political parties

Cling to power vs the right thing to do

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:21 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 17 comments

The Nats are desperate to make big concessions for a coalition with the Greens. The establishment is lining up in The Herald to beg for this to happen. Promises to strengthen environmental and social policies in order to cling to power – but not for the last nine long years when it was simply the right thing to do…

National no friends

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:27 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 194 comments

In a sign of desperation Bill English rang Winston Peters on the weekend but the call was not answered. Clearly National realises that waiting for the special votes to be released will significantly weaken its bargaining position.

Resistance is futile …

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 7:30 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 100 comments

The Standard regular Incognito writes about the unique voice the Greens bring to NZ politics and why a coalition deal with National would be the end of that.

The Herald doesn’t want Winston to go with Labour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:58 am, October 1st, 2017 - 132 comments

The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.

English, Joyce, Bennett et al desperate to keep their power?

Written By: geoff - Date published: 9:54 am, September 30th, 2017 - 60 comments

This might look like smart politics for National to draw the Greens in with National but a more primary motivation might be that English/Joyce and co. are desperate to form a coalition with anyone, otherwise as individuals, they’ll certainly lose their power within the party in the inevitable shakeup.

Nats fought a FPP campaign and blew it – Labour went with MMP…

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:56 am, September 30th, 2017 - 88 comments

You know that old saying about how generals always prepare to fight the last war? That’s National and their FPP election campaign (hello creepy joggers). There will be a certain poetic justice played out if Labour’s MMP campaign is the winner in the end.

On that stupid coalition deal…

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:07 am, September 30th, 2017 - 101 comments

A possible National/Green coalition deal? Matthew Whitehead discusses why and why not from a Green perspective.

The political strategy of Winston Peters

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:21 am, September 29th, 2017 - 13 comments

The Winston Peters interregnum provides New Zealand with the opportunity to work out what are core values and what can be the subject of compromise.

National the anti-environmental party

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 1:22 pm, September 28th, 2017 - 50 comments

You can stop the silly chat now media – the Greens can’t go into coalition with National because of their members, their social polices… but mainly because of their environmental policies.

Dirty Politics 2017 style

Written By: weka - Date published: 10:33 am, September 28th, 2017 - 168 comments

The Greens aren’t going to support a National government, so why is there so much push to make it look like it might happen?

One obstacle to NZF + Labour removed

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, September 28th, 2017 - 24 comments

A significant and positive development late yesterday. Labour held firm on the Māori seats, and Peters has decided that a referendum is probably not a bottom line after all. This early progress bodes well for future negotiations.

Nats don’t understand a party of principle

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 6:44 am, September 28th, 2017 - 163 comments

Nats and their proxies continue to try and drag the Greens into negotiations with National. They just can’t conceive of a party based on principle. A party that exists for something other than the pursuit of power for power’s sake. But I fear that the Greens might have a stern test coming up.

Good work if you can get it

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:37 am, September 27th, 2017 - 116 comments

During the election campaign elements of the farming community protested the possibility of a water tax and of farming being in the ETS on the basis the sector could not afford it. In awkward news it has since come to light that the Chief Executive of Fonterra and senior executives are being paid huge salaries.

Peters campaigned against the Nats – his party wants him to do the right thing

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, September 27th, 2017 - 170 comments

Peters campaigned hard against the Nats, and for a change in government (check out the speech and video). To keep faith with democracy and with his party members he has to go with Labour Green (check out the feedback and polls). If Peters goes the other way NZF will implode.

How a National/Green coalition could work

Written By: weka - Date published: 7:20 am, September 26th, 2017 - 168 comments

A plan for how the Greens could save the election.

National paying the price for cannibalising the political right

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, September 26th, 2017 - 27 comments

National have maintained their own vote but killed off all their political friends. Which is why their only route to power is now in the hands of an enemy, and why that enemy should be very wary of hitching his wagon to their fading star.

Labour won’t regain power until it wins the tax debate

Written By: Simon Louisson - Date published: 4:36 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 178 comments

Labour didn’t deserve to win on Saturday because, firstly, because it failed to bring a fully-fleshed tax policy to voters, and, secondly, it never attempted to win the ideological battle over tax. To succeed at the next election, Labour must begin work today to frame this debate.

No Right Turn: The only way is Winston

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:02 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

“Its not going to be a comfortable term. But it will probably be an exciting one.”

Spare a thought for ACT and David Seymour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:12 am, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

David Seymour and the ACT Party are back in Parliament but their role this term will be nothing other than nodding lap dog.

The vote for change

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, September 25th, 2017 - 172 comments

The Nats lost this election. It was a vote for change. NZF party members are calling on Peters to do the right thing.

Where did Labour gain its extra votes?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:59 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 66 comments

Some analysis of where the increase in party vote for Labour occurred.

Consider the people of New Zealand First

Written By: lprent - Date published: 12:45 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 55 comments

The political reputation of NZ First as being a one man band. It isn’t. It is a real political party with the classic volatile mixture of members, supporters, candidates and MPs, plus undercurrents of factionalism. They will take some time to negotiate how they should negotiate and with whom.

Where to now for the Greens?

Written By: weka - Date published: 11:55 am, September 24th, 2017 - 153 comments

Some post election thoughts on what James Shaw said last night, what the post-election options are, and that given the Left got a possible reprieve not an outright win, what are we going to do next?

Thank you Jacinda Ardern!

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:17 am, September 24th, 2017 - 44 comments

The fact that we could even hope for a Labour Green win is remarkable – was inconceivable just 2 months ago. Labour’s surge has been incredible. Thank you Jacinda Ardern, and thank you all who worked so hard! Now it’s up to MMP…

The election result

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:39 am, September 24th, 2017 - 361 comments

Some thoughts on the morning after a bitter sweet election result for Labour and the Greens.

Election night 2017

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:00 pm, September 23rd, 2017 - 419 comments

Election night post for discussion. Updates during the evening.

National rules itself out of coalitions with cynical BillShit.

Written By: lprent - Date published: 11:48 pm, September 22nd, 2017 - 4 comments

National do a last ditch dirty politics effort. A few hours before it becomes impossible for anyone to refute this, Tracey Watkins publishes an opinion piece which sounds like the usual National BillShit. Another cynical lie designed to stop the horses from thinking rationally when they vote. This time it is a lie about things that the Greens can’t do – not without going to members. Who aren’t going to go for it.