I expect NZ First to drift down below 5% then it will all be a different ball game :-)
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I expect NZ First to drift down below 5% then it will all be a different ball game :-)
Looks like National is not only the Chinese party but the immigration party as well.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/natio...cid=spartanntp
Not really that suprising as these recent immigrants are largely hard working people that just want to get on with it and very likely that most of them don't want Winnie near the Government controls. Having said that, I think National should be very careful not to promise to change the new immigration law that so upsets the Indian community. I don't think arranged marriages where the woman often has no say in the decision, should be allowed in NZ
And why not?
https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-an...-benefits.html
Beneficiaries under Labour keep growing so who's doing the hard work in the country to feed the tens of thousands of state beneficiaries who choose NOT to work?
Of course it is possible that Jacinda panics closer to the election and tries to gift Northland to Jones. Not sure how that would go down with the Greens though who surely will be demanding a lot more say should she get another term as PM than just being taken for granted like lapdogs like they have been this term. Would also say loud and clear to conservative voters that a vote for Winnie is a vote for the Greens.
https://www.interest.co.nz/news/1037...party-revealed
$200,000 over two years, the Chinese govt funding National.
Same horse,same race:-)
Good to see change of Leader for National. In spite of Simon Bridges' undoubted abilities and hard work, he was never going to make P.M. Life is cruel and he just did not have the X factor. Muller is a great orator, and hopefully will make an impression in the short time up to the election. It will be a rocky-ride for both parties up till September elections.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12334016
An excellent start.
There is only Team National and policies are to benefit all New Zealanders, not just the beneficiaries which St Cindy & her incompetents are hell bent on growing & cultivating for votes.
Paul Goldsmith still the alternative finance minister. ick. The new leader seems ok we'll see.
Hopefully they can deliver an example of a policy soon rather than a monolouge. Winston could make him pm maybe some here would like that.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12334074
A good speech from Simon. A good man but he is not the right person as National Party leader.
Onwards and forwards for him - there is plenty of time ahead for him.
Yes, well said by Simon - but the change will give National a boost and a chance to claw back some ground.
The Todd look a like probably won’t lead National now
Spose Chris committed to continue with his efforts to win Botany
Status quo for Winston. He can't loose under MMP. As much as I dislike him I would be happy to see him back National. Anything to remove Ardern.
I thought Todd came across really well in the various interviews last night - confident, quick, clear minded and humorous. Great credentials too - excellent business background.
Or is it because Simon was so bad?
Is that guy Hooton going to be Muller’s Chief of Staff?
Whose Hamish Price?
Yes. That's pretty much it. Simon is undoubtedly clever and has plenty to offer - but lacking in charisma to appeal as leader - particularly following years of Key, then Jacinda. Both brilliant bringing NZ to world attention. Muller will be fine - not quite so sure about Goldsmith as finance minister. Excellent fellow, but might not be the best slot for him. Will soon know. And it's about time David Seymour accepted a portfolio. That is assuming Labour get booted out - a distinct possibility.
I hope so but the market totally disagrees with you. National according to the market now are a 1 in 7 chance. I managed to pick up some 8.00 on National overnight. If you want to make some money.. betfair.com and you can bet/invest on the NZ election. You can also make millions by going against Trump if you are so convinced... you can back anyone but Trump to be next president at about $1.90.
All that has to be done is to compare the two parties. If the opposition are not any better then there's no point being that enthused about them. they can't change the fundamental aspects of this situation.
Exactly - quality of spending is so critical in the next 3 years - where, how and who to spend the billions of dollars of budget deficits on.
We know Labour will continue to squander the opportunities to spend wisely and effectively so let's see what plans Todd & National come up with in the next 4 months.
One thing for sure - Todd will get a decent hearing while as the public had given up on Simon.
Jury is still out.
Thanks for the prompt FP - an interesting interview. I watched it a couple of times. Second time around, I only watched Simon Shepherd - I don't think he truly listened to any of Muller's responses. Bunch of cliche segways between a list of questions intended to undermine any attempt by Muller/National to challenge the status quo... so just the usual I guess.
I thought Muller's inaugural speech on Friday was promising. As you'd expect, he was well prepared. However, I do worry that the constant and repetitive questioning from the media about his personal views on topics like abortion, gay marriage etc. will provide a barrage of sound bites intended scare voters away from supporting National for fear of being accused of supporting said personal views. I thought his response to such questions on Friday were well handled by referring to Nikki Kaye's more progressive stance, but at the end of the day, he is the leader and we all know how important a leader's views, allocution, smile, looks and references to Easter Bunny are... unfortunately trivial things like policies, experience, execution and team don't matter to the majority at the moment (although I expect that to change when the inevitable tax increases are floated, however this will be post-election once we're staring down the barrel of 3 more years)
The way in which the question around the 4m10s mark is asked is comical but worrying in its implication (i.e. that National has some sort of a problem with women)... "Is it that the National party just can not handle having a female leader... you've only had one in your history?". Prior to Cindy, Labour had had only one female leader as well? Quite sad how gender has become the first major focus of any candidate's suitability for key roles within politics and business.
Muller has his work cut out for him. Poor polling, a voting public that appears naive to the fact that smiles and good vibes won't pay the bills and a media unwilling or unable to hold the current Government to account.
Look forward to watching it all play out.
I agree - promises to be the most interesting election since 1984. (Muldoon's Schnapps election)
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/po...snap-election/
Of course this was back in the days of First past the post, not MPP; but Bob Jones' NZ Party made it interesting and great entertainment.
This coming one will be just as interesting, although for quite different reasons and not as entertaining
National only needs a decent lift in the party vote for Mr Muller to stay in the top party job. That seems probable, and would have been the case under Mr Bridges' leadership as well.
Duplicated post
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018747615
Lisa Owen asked Muller whether Nikki was better placed to be leader - no mention of gender... there is hope.
Seems I was wrong with that speculation Hooton being MuLler’s CoS
It's high time Judith Collins was replaced. Latest poll has her out the door anyway, so get on with it National.
Judith does it again - playing the divisive politics game and getting the facts wrong.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...eform-comments
Agree. She was always going to be short term to fill a void before the election. They need to get on with it. I suspect we will see Chris Luxon and I would like to see Nicola Willis as Deputy but suspect Louise Upston will be preferred. Other rising influencers are Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford. Should they go with Luxon & Willis, they need to make sure they surround and back them up with lots of experience.
The finance spokesman Andrew Bayly is very able but very dissapointed in his silence since the election. He may be too nice for this portfolio. Same goes for Reti in Health. Lots of opportunities to attack the Government on their bad management of finances and health. Where are they ?
If National does better then Dave won't be able to bring along any mates if labour removes the coatails rule.
Act's fate is entirely in Mrs Ardern's hands lol.
It'll be just in time for the next election with the appropriate media coverage :)
Geepers, National's David Bennett states he supports Australia's 501 policy. What next, National's all over the place on policy. What the heck do they stand for at the moment!
This recent 501 case of a man who was brought up & lived in Australia since childhood, has a severe psychiatric illness, all his family & support live in Australia, being sent back to NZ where he has no family & knows no one is cruel, shameful & an absolute disgrace.
And National support this policy? I'ld love someone to ask Judith Collins what the parties standpoint on this is.
And Australia lectures China on human rights.
Seems Paul Goldsmith thinks colonisation was a good thing.
He doesn't seem to have a lot of support from the team but they probably just aren't willing to say what they really believe.
They say things have to get worse before they get better - National are still on the worse trajectory.
What Goldsmith said wasn't taken on board by those with political agendas
I think what he was saying that if NZ (and Australia) hadn't been 'colonised' as we know it they would not have been as 'well off' as other Pacific nations that were basically governed/controlled from abroad.
Michael Reddell has an interesting chart highlighting this
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politi...KA44Z5JZGU3FQ/
Aussies are like herding cats.. putting NZers health at risk.
Winston peters call National a bunch of "sex maniacs":
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...as-sex-maniacs
Maybe hes choosing to go after what's left of the national party vote.
National goes from worse to worse.
Someone buying furniture for the house on the tax payer's slate?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nation...CBC6PBLJZ6U34/
Quote:
Sources inside the National Party have told NZME that a staff member of the MP flagged a concern in the last term of Parliament, alleging items of furniture were bought out of the MP's taxpayer funds but did not appear in the office.
Former National Party leader Todd Muller to retire at next election
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former...MFULCPX5TDDFI/
A very good idea for all concerned.
Dobby
National goes from worse to worse.
Someone buying furniture for the house on the tax payer's slate?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nation...CBC6PBLJZ6U34/
Only paid for it when she was exposed and forced to.
"The allegations surround a purchase of some furniture, including a new television, which allegedly were delivered and kept in Hipango's own home." J Collins "Some of it was something she could not actually claim for and therefore she had to repay it herself."
National's Harete Hipango revealed as MP accused of inappropriate spending
[From the newly posted non-paywalled article] "Collins said Hipango had stored some in a shed at home, some went into one of her electorate offices, and Hipango paid for some of it herself to keep."
Some of items she purchased were above the funding cap though, and she purchased a sofa for her office in parliament, but was told to return it as parliament provides all furniture.
The article also states she used her own furniture from home in her electorate office! Oh dear!
Overall a bit naïve, but nothing obviously fraudulent there. What did I miss?
National's Harete Hipango revealed as MP accused of inappropriate spending
Theft, snouting ,ripping off, self entitlement but she got caught.
Yes snouting again.I have empathy for him taking time off to support his wife but he should do the decent thing by resigning and hopefully letting in some new blood to start a rebuild of this rotten self entitled party. What havoc he has triggered for his party .
Why should he go early? He was duly elected by Tauranga voters only 7 months ago. He represents them and should continue.
Especially Jacinda?.Put it up on the Labour thread.Stop deflecting.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/trevor...3C42RTPDRJW5Y/
Stop digging when you are in a hole - be a good boy and climb out of the sewage pond. Best you leave the stench to Trevor.
Keep digging bud.
Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero was interrogated about the case by National MPs at a select committee meeting this morning and said he refused to settle with the man.
"I am not willing to settle with anybody that I believe has done something wrong. If we get taken to court and we lose, I'd rather lose because we've done the right thing."
It's understood mediation in the case has failed and it's now up to the man whether he takes his case to the Employment Court.
I can't see him representing them in all but a token way though,going through the motions but At the same time rebuilding, planning for after(that's human nature),enriching himself elsewhere on taxpayer dollars and more family time .Some think he may have been pushed.He sure was the domino that started nationals inevitable collapse.New well vetted blood urgently required right now.