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Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Mike Hosking: National need to rule NZ First out


One of the major downsides of MMP is the mad scramble as to who might do what with who.

We are entering another period where the voter turns out to be, yet again, the loser.

National need to rule New Zealand First out. That's my opinion, but even if you disagree with it, they need to say something that is definitive. Say they'll either work with them or they won't.

It is materially important as to how people vote.

Winston Peters has used it to great advantage, several times. His line is that we can't say anything until the voters have spoken.

It is one of the bigger shams going, given an individual vote, i.e yours, makes absolutely no difference to what a Government looks like, or what a deal between parties looks like.

Who would have thought that in 2017 the party that came a distant second would get to be Government? Did you vote for that?

Now, National can't tell you if they do a deal with ACT for example, who will be Minister of the Environment or Foreign Affairs, but they can tell you that ACT is a party they want to negotiate with.

They have managed to tell us the Māori Party are not part of the plan. And yet they can't quite drum up anything specific on New Zealand First.

By taking that stance they raise questions and they make it needlessly complicated.

The left have been sorted and New Zealand First has ruled Labour out. So we know what the prospects are.

In theory, in an MMP environment, a so-called centre party like New Zealand First should be an ongoing prospect for both sides. But by behaving the way they have over several Governments they have wrecked the theory and now look more trouble than they are worth.

That is of course if they make it, which if you are a regular, you will know I don’t think they will.

But for a party like National who have now worked themselves into a position of being a Government in waiting, the last thing they want to do is muddy the waters, to offer a reason to a swing voter not to vote for them, because they are equivocal on such an important matter.

I am actually surprised they have not worked this out. It's not hard.

Rule him out. Job done.

Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.

7 comments:

Ray S said...

True that. However should Winston again be in the same position as before, then whoever needs the extra number, will of course talk to him. Foolish not to.
Its all about power at the end of the day.

Anonymous said...

Disagree. National are not obliged to say whom they will work with, until they see how the land lies. And - I like NZF - not just for Winston. Shane and Casey are extremely good value.

Anonymous said...

I had ruled Winston out , then Casey Costello joined him , whom I have a lot of respect for , so am rethinking , she is lot younger and could potentially be a great influence in parliament , shame she has joined him .

Anonymous said...

Not likely, Mike - Luxon is the consumate fence-sitter. He won't rule out anything if there's a chance it'll cost him a vote, or more particualrly his quest to become PM (and that should set alarm bells ringing in itself). Little does he appreciate how many votes his less than forthright attitude has already cost him. He needs to draw a line in the sand on a lot of issues if he wants to win back many traditional National supporters.

Basil Walker said...

Absolute rubbish . Winston defacated on NZ by siding with Jacinda because he thought National was not giving him enough baubles . If you are not old enough to understand history , do some research

Anonymous said...

Rule Peters out! Are you mad? That would make it pretty easy for Peters to turn to Labour - just what we need, three more years of Labour.

Mike should think three years ahead, not three months. In 2026 NZ First will more than likely have a new leader and a new lease on life - positioned very nicely in the centre.

Luxon is right not to rule Peters out. Voters will decide who Luxon has to work with, not Luxon or Mike Hoskings.

Anonymous said...

How can this clown still be so completely clueless and fast alsleep. National are Labour wearing a different colour and Act aren't much better. Puppets of the corporate globalist criminal alliance WEF, UN, WHO. They care nothing for New Zealands Soverenity, Democracy, Rights and Freedoms.