These talks are about to become the second longest set of coalition talks in the history of MMP.
Former Green Party MP Gareth Hughes went back through all of the elections and counted how long it took from each election date to the end of the coalition talks.
1996 was of course the longest- and most famous for it because Winston went fishing.
2002 under Helen Clark took 12 days, 2005 took 30 days, 2008 under John Key took 8 days, 2011 took 9 days, 2014 took 15 days, and then 2017 with Jacinda and Winston took 26 days.
As of today, these talks are at 30 days. They are tied for the second longest spot with 2005. From tomorrow, they become the second longest only to the infamous 1996 fishing trip talks.
That’s embarrassing for Chris Luxon.
Because he’s the guy who’s talked up his negotiating skills, given he’s done a lot of mergers and acquisitions. And he’s the guy who set the deadline of wrapping this up in time for him to go to APEC.
If he wants to still go to APEC, he needs this wrapped up by Wednesday. Even he now doesn’t think that’s going to happen.
It's awkward for him to be failing in the very first task he’s set for himself as PM.
The start of a Government is a really important period. It sets up voters’ expectations for the first term, that's why Governments often write up 100 day plans.
Because they want to create a sense of urgency and give the impression they’re changing things fast. Literally the opposite of that is happening right now. There is no sense of urgency, nothing's changing fast, there's no momentum.
Awkwardly, it also feels a bit like Luxon might have underestimated a couple of politicians. Namely, Winston and David Seymour, who seem to be running rings around him.
Unfortunately for Chris Luxon, every day that these talks drag on chip away at the perception that voters have of him as being a great mergers and acquisitions guy.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show.
11 comments:
Absolute rubbish. Why don’t you focus on the ridiculous wait for the special votes to materialise. Whilst Luxon’s leadership is promising following the worst govt imaginable, I don't believe his policies will deliver the change’s necessary to turn this ship around. I believe that these three will deliver the impetus and combined policy that we have been crying out for. And I’m particularly pleased to see them ignoring the corrupt MSM Heather.
Well he better have agreed to the treaty referendum or many more kiwis will leave.
Tripe. They are faced with issues far more momentous than previous and it is essential they operate united. Labour seemed not to have had the ability to negotiate an acceptable policy even within their own party and simply surrendered to maori domination; look where that has got them.
Does the calculation of time include the special votes as well because it is clear to anyone that one cannot form a government nor even have meaningful negotiations when several elctorates were hanging in the balance for three weeks.
Why does the media always ignore what is obvious to the readers and listeners. Maybe this is why the MSM has become so dis-trusted.
It must be hard to have no political news to report, Heather.
I feel for you...NOT!
What are those guys thinking, keeping the media waiting. It really isn't good enough.
Maybe, a little longer wait will result in a stronger, more robust deal?
They say a week's a long time in politics. But it must feel so much longer in your newsroom twiddling your thumbs.
The people voted Winston. This delay is an outcome that was totally predictable.
Hi DeeM. The "reporters" could occupy themselves examining why the public has shunned pro maori Labour. They could trawl throught the submissions on maori wards in Auckland. Examine why the great majority of iwi oraganisatiosn were too indolent to bother to even fill out forms. Or insist on being given access to the school syllabus submissions.Or monitor RNZ and critique the blatant pro maori bias. Reading back through BV should provide enormous expanded scope for consideration. Presumably their secreatries have shielded them from to date.
It isn't 30 days. Because of changes to electoral rules brought in by the last Government we had to wait 3 weeks for the election results which was on November 3rd.
Here we sit is it 12 days after certainty not that long.
I would suggest that getting special votes into their electorates in 3 days would have been possible and the bulk counted in a week. International flights from anywhere take a day or two. 95% certainty on the 570,000 special votes could have been achieved within a week. Time to make that the goal and if it is so finely balanced then so be it an election will come again very soon
I do so hope Winston gets the broadcasting portfolio an we can get back to the old days when we got balanced news. Recently Suff and TVNZ has produced even worse articles than usual- the 'suffering' of Siouxsie Wiles, ridiculous climate change statements and the supposed complete destruction of the West Coast because of coal mining, even more Maorification.,and you wouldn't believe it Baker talking about another surge of covid and more vaccines.
Heather, all these articles could be countered and the other side presented by simply reading Breaking Views articles written by highly astute people. You would be considered a national hero if you got them into MSM and possibly given a co.governance role on Winston's broadcasting panel.
I cannot understand the criticism of caution. What the coaliton does will be vital to the furure of NZ. it is not like deciding a restaurant meal. Every proposal requires full consideration. Instant off the cuff agreements could prove very awkward. Ponder as long as you like boys, provided you all agree on a clarified Treaty, no maori co governance, reduced maorification, sidelined te reo, end of racist favouritism, teachuing of factual history, functional English to all, useable maths etc.
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