party.

            My oh my, … didnt Wood and Little look in great shape with the Roskill win …

            Little bit of the Winston / Northland thing going on there… dontcha think ?

  28. 28

    Guess it is time for Attack of the Clones.

    I never liked John Key, and he never gave me cause to respect him, in fact embarrassed was the emotion most often felt when watching him in the public sphere. Often angry when seeing the effect his party’s policies have had in NZ society. But unfortunately there are too many like him in the National Party willing to take his place.

    So for my part, muted recognition with the side order of ‘meh’.

    (I’m guessing the research unit at National are predicting a major slump in housing, and a dive for the economy. Like all lacklustre managers, he is going to go while the going can be reported to be good… and leave the mess for others to clean up. And be warned, we are likely in for a spate of sycophantic articles about Key’s legacy).

    2. 28.2

      Even the National Party Herald could only come up with this:

      Key has governed the country through the recession of the late-2000s, formed the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority in response to the aftermath of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and led the country following the Pike River disaster.

      Key also worked to create the much-protested policy for the partial privitisation of state-owned enterprises, including Meridian and Mighty River Power, Genesis and Solid Energy.

      Overseas, Key has withdrawn the NZ Defence Force from Afghanistan, attended the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, improved relations with the United states and aimed to establish the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

      What a legacy! 😈 😆

    3. 28.3

      John Key was very upbeat (!) about the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) that is due this coming Thursday December 8.

  30. 30

    The end of an error, and not a good one at that, a time when many voted against their own betterment because of the retoric of a carismatic leader. So why did he really sesign? One can only guess; was he rolled by his own caucus; was whikki leaks finally about to publish the real oil on John Key; one things for sure the real reason is not being spoken of at the moment.

    1. 30.1

      That was my first reaction, but i’m happy with his rationale.

      He’s never needed the money or the power. Hell of a job that takes its toll on family life. But he’s always been about the legacy…so what better time to go than when he is still reasonably popular.

      Once it was established that he didn’t have the legs for a 4th term, then now is the perfect time. Give the new leader a long lead-in time to the election. By springing it as so much of a surprise he also gets to hand pick his successors as there’s no time for plotting or machinations.

  31. 31

    My information is that he is going to challenge Andrew Little for leadership of Labour. Something about supporting a party with real heart.

    Come back Matthew Hooten, you were right all along.

  33. 33

    Goodness me. Surely Key wasn’t frightened by direct interviewing from Kim Hill after years of fan based journalists? Maybe she showed him that his time is up!

    2. 33.2

      3 minutes of Kim Hill and I want to give up!!

      Her interviewing “style” shines light on nothing other than Hill’s excruciating self-consciousness. Painful.

      1. 33.2.1

        Painful listening to the individuals who pass themselves of as ‘journalists’ these days.

        They are talking heads, with little if any knowledge of the subject matter. And it shows.

        Kim Hill knows her stuff, and , and at least she speaks clearly and doesn’t slur her words.

        Not self-conscious at all…simply a professional.

  34. 34

    There is a God after all. Two things come to mind – he was offered a job while at the latest Security Council Meeting or there is some major dirt that has been dug on him – whatever it is thank the lord we won’t have to listen to his insincerity and sarcasm anymore. Not a political genuine article that is for sure. He wants to go out on a roll – he is a legend in his own mind.

    1. 34.1

      … he was offered a job while at the latest Security Council Meeting or there is some major dirt that has been dug on him.

      My immediate reaction. If it was the latter, it just might not come out now he has resigned.

  35. 35

    I recon he was given the chance to resign to save face, but in the back room was told they had the numbers to roll him and he can either jump or get pushed.
    National hides their dirty secrets behind a wall of right wing bloggers and tame MSM.
    I recon it was the huge numbers who voted against National at the recent by-election in a seat that because of all the National party votes at the last election should have seen it more closely contested and a hard win for Labour.

    1. 35.1

      Some quantum leaps in your logic there Jester. But hey, if it helps you sleep better at night, then all power to you.

      1. 35.1.1

        Not so Sam, NZJester made a very good point. This is the second by election National have lost, and despite the spin, Key was looking for an upset and got thoroughly trounced instead. Local elections didn’t go National’s way either. Looks like John key was given his marching orders and got out while he could before the spin of the fake “rock star economy” collapsed around him.

    3. 35.3

      Yeah there is some truth in that analysis Jester knowing the way the National party works.

      I think Joyce calls the shots and whatever the reasons has tapped him on the shoulder and said its time.

      No sitting PM goes willingly and Key had a massive ego and strong desire to win a fourth term for the legacy and would not have wanted to give that away.

      The guy is dirty and quite possibly compromised and that has caught up with him.

      I just dont buy the “i am going to spend more time with the family ” line.

      1. 35.3.1

        National are all about smoke and mirrors with their public face.
        He was most likely ambushed in a secret backroom meeting with someone stepping in to challenge him in a vote. The National Party inner circle have probably cast their votes for and against him with Key loosing out. The trusted inner circle will already know who will be our next PM until the next election.
        Key in order to get some special perks will be choosing who they want and has no say in the matter.

    4. 35.4

      incoherent conspiracy nonsense NZ Jester.

      The Mt Roskill by-election is irrelevant. It was Labour’s to lose. Less than 40% of the electorate voted, and those that did vote for labour had always voted for labour. There was no mass transfer of national voters to labour, Labour had more at stake and were better organised on the day to get their vote out. It was the predicted outcome and it came to pass.

    1. 36.1

      Suffocated by his own web perhaps?

      Rare telly watching the other weekend, saw him on the Nation…thought at the time he looked a little blue. Put it down to the make up person not applying enough gunk for HD….which is pitiless on the less than perfect.

  37. 37

    I do hope there is no serious illness in his family, my first thought.

    But Bronagh regretting all those “lonely nights” is a bit rich when she had the option to join him in Premier House, and opted instead to stay in Auckland.

    She had the power to change things, but didn’t.

    And you might say the same of Key’s terms as Prime Minister. An ineffectual man.

    1. 37.1

      He had a big effect Mrs Brillo…..it just wasn’t a good effect for the majority of people….His legacy….Lying so so often, Pony Tail Puller, Flag Fail, selling off Assets, bike path, TPP, Housing, immigration

  38. 38

    We are incredibly lucky to have had his service at the time when we most needed a smart, competent business guy to keep us afloat.

    Most other OECD countries never recovered from the 2009 GFC and today are wracked with civil strife, divided by hyper-partizan politics, crippled by debt and unemployment. Many have either gone tits-up on socialist spending beyond their ability to pay, or else elected far-right reactionaries instead.

      1. 38.2.1

        Wow, I actually wasted 10 minutes of my life reading through that loosely cobbled conspiracy theory.

        Great example of the depth of reporting of facts:

        “•A local indigenous Maori lady phoned a New Zealand radio talk-back show in mid-January 2011 discussing the Pike River tragedy and in her own, unrefined way, perceptively said:
        “You know, there’s something mighty fishy about what the media is telling us all about this B/S at Pike River Mine. Why has nobody been charged? You know. Just as they killed those guys and they have now sealed the mine up and buried them forever – if we, as a people, don’t do something about it – before long – they are going tobury us all too!””

        Then I scrolled back to the top and saw this:
        “I recommend that people carefully read what follows – double-check the references for yourself – and above all – please THINK for yourself!
        Penny Bright”

        1. 38.2.1.1

          Wow, I actually wasted 10 minutes of my life reading through that loosely cobbled conspiracy theory.

          I didn’t even spend that much time on it. But I will say this – I don’t think there’s ever been a time in history where so much effort has been put in to preventing people going in to attempt to rescue/recover the victims of a mine collapse or explosion. I have not been able to come across one.

          My own suspicion is that our namby-girly police who blocked initial rescue attempts realise that many of the Pike River victims survived and could’ve been rescued alive hours or days later, but because they blocked all attempts to rescue (people have been dragging victims out of burning mines for hundreds of years without benefit of our modern tools!) the men died. Someone going into the mine today would be able to prove that. I suspect those involved know it would be immediately obvious that some of them survived.

          Murder? Maybe not. Culpable manslaughter?

          1. 38.2.1.1.1

            ” I don’t think there’s ever been a time in history where so much effort has been put in to preventing people going in to attempt to rescue/recover the victims of a mine collapse or explosion”
            They actually let teams try to enter, they just ruled it out due to the danger invloved:
            https://web.archive.org/web/20101129211331/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/third-explosion-won-t-set-back-recovery-3916897
            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4536950/Police-halt-Pike-River-recovery-effort
            They even sent down multiple robots:
            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10838786

            “My own suspicion is that our namby-girly police who blocked initial rescue attempts realise that many of the Pike River victims survived and could’ve been rescued alive hours or days later”
            Yip, completely agree, the rescue mission should have started almost immediately as the methane within the mine had been burnt off. For the safety of those attempting a rescue you can see why the Police would have felt obliged to stop them, but in reality they all but stopped any chance of a rescue effort right there.

            “Someone going into the mine today would be able to prove that. I suspect those involved know it would be immediately obvious that some of them survived.”
            This is where I struggle, I think an effort should still be made to enter the mine if there is any way to do so, these families need closure, but the mine has been burning since the initial explosion, so I doubt there would be any evidence left to find.

            “Culpable manslaughter?”
            Unfortunately this wasn’t an option under the law at the time, however it would be under current law (my understanding).

        2. 38.2.1.2

          L0L !…

          Awesome! – just awesome !…. picks out the incidental bit and focuses on that and disregards all the rest that shows how plans for the operation were conducted. Enjoy the bit about Key visiting the Wall street broker working for Bank of America ?

          ‘ 33) September 24, 2009: Prime Minister John Key meets with Douglas A. Johonson in New York, a Bank of America trader who deals in New Zealand company stocks on the first floor of the New York Stock Exchange.’

          I’ll bet you did bud.

          I’ll bet you did.

          1. 38.2.1.2.1

            Okay, how about:
            “Yet amazingly, Bathurst Resources Ltd reports on their website as at 2.11pm (EST) 21th January, 2011, their BTU Share Price is now $A1.040 – now well over 900% higher than it was at the same time in 2010”
            It is now at less than 10% of that value:
            http://www.asx.com.au/asx/share-price-research/company/BRL

            “Clearly, a very elect group of both local and global, corrupt, treacherous, corporate individuals, self-serving bankers and government officials, allegedly headed by the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key with his blind trust”
            Blind trusts are just that, blind. Pretty hard for John Key to be heading a conspiracy on investments he doesn’t handle

            “out of the very worst excesses of blatant “insider trading” imaginable in Bathurst Resources Ltd and associated company shares”
            See above

            ““The Upper Big Branch Mine methane explosion occurs in West Virginia in the U.S. killing exactly 29 miners out of a total 31, (at the same time in the afternoon, as the 29 miners out of 31 were killed on November 19, 2010, by an identical methane gas explosion at Pike River Coal in New Zealand). Most of the major shareholders of Massey Energy that own the Upper Big Branch Mine are the same controlling shareholders of New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd that are the controlling shareholders of Pike River Coal Ltd. Following the disaster at Upper Big Branch Mine, a number of patriotic organizations called on Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship to be arrested and charged with first degree murder. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/04/group-calls-arrest-west-virginia-ceo/””
            Charges were laid November 2011: http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10765109

            “33) September 24, 2009: Prime Minister John Key meets with Douglas A. Johonson in New York, a Bank of America trader who deals in New Zealand company stocks on the first floor of the New York Stock Exchange.”
            Wow, that seals it then! Our Prime Minister publicly visited a trader who is directly involved in investments into the New Zealand economy…must be trying to cover up murder…

            Pull your head in mate, this is a big Penny Bright conspiracy based on nothing, that doesn’t stand up to the slightest bit of scrutiny, and you are peddling it a dozen times on the same post like a crazy person!

            1. 38.2.1.2.1.1

              I suggest pull your own head in ,… your type have been beating your chests for 8 years and you really dont like having to pull your heads out of your hosts backside.

              Never mind, – you can used to it. We all had to get used to having a corrupt PM for 8 years… now its your turn to have some character building .

              And now the accountability issues that caused Key to resign begins ,… as Peters said it today on RNZ. Let the games commence.

    3. 38.3

      We are incredibly lucky to have had his service at the time when we most needed a smart, competent business guy to keep us afloat.

      He’s an idiot with limited knowledge and no humanity.

    6. 38.6

      He’s not a “business guy”. He worked in the finance sector speculating on the movement of currencies. No socially useful goods or services were created.

      1. 38.6.1

        The parasitic banking sector likes to pretend they are performing a vital service in the economy. They think they are wizards able to conjure wealth out of nothing. In fact they are just ticket clippers and imposing costs on the actual productive sector.

        Usury should be illegal and all banking should be nationalised as a public utility.

    7. 38.7

      The only reason this country kept afloat during the recession was thanks to Labour’s forward thinking and paying off our international debt, not anything Key’s government did.
      Key managed to royally screw that up and put this country into a crippling amount of debt again. You can bet with his so called blind trust portfolio that he is making money off of that debt he put this country in.
      Even the so called budget surplus his government came up with was a big lie. When all of our crucial NZ services like health (both mental and physical), education, social welfare, fire services, policing, emergency call services and civil defense are all under funded any budget surplus announced is a lie.
      His legacy is selling out this country to big business , making lots of false promises (Pike River top of the list of broken promises) and a crippling debt that will make it hard for a Labour government to properly fund and rebuild all the services National has under funded for so long.

  40. 40

    The bad news is probably stacking up against the lie of the “rock star economy” and he does not want to be tarnished with the product of his own policies. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/86867469/blowing-bubbles-where-the-housing-bubble-has-blown-up-the-biggest The music has stopped and who is going to hold the parcel of debt? Not the Government for sure, it is the over leveraged National heartland. This could get really ugly really quickly and Key knows the sun shines in Hawaii and no one knows who he is up there.

  41. 41

    “Because they loved their money more than anything in the whole world.” The voters have been pushed far enough in this iteration of dirty, greed-based politics. Time for a breather before flogging off health and education.

    Several concern troll comments on this site have been advising on the importance of Labour retiring older MPs in favour of new blood. And John Key/National have been reading; time to replace John Key with the fresh-faced Bill English.

    Predict that the consistently genuine Andrew Little, not to mention Winston and Gareth, will get a boost in the preferred prime minister stakes – STAY THE COURSE.

      1. 41.1.1

        Credit where credit’s due – Key can be consistent too. Consistently ambiguous on the 1981 Springbok tour, still flogging the TPPA. But overall a remarkably flexible leader, as his utterances on Pike River attest. Not admirable – a consistent liar to the end.

  42. 42

    A job like the PM must take a HUGE toll.

    Its not a job that I would want (nor would I be any good at it – hell my wife wouldn’t even vote for me).

    Im glad for him that he has gone out on top, but saddened that there has been a toll that has simply gotten too much.

    I obviously thought him a great PM – and a person. Thats my view – others (esp on the standard) who will disagree.

    So – I wish him the best for what he tackles next, and all the best for his replacement.

    2. 42.2

      I’m saving my good wishes for the children of New Zealand who suffered and still suffer at the hands of this unprincipled power seeker, wannabe macho-laddie, child. Was always a disgraceful primary school fibber. Good riddance. Who ya’ gonna import this time grande dame Boag?

      Didn’t even serve out his third term aye? Wasn’t “Honest John” gonna be New Zealand’s longest serving PM?

    4. 42.4

      A lot of jobs take a huge toll, it never seems to be a consideration for blue collar workers and their families, they’re just told they have to be more flexible. Key was at least richly remunerated while his Govt removed workers rights and enabled a precarious work environment for many. Lots of people work just as long hours, just as hard, some in dangerous environments, many who also have to factor in fatigue from shift work. So meh to Key and the apparent HUGE toll the job took.

      1. 42.5.1

        Hey Katipo -there must be something wrong with your keyboard -its keeps auto-adding an internet address to a load of bollocks

        1. 42.5.1.1

          Nothing wrong with the keyboard, son, but – but you have a few hours left so dont panic …They say tapeworm parasites can live a few days without their heads…

          And now your host has gone its going to be fun to watch all you bloodsuckers squirm and squeal without being able to feed off the population any longer…

      2. 42.5.2

        Anyone who quotes Penny Blight as a credible source (little less spamming the comments with the same link over and over), is not somebody who could ever be taken seriously – or in fact should even be left alone with crayons

    7. 42.7

      James: “A job like the PM must take a HUGE toll.”
      Not really James. NZ population 4.5million. How about Mayor of New York or Birmingham? We are really very tiny even though our PM gets paid twice as much as Brit PM with 70million.

  43. 43

    Here is the Herald’s list of his achievements:
    (I’ve taken out the elections won bit)
    “Key has governed the country through the recession of the late-2000s, formed the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority in response to the aftermath of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and led the country following the Pike River disaster.

    Key also worked to create the much-protested policy for the partial privitisation of state-owned enterprises, including Meridian and Mighty River Power, Genesis and Solid Energy.

    Overseas, Key has withdrawn the NZ Defence Force from Afghanistan, attended the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, improved relations with the United states and aimed to establish the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

    That’s pathetic for a 8 year PM.

  44. 44

    Whether there was planning in this, the timing is outstanding:

    – It is the most important cabinet renewal after a highly refreshed caucus and cabinet compared to 2008, signaled in advance of barbeque seasons, and the 2017 electoral season

    – It is three days before an enormous surplus forecast, giving National the election-year headroom for massive social spending AND tax cuts.

    Both are serious momentum for his successor.

  46. 46

    I really believe that Key has actually told the truth for the first time in his political career. Bronagh has said, be home more, and he has conceded.

    Not sure I agree with comments about the big cat fights that are about to start in the Natzi caucus. They are far too well drilled for that. It’ll be Billy Dipstick or Joycie Dildo – or if they are are completely suicidal, Pawdry Benefit.

    What concerns me most is that this tawdry, self-serving little man re-introduced the gongs a few years ago with the long term view that when he finally went, one would be waiting for him. If that is the case, he is a bigger arsehole than I even took him for.

    Goodbye and total good riddance. He mentioned something about going out on the top – going out on the bottom, more likely – the bottom of the list! What list? Best PM list, of course.

    1. 46.1

      I dont think he told the truth about Bronagh…..its just the usual positioning statement to gain sympathy….the truth will surface in time.

      A true PM fail …..

    2. 46.2

      Not sure I agree with comments about the big cat fights that are about to start in the Natzi caucus. They are far too well drilled for that.

      They’re authoritarians so pretty much once the leader goes it’s all on to choose the next leader and, as Dirty Politics showed, they don’t fight clean.

  47. 47

    The PM is famous for not being around when the shit hits the fan, how many times has Blinglish been left to scrape up his messes while he flies overseas to be as far away as possible from it. I cannot remember when he has ever been around for uncomfortable situations where his deputy can do his dirty work for him. The PM can see next year ahead of him and he never likes to be around and seen as a loser, so its pretty obvious he will now sit on the back benches and let his minions take the flak. His supposed “legacy” is his most important mission in life – so he is performing true to form. His own Government will not be respecting him right now for leaving them in the lurch. Withstanding any ill health in his family, we are better off without him.

    1. 47.1

      Key has ALWAYS been around when problems arise. The GFC. The recession. The earthquakes. Pike River. He has stood up time and again in the face of natural and international challenges. Your lack of insight reminds me the criticism of Helen Clark over the years.

      1. 47.1.1

        Nine years of surpluses and the Chinafta are the reason the GFC didn’t hit us too hard. Key’s legacy is homeless families.

        1. 47.1.2.1

          In their portfolio’s, maybe. But Key has fronted lots of the major issues in the past several years. Don’t you understand that is why he is so popular.

          1. 47.1.2.1.1

            “Don’t you understand that is why he is so popular.”

            its called marketing – thats why hes popular.

            for extra points did the PMs spin team grow or shrink during his term?

        2. 47.1.2.2

          Thank you Framu for agreeing with me – he is Teflon John for very good reason, he loathed being associated with bad news or being seen as a loser. Wellfedweka doesn’t know what he is talking about. Swanning around in helicopters with the requisite hard hat on doesn’t do it for me – ask Christchurch residents how they feel x amount of years on about his promises and the Pike River families as well. All hair oil and no socks was how my Granny would have described him – an apt description indeed.

        1. 47.1.3.1

          News Flash

          John Key did not cause the explosion at Pike River.

          There are, you can go back to your conspiracy books now.

            1. 47.1.3.1.1.1

              Under which government was Pike River consented? Labour.

              There were no ‘changes’ made under national that contributed to the Pike River disaster. Seriously in 10 years the far left have been trying to paint Key as some kind of demon. You’ve failed. Key leaves undefeated.

                    1. 47.1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                      oooooooo the pain , the pain … its palpable !!!

                      As is the fear !!!

                      Its over for you guys and you know it…. your big leader has up and left you with your dicks in the air… and how that must smart!!!!

                      More victims of the ‘ Smiling Assassin ‘ and you really dont like it one bit , do you now…

                    2. 47.1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1.2

                      “More victims of the ‘ Smiling Assassin ‘ and you really dont like it one bit , do you now…”

                      Actually I think he’s made exactly the right decision. Family comes first. He’s 55, successful, wealthy and happily married. He’ll leave the next National elader with a tough act to follow, but there is no Helen Clark in today’s labour party.

  49. 49

    One last bird flipped at his enemies. For all the churlish rhetoric here now, he will get to say he went out on top. The Left will never have the satisfaction of hearing him concede defeat on an election night.

    I understand the need to conjure up fantasies to make the truth more palatable, but the facts are that he’s now one of the very few politicians to “win the game”.

    Whether that’s reality or perception, posterity will now look upon him more fondly than possibly he deserves to be.

      1. 49.1.1

        We will never know, will we. But the polls say he left with a stonking 50% rating. Perception is all that matters, and he will have it in spades. If Nats lose in 2017, people will say it was because he wasn’t there. If they win in 2017, it will be because of the platform he laid.

        Win win for his historical reputation.

    2. 49.2

      Key went out on top, good for him. Now time to roll that charisma vacuum called Andre Little and bring in ‘Gracinda. ‘

      1. 49.2.1

        It would be disastrous to change leaders again. Little has built a solid team and is shaping up to be a good leader.

        Robertson and Ardern are both strong politicians and good communicators. They’ll have plenty to contribute to the next Labour government and each has good leadership potential, but that doesn’t make it time to “roll” Little. (And btw, I’d rather have a serious, honest person leading the party and the country than a smarmy jerk like Key.)

    5. 49.5

      Well said. Most popular PM in history. National riding high. The country is good shape. He’s done a Richie McCaw.

      3. 49.5.3

        People love Ritchie. Depending on who you talk to people either love or hate Key. He’s divided the new zealand people, like any decent dictator would.

  50. 50

    This has been such a great day! Much more hopeful for the future now.

    However, he could’ve done it better. He could’ve “gone postal” in the traditional fashion! Now that would be a retirement worthy of how much damage he’s done to the rest of the country!

  51. 51

    There is a God after all – and here’s me doubting his/her existence for the past 8 years!

  52. 52

    When it was announced by the flight attendant just before the plane left Napier for Wellington, people cheered and clapped. Not all of course but a good number.

    1. 52.1

      You are obviously much smarter than most of us.
      By your logic when someone announces their planned retirement and people clap it is because they are glad to see them go.
      Little innocent me thought it meant they were thanking the person and wishing them well.
      Amazing. When Helen Clark announced her resignation after the election loss the people at the function gave her a standing ovation, did they not?
      I thought it was her party members saying thank you and wishing her well for the future.
      But Prickles informs us it meant they were happy to see the back of her.
      Is that really what you interpret clapping as you silly git?

      1. 52.1.1

        Funny,… thats not what Winston Peters said about John Philip Key on RNZ today,.. he seemed to think it had more to do with a tanking economy and certain other things that will be unearthed ….

        ‘ which will come out in the days and weeks to follow ‘….

        1. 52.1.1.1

          Winston Peters?
          You mean you take him seriously on anything.
          It was after midday wasn’t it. By that stage Winston, who is a seriously bitter old man, would be well into his cups and he was probably seeing pink elephants dancing around the room. You don’t really believe anything that man says do you?

        2. 52.1.1.2

          You’re in good company if you buy Peter’s ludicrous conspiracy theories WK. Peters doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He never has.

          The only thing that ‘will come out in the days and weeks to follow….’ is evidence that Peters is officially diagnosed as being nuts.

      2. 52.1.2

        “Is that really what you interpret clapping as you silly git?

        Oh! Did you come here for an argument? This is Abuse.
        Aha! You want Room 12A, next door.

      3. 52.1.3

        Hi Alwyn, just read again what I actually wrote. I didn’t make any mention of my interpretation of what they meant – simply reported what happened. The interpretation has come only from you.

  53. 53

    Well, I guess now’s when we get to see how much of the Nat’s support is due to their policies and how much is due to Smarmy John…

    Thanks goodness Little has put an emphasis on team-building in Labour so that they’re not likely to fly apart now, given an opportunity to show themselves as a credible alternative.

    Bye bye, John; wish I could say it’d been a pleasure.

  56. 56

    Well, time for the Opposition to get their collective shit together, and get off their asses.

    A July election is very likely now.

    2. 56.2

      Yep. It’s going to have to be after the budget and the delivery of more unaffordable tax cuts but before the complete collapse of the economy brought about by National’s policies.

  57. 57

    Spare a thought for the terminal KDS sufferers, who will now have to live with the reality that Key will always be the man the Left could not beat.

  58. 58

    I don’t know why we are cheering. This makes Labour/Green unelectable.

    The path is now clear for NZFirst/National. Key doesn’t do anything without planning and calculation, and anyone who judges this on face value is an idiot.

    1. 58.1

      Depends. National could lose a considerable amount of support as a consequence. One thing’s for sure: winning the 2017 election will take a lot of hard work, then as now.

  61. 61

    Our brighter future coming? Oh wait … Collins, Joyce, Bennett, English waiting in the wings. Bye bye National next year 🙂

      1. 61.2.1

        Lets hope it is Dildo Joyce – we could do with a few laughs after all Keys corruption and his Bank of America connections…

        What gets me with that pic is the smile on his face as he has that heading straight for his mouth.

        (Please stop spamming that horribly done site about Pike River. I know something nasty went on there that shonkey and his cronies don’t want uncovered, but that site needs some basic work before getting shown to the public, and it does no good to your cause to have someone displaying a site that turns intelligent people away at first glance!)

  62. 62

    You have to respect his consistency:

    “And more than anything else in my time here, I have tried to be straight and true with New Zealanders.”

    A lying bastard to the end.

  63. 63

    This one’s going out to you Rogue Trooper. I wish you had lived to see this day. I know you’d have a song for us. I’m guessing it would have been this one:

    1. 63.1

      Rosie Nice to remember Rogue Trooper. I was thinking of him a while ago, though didn’t know him apart from this Blog.

      But I was thinking of Leonard Cohen and Hallelujah too, thanks for putting that up.

  65. 65

    Listening to the comments of international leaders it is obvious the very high regard John Key is held in internationally. Andrew Little’s were gracious and measured, Winston Peter’s utterly graceless. Votes lost there.

    John Key will certainly qualify as our best post war PM, marginally ahead of Helen Clark. He leaves NZ in a terrific position, and with record levels of personal popularity. Well done good sir, go well.

    1. 65.1

      I thought Little’s comments on Nat Rad were excellent and the most statesmanlike I’ve heard from him. OAB could learn quite a bit from the Labour leader.

      1. 65.1.1

        OAB isn’t a politician and cares not one whit for niceties. Legacy: 300,000 children living in poverty, warnings from UNICEF etc.

          1. 65.1.1.1.1

            Take it up with the office of the Children’s Commissioner. No, wait: they won’t care about your ignorant opinion any more than I do.

            Better whine about it on a blog. Start with some pathetic denial and move on to the hate speech later, eh.

              1. 65.1.1.1.1.1.1

                Then I am in good company and you are in denial on a blog.

                In 2014, 305,000 (29%) of dependent 0–17 year olds were living in income poverty defined using a relative threshold measure of below 60% of the median income after housing costs were taken into consideration. In 2013, the percentage was 24%…

                As I said, I have no interest in reading your pathetic excuses. Take it up with the Children’s Commission.

                  1. 65.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    😆

                    Right wingers lying to one another on blogs discredits you, not the Children’s Commission. Frankly, if there were 100,000 kids living in poverty you still wouldn’t give a toss about them.

                    2. 65.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2

                      Let’s be clear about this: your word isn’t worth shit. Has the Children’s Commission changed the definition? Then piss off.

                  3. 65.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3

                    “roundly discredited“? “debunked“?

                    How can a straightforward standard statistical measure be ‘discredited’ and ‘debunked’ and by whom?

                    It’s possible to argue that there is a better measure but how can a proportion of the median income be said to be ‘debunked’?

    2. 65.2

      @ Wellfedweta.

      Bullshit.

      He leaves New Zealand with record homelessness , a housing market that’s fucked and soon to crash , an immigration policy that resulted in runaway stress on our infrastructure and abuse of our labour laws, miserable low wages, massive decline in our social services and health, police, – and thats not even starting on the list – as well as this :

      https://waterpressure.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/murder-at-pike-river-mine-timeline/

      1. 65.2.1

        No, he leaves NZ with:

        Record employment.
        Record visitor numbers.
        Record low interest rates.
        Low inflation.
        Low debt.
        One of the strongest economies in the OECD.

        The local hard left are the only ones who can’t see how good things are, and thankfully there aren’t too many of you left.

        1. 65.2.1.1

          UNICEF and the World Bank and the IMF and the Salvation Army and the Children’s Commissioner and the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the NZ Law Society and the homeless families are all hard Left?

          And then you woke up.

              1. 65.2.1.1.1.1.1

                Yea, and I told you to go away and find a definition that hasn’t been debunked. I suspect you know nothing of real child poverty. Which is why you’re happy to minimise the problem with such dumb data.

                    1. 65.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                      If it were mine, it wouldn’t be, but it isn’t, and since the Children’s Commission is a credible source and you are a denier on a blog, that’s how it’s going to stay.

                4. 65.2.1.1.1.1.1.4

                  Best Post war PM? John Key governed this country for the benefit of the wealthy and international corporates. Turned NZ into a tax haven. He presided over record numbers of homeless families while attempting (& failing) to sell off many thousands of State Houses. Did nothing for 305,000 children being raised in poverty. Passed a record number of laws under urgency, and denied the people of Canterbury their democratic rights to electing their regional council. Ran a Dirty Politics operation out of the PMs office. Lies and manipulation were his modus operandi eg:
                  https://thestandard.org.nz/john-keys-lies-since-the-2014-election-updated/

        2. 65.2.1.2

          Record employment is from record population
          Record low interest rates is because the economy is stagnant, ditto inflation.
          Crown debt is massively increased from when National started in 2008, so that’s you just blatantly lying.
          And we aren’t remotely close to having one of the strongest economies in the OECD, as we’re pretending like we have growth on the back of immigration and an empty property market boom.
          Honestly, if you’re going to write a hagiography, at least pick some things that are actually going well.

          1. 65.2.1.2.1

            The economy is not stagnant. It is growing faster than most other OECD economies. Our net government debt to GDP is one of the lowest in the developed world. Clearly you haven’t even attempted to research the facts before commenting.

      2. 65.2.2

        Respect to the families of the Pike River miners, but that’s 16 times you’ve linked that ball of batshit crazy in this comment thread. You must be wondering how many more times it’s going to take to get the attention of a moderator.

    3. 65.3

      John Key will certainly qualify as our best post war PM, marginally ahead of Helen Clark.

      He did nothing good of consequence. The best one can say of him was that he didn’t screw up too badly.

      Basically Cullen and Clark left him in an enviable fiscal position. However that has largely dissipated with the GFC and he has done nothing at all to deal with the structural issues from the aging demographics. Probably his most notable screwup was to not continue loading up the Cullen fund.

      1. 65.3.1

        Cullen and Clark left him with a recession that was, at least in part, the result of local circumstances. They also left him with some very poor quality spending. Key has achieved much, but most notably the way he has restored our economic strength after the GFC. The Labour alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.

        1. 65.3.1.1

          explain why bill english praised cullen for the state of the books

          your talking nonsense – and i bet its “decade of deficits” nonsense

          1. 65.3.1.1.1

            The books were in good shape, due to the decades of sound economic policy. But Labour made some bad spending decisions, which were coming home to roost in 2007/08.

        2. 65.3.1.2

          The “local recession” was a result of trying to rectify issues from the local housing market bubble. Key released those and now we have a really bad bubble.

          The thing that staved off the economic problem over the GFC was the rapid rise in commodity prices due to the Chinese market. That was the market that Goff and Clark opened up. It is notable that Key has since only managed to get the Korean FTA completed, and has a dead in the water and pretty useless for NZ TPP.

          In the meantime, outside of dairy, all of the other economic good news has been in the tech areas that were initiated by Labour in the early 00s.

          The governments only active economic moves were to sell assets to diminish the effect of their spendthrift borrowing, and to overheat the local economy with excessive net migration thereby causing the nasty downstream effects that has on our infrastructure – mostly showing up in housing.

          I’d point out that 8 years after Key took over the reins, we still don’t have a real surplus – just book-keeping ones caused by shuffling book-keeping.

          Essentially the government has managed to squander the chance to deal with our medium term issue of the aging population. They simply made the downstream issues that government has to deal with harder and more complex by deferring them to buy votes.

          1. 65.3.1.2.1

            “The “local recession” was a result of trying to rectify issues from the local housing market bubble.”

            Rubbish. http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/overview/2010/04.htm

            ‘In the meantime, outside of dairy, all of the other economic good news has been in the tech areas that were initiated by Labour in the early 00s.”

            Rubbish. http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/nz-tourism-growth-exceeds-forecasts-2016051117. And that’s just one sector.

            Rubbish. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/315560/government-surplus-swells-to-$1-point-8b

            1. 65.3.1.2.1.1

              Oh so you weren’t talking about the downturn in 2007? You were talking about the global financial crisis n 2009/2010?

              Tourism is a commodity product. It generally rises and falls with the price of aviation kerosene and the relative currency differentials. In the last few years it has risen again. Offhand in NZ the only effect that wasn’t due to those was the Lord of the Rings – something to do with favourable tax treatment given to the film industry back in 2000.

              However it looks like the price of kerosene will rise post the OPEC decisions last week, and I suspect that the exchange rate isn’t moving in tourism’s favour from our current major markets

              This year we actually have a projected government surplus for the first time since 2007 (it is in reality down below 1bn once you take out the book keeping fiddles). That was the half year result. Looking at what is likely between now and March, it doesn’t look likely to sustain

              But have you looked the the forward projections from treasury out past 2030 ? I’d look it up, however I have to get back to sleep to kill the jetlag. Have to get up in a few hours to work at building those exports.

              If anyone has time, could they look up the longer term projections from Treasury that John Key doesn’t want to read.

              1. 65.3.1.2.1.1.1

                “Oh so you weren’t talking about the downturn in 2007? You were talking about the global financial crisis n 2009/2010?”

                No, I was talking about the downturn in 2007, that then ran into the GFC.

                “Tourism is a commodity product. It generally rises and falls with the price of aviation kerosene and the relative currency differentials.”

                No, Tourism is a service. And NZ’s tourism has expanded significantly despite the high dollar.

                “This year we actually have a projected government surplus for the first time since 2007 (it is in reality down below 1bn once you take out the book keeping fiddles). ”

                We had a surplus in 2016. Labour left a huge deficit in 2008/09.

                “But have you looked the the forward projections from treasury out past 2030 ? ”

                Are you serious? Are you so desperate you need to call on forecasts that far out? The Governments policies have returned NZ to healthy surplus, and before expectations.

                Are you reading comments from international leaders LP?

    4. 65.4

      Well you’re a well fed weta so you would say that. There are many thousands of wetas out there who are suffering because of the policies of the John Key government!

      1. 65.4.1

        Really? So Key is to blame for weta deaths now? Honestly I though the right were nuts when Helen Clark was in power.

    5. 65.5

      John Key will certainly qualify as our best post war PM…

      Among arse-kissers like yourself, undoubtedly. However, he certainly won’t be regarded as our best post-war PM after the arse-kissers are all dead, for the fairly significant reason that he did nothing to justify such a bizarre claim. Not screwing up badly isn’t the same as doing a great job.

      1. 65.5.1

        Key is internationally admired. He has unprecedented personal popularity. His stewardship of NZ has seen our economy the envy of the western world. It’s only extremely sour grapes that seems to be getting in the way of your objectivity.

            1. 65.5.1.1.1.1

              oh FFS

              stop parading the stock standard comments that are expected of world leaders as some sort of honest endorsement

              i know its hard for you to see it as “business as usual”, look at the local yardstick for the last 8 years

              1. 65.5.1.1.1.1.1

                The comments are not ‘stock standard’. Anything but. Check out Turnbull’s. And Helen Clark’s. Key was very well liked and respected. It must be just too hard for you to accept it.

                1. 65.5.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  no – your problem is you havent separated “honesty” from “expected reaction”

                  politicians say that sort of stuff alllllllll the time

                  stop trolling
                  (and yes others – i will stop feeding it now)

        2. 65.5.1.2

          Key is internationally admired.

          So is Helen Clark. Maybe she’s the greatest post-war NZ leader?

          He has unprecedented personal popularity.

          And? So did Rob Muldoon, but once all his “Rob’s Mob” arse-kissers were dead, it became apparent how history was really going to look on him. Personal popularity’s wonderful for the ambitious mofo trying to get elected, but it’s of no value to the country.

          His stewardship of NZ has seen our economy the envy of the western world.

          The rest of the western world didn’t have Michael Cullen spend years paying public debt down to nothing before the GFC hit. Key’s main contribution has been to largely stick with Labour’s programme and resist the calls for austerity – due credit to him that he did those things, but it’s more “safe pair of hands” than “greatest post-war leader” material.

          1. 65.5.1.2.1

            “So is Helen Clark. Maybe she’s the greatest post-war NZ leader?”

            She’d be close. #2.

            “So did Rob Muldoon”

            Muldoon never had the personal popularity of Key, nor did he ever have national secure the % of votes Key has.

            “…due credit to him that he did those things, but it’s more “safe pair of hands” than “greatest post-war leader” material.”

            It’s far more than the economy. Key has done much to correct what Labour got wrong, but he has also made significant progress on race relations, quality of government spending, quality of our health care system etc.

            1. 65.5.1.2.1.1

              He’s proved adept at disguising the deterioration in public services that occurs under every National government, yes. Health is a fine example, in which we have numbers that look great, and as long as you only look at those numbers you might get the impression the government’s doing a good job. The people working in the field know what misery’s being inflicted to achieve those numbers, but hey, the numbers are the measure of performance, right?

              That’s probably his real legacy: assign key performance indicators to public services, then sit back and watch how your public service managers can game those KPI numbers even while you reduce their funding in real terms. Pretty much the same with the economy – great numbers, just don’t look at how they’re being achieved (immigration and resulting expenditure on creating expenditure to deal with it). We must have the finest, most exquisitely-gamed key performance indicators in the history of the country under this government – some people mistake it for good governance.

              1. 65.5.1.2.1.1.1

                +1 very good points. The use of dodgy carbon credits is a typical example. As is the refusal to measure child poverty and manipulated crime stats.

                A bunch of numbers and pretty graphs is the kind of bull used by investment scammers all the time.

                Key and the Gnats slapped Kiwis in the face with their casual dismissals of evidence from qualified academics, about uncomfortable topics like
                polluted waterways,
                the housing crisis,
                charter schools,
                inequality,
                the Panama Papaers,
                the TPPA,
                the GCSB spying on Kiwis,
                Pike River

                But Key’s worst crime was to allow Gerry Brownlee to rampage over Christchurch and turn the tragedy of the earthquake into a frenzy of wanton destruction by disaster capitalists. Much more effort could have been made to save people’s treasured possessions and livelihoods and the culture of the city.

                National’s crony capitalism has turned the heart of Christchurch into a wasteland and is trying to beggar the CCC. I think the Gnats were complicit with arsehole insurance companies in ripping off the victims even more.

                What a complete and utter banker Key was.

    7. 65.7

      Best Post war PM? John Key governed this country for the benefit of the wealthy and international corporates. Turned NZ into a tax haven. He presided over record numbers of homeless families while attempting (& failing) to sell off many thousands of State Houses. Did nothing for 305,000 children being raised in poverty. Passed a record number of laws under urgency, and denied the people of Canterbury their democratic rights to electing their regional council. Changed labour and employment laws for the benefit of international corporates. Ran a Dirty Politics operation out of the PMs office.
      Lies and manipulation were his modus operandi eg:
      https://thestandard.org.nz/john-keys-lies-since-the-2014-election-updated/

      Not my idea of a good Prime Minister.

      1. 65.7.1

        Once again that is just an unsubstantiated diatribe. Let me just pick one…”Changed labour and employment laws for the benefit of international corporates”. I assume you’re referring to the Hobbit legislation. The law that saw three movies made in NZ that have brought untold credit and international exposure to NZ.

  66. 66

    Should there not be a snap election? After all people voted for Key to lead, not someone else. Snap election should be called, that would be the democratic thing to do

    1. 66.1

      Cinny, I just have to credit you with the excellent spell you cast on the outgoing PM https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21112016/#comment-1263774

      So I went to sleep in Vienna last night hugely relieved that the son of refugees won the Austrian presidency and woke up this morning that the son of an Austrian (Viennese) refugee had just resigned as the PM in New Zealand. Synchronicity! I don’t think my political day could get any better.

      I’m quite happy to wait awhile before the next election. Give the self-entitled wannabees in government to tear National apart first.

      Go Judith!!!

      1. 66.1.1

        You should try my day. I’m in Italy, and they are amused at the differences between their PM resignation and that of John Key. Especially the reasons for it…

        1. 66.1.1.1

          That would be fun!

          I’m not sure about the Italian situation… they do need reform, but a PM arrogant enough (or with the conviction of the rightness of his cause without reading the public mood) to bank his future on a referendum? – there’s the difference between NZ’s outgoing PM (not that he’s not arrogant, just that the flag referendum was only marketing) and Italy’s. Not so much of a difference between Italy Renzi and Cameron in this sense but.

      2. 66.1.2

        It’s christmas come early Miravox 🙂 Parliament is sitting today, I hope they get down to business and don’t waste question time singing about the outgoing PM.

        Great news for Austria btw, what a win 🙂 Rock on Alexander Van der Bellen

  67. 67

    It’s clear the prospect of facing Hayley Holt in election debates was too much pressure for the man. What with Andrew Little’s star on the rise, it was like a pincer move on his netherworld dancing toys. Few men could withstand such a manoeuvre.

        1. 68.2.1.1

          My crystal balls are telling me this will lead to a National-NZFirst government after the next election

          Care for a little wager? 🙂

          1. 68.2.1.1.1

            I have to admire your dogged persistence, Pucky, and in the heat of the enormous burn you just suffered. I know you’re feeling despondent, disillusioned and desperate and aren’t responsible for what you say right now, so I’ll not hold you to your foolish wager. We’ll talk again once reality sets in for you and you see the future more clearly than you do now. On an entirely ‘nother note, today I learned two interesting things; the meaning of netherworld dancing toys, and your little gem(s) above 🙂

      1. 68.3.1

        Considering Bomber can’t publish a coherent paragraph, I can’t see him shitting out a book.

        It may be that another Hager investigation is coming to fruition. To cut through the media firewall around Keys it would literally have to have photographic evidence of Keys, Farrar and Slater performing a kind of Human Centipede-like maneuver on a dead teenage prostitute before anyone would pay attention.

    1. 69.1

      Absolutely no way. The elites always look after each other. Nixon, Bush, Obama have never had to face justice for their crimes. (The lords of the banking cartels even less so.)

  71. 71

    Perhaps this #ponytailcrisis had something to do with it

    Calls for regulation of ‘brutal’ hair industry

    Human rights advocates are calling for New Zealand’s million dollar hair industry to be regulated in light of a Weekend Herald investigation into the secret behind hair extensions.

    Every year New Zealand imports more than $2 million worth of human hair – the equivalent of about 62,500 ponytails – to meet growing demand for hair extensions, which can cost thousands of dollars per head.

    1. 71.1

      This was one of the stupidest and most overinflated stories of the year.

      It should really have had the title – “renewable resource voluntarily sold by people in other countries. Little girl looks a bit sad at haircut, forgets it will grow back. But story runs big to justify foreign travel grant.”

      The endless backslapping by the herald’s editorial team was also a real circle jerk. Pity they didn’t tell us it was an old story, subject of a book released months ago.

        1. 71.1.1.1

          CuttiNg hair is an assault? What are you a brethren?

          One girl interviewed says she doesn’t like it but does it to support her family. Doesn’t sound like assault to me.

          As for poisoned workers, the story doesn’t mention anything like that. It might have had more impact if it had.

  74. 74

    This thing is not going to be served up to the Left on a platter.

    The wannabes are going to have to be forced to put up competing policy, reminding them that we have had 8 years of no policy. Their answers then should be analysed to death while the pretenders to the crown are compared both interminably and unfavourably with Andrew Little.

    Hours should be spent on the matter of John Key’s “legacy”.

    It should be endlessly pointed out that the newbie hopefuls has played golf with Obama or appeared reading a Top Ten on Letterman, or been to the palace to feed the corgis or hung out (or is it hanged out) with Ritchie.

    Some time should also be spent trying to think of any other legacy. (Before giving up).

  75. 75

    My and my family’s thoughts and prayers are very much with little Mike Hosking at the moment. Must surely be a very difficult time. There’ll be tears, there’ll be shouting, there’ll be screaming, there’ll be bewilderment in the Hosking-Hawkesby household tonight … (but, then again, there always is).

    2. 75.2

      Lmfaoooooo am looking forward to Henry in the morning 🙂

      Went up town and spread the news with a few local business owners, they were thrilled, my neighbours gave me a hug when I told them and you should have seen the kids and teachers faces at the school. What a great day for NZ

      Speculation is rife on right wing sites, accolades are flying in the wake of their questions and general bewilderment.

      Retiring for family, health or medical reasons makes me think of an academy award winning film from 2015 starring Michael Keaton. However the PM whom simply gave up when it became too hard may have genuine reasons. I’m so happy he’s gone no matter his reasons

      1. 75.2.1

        Went up town and spread the news with a few local business owners, they were thrilled, my neighbours gave me a hug when I told them and you should have seen the kids and teachers faces at the school. What a great day for NZ

        Indeed, a great day for our nation and perhaps the only decent thing shonkey has done.

        What I have found interesting over the last few years (apart from not yet meeting any one who admits to liking National!) is the amount of hatred small business owners have for National and especially shon key. If their policies have been so great for the economy, why to SBO hate him so much?

        But then, if they were so good we wouldn’t have had the nations highest suicide rates, highest homeless rates, highest child poverty rates, very high debt (on a part with the end of the last Nat administration – and very much higher than Labour left him!).. Don’t know where Nat supporters get off saying “record employment levels” when what, 40 or 50 years ago we had 0 unemployment, job for life and so on. Or do they refer to the numbers of people in jobs? Well duh. Growing population. Of course number of jobs rises!

        So glad this is over.

      2. 75.2.2

        Same sort of thing happened at my work place Cinny.
        It was like everyone was breaking the first rule of fight club. Smiles all over the place.

    3. 75.3

      BREAKING NEWS just in! Man pulled from his Ferrari ( or Lamborghini, or whatever it is this week ) in nick of time with exhaust hose hooked up to heater inlet.
      Only comment “….I just couldn’t go on…”.

  77. 77

    The considered view of a life-long Tory and Kiwiblog regular:

    Sir Cullen’s Sidekick

    I think the timing is wrong. John Key and National had a great opportunity to bury Labour once for all in the 2017 election. Now the playing field has been levelled and Chicken Little has a real chance of becoming the PM. I just cannot believe this has happened. This was the only way Chicken Little could have become the PM and that is exactly what has happened.

    1. 78.1

      i would put those comments in the same basket as “health reasons” or “family reasons”

      ie: they are things your expected to say – even though everyone knows you probably dont mean it 100%

                  1. 78.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    The substantive difference between me and Cameron Slater is that no Left-wing party would employ me to say these things, nor make my comments on blogs part of their strategy.

                    Have a nice day, trash.

  79. 79

    John Key is the symptom of a much deeper problem. You have to credit him with good timing. What’s next for JK…. a brighter future? And NZ….

  81. 81

    The only way the left defeat key?

    By him resigning on his own terms 😀

    That’s funny. Just as Labour slumps and National rise.

      1. 81.1.1

        From the Guardian.

        ‘Jennifer Lees-Marshment, an associate professor in politics and international relations at Auckland University, said: “Recently the normally high-performing Key brand has been undermined by denying a growing housing and traffic crisis as people in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, struggle to find a place to live and to travel to work.

        “The Key brand has become disconnected and he has increasingly appeared to be someone who doesn’t understand what it is like to be an ordinary New Zealander any more.”’

        1. 81.1.1.1

          The teflon has FINALLY worn off… took long enough.

          Key’s ties to big corporates and sale of NZ to foreign interests have fatally compromised his teflon shine. Dirty politics was only one part of his campaign.

          Maybe he is shitting himself over the Trump administration and the global security situation.

    2. 81.2

      when he flies off to hawaii i’m going to be at the airport so i can watch you and pucky and hoskings humping his leg and begging him to take you with him

    1. 82.1

      There’s going to be a lot of discussion in the coming weeks and months about John Key’s legacy, so let me have my say:

      Key won three elections and . . . umm . . . er . . .

      Anything else he ‘achieved’ will have to be undone by the incoming Labour-Greens government!

  83. 83

    OK, just for the record, I don’t want to lose the little credibility that I might have and sound all conspiratorial here, but something about this is just doesn’t make sense.
    Don’t know what, but the timing, the delivery everything about this feel very ab lib to me.

    4. 83.4

      I totally agree. The reason John Key gave for resigning is that he didn’t want to mislead the public after potentially winning a 4th term and then calling it quits. That simply doesn’t add up as he’s been misleading people throughout his term as PM and even earlier.

      Who can forget those lying eyes!

      1. 83.4.1

        Yeah the irony was not lost on me either Ross.

        The master of deception and he has NEVER been called out on it.

        He has been the best Hollywood actor we have ever had.

  87. 87

    So many comments by those whose leader is on 8% and can’t even win an electorate.

    labgreen, losers in 2008, 2011,2014 & 2017. At the rate labour is going, no-one from the list will get in, and Angry andy will be a leader outside parliament.

    I really have to have a good laugh at the left. Oxymorons abound, they call dictatorships “Democratic Republic of “, they call their backwards facing “policies” progressive. And funniest of all, they think they have a chance at the next election , even though they’ve had another another moron forced on them for a leader by the unions.

    1. 87.1

      what a pile of bigoted ignorant rubbish.

      let me guess… TrumpKey supporter, middle aged white male, owns a couple of houses, hates poor people.

  89. 89

    Bradbury excoriates Key mercilessly. Worth remembering how much he has screwed over NZ for his shonky ideology.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/12/05/the-true-legacy-of-john-key

    A couple of additions I would make
    * turned the office of PM into an international laughing stock
    * abused power of office to conduct dirty politics against opponents and silence critics
    * introduced 7 new taxes, mostly shifting the burden away from the rich and onto workers
    * lowered the tone of political debate into shouting matches and schoolyard taunts
    * used shonky carbon credits, cut DOC resources, allowed MAF to ignore widespread fish dumping
    * gave 5-eyes and the GCSB unprecedented spying powers over NZ citizens
    * made inequality worse and turned a blind eye to the suffering of the “underclass”

  90. 90

    Winston will be a lot happier working with the Nats with someone other than John Key as leader.

    Winston for deputy PM – English as PM.

    Labour out in the wilderness for another 3 tears;

      1. 90.1.1

        Grief addled brain. James is punch drunk from these two body-blows to the National Party: Mt Roskill, and Dear Leader quitting.

        1. 90.1.2.1

          You’re trolling and Winston was quite happy working with the Labour led government last time, and hasn’t supported National in almost 20 years. Besides, he is more on the same page as Labour than with National.

      1. 92.1.1

        And she’s strategically pushing the line that Key’s success was so dependent on his ‘strong team’ and English’s steady hand on the rudder.

        Re-positioning the National re-election rhetoric on the hop.

    1. 95.1

      Yes I agree. At the very very least it would’ve been a slickly managed media briefing, he would’ve had some of the National head honchos alongside him, they would have explained how the successor would be picked in an orderly way. They could’ve organised this in a couple of days. National has prided itself on being stable and steady compared to the other lot. Key is a vain man and wanted a 4th term.

      This is very very uncharacteristic.

  96. 96

    Calling Fisiani you there dude? You OK?
    We will expect you to pay for any counseling you may require yourself.

  100. 100

    No surprise that Key can’t take responsibility for this decision and blames it on Bronagh. I’m surprised he didn’t add “but Labour did it as well”.

    3. 101.3

      He has left out some other elephants in the room like Pike , Panama papers and The Saudi sheep deal and the massive destructive change to the states role in surveillance , Kim.Com ,Sky City and Warner brothers who got special consideration and Key thought nothing of changing our soverign law to accommade their labour issues.

      But great analysis overall.

      The problem is his legacy has already been established and will overcome any of the most obvious failures of his tenure and its started already with the predictable gush of love from the MSM.

      The most popular PM in history will be his legacy in the minds of those who never wanted to confront his very many failings and would rather be swept along by the hype of this man and his invented god like status and that says a lot for the people who supported him and ignored his deceptions..

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