The latest 1News-Verian poll found support had dipped for the coalition government who could only muster 60 seats in Parliament, not enough to meet the 61-seat majority required. A combination, however, of Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori did reach the 61-seat threshold. And that follows a Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll that also found the left bloc could form a government.
Does that mean that you and I, that New Zealanders, want to see a government installed tomorrow comprised of Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori? I don't believe so. I think what the polls are telling us is that people want to see action, they want to see results. Like kids in the back of the car on a long, hot summer roadie, we want to know if we're there yet.
For those with mortgages and children and businesses to run, it has been a long, tough three years. We're tired of scrimping. We're tired of barely getting by and making do. We're tired of having a knot of tension constantly in our stomachs that comes from living so precariously.
The Prime Minister keeps telling us economic growth is the key to turning things around. We're going as fast as we can. But things are changing, things are going to get better. Just like Dad driving the car, he's sick of telling us that yes, we're nearly there but we’ve still got a nasty, windy bit to come. For God's sake, kids. I'm going as bloody fast as I can, as safely as I can. And what thanks does he get from the whining kids in the back? None.
National issued a pledge card in the lead up to the ‘23 election. Lower inflation and grow the economy. Check and in progress. Tax cuts. Check. Build new roads. Yep. Tackle gangs, introduce boot camps. Yep. Lift school achievement. Well TBC but certainly making the right noises and going in the right direction with the new school curriculum. Cut health waiting times, give Kiwis access to more cancer treatments. Don't know about the waiting times, but the new cancer treatments have been signed off. Support seniors and deliver net zero by 2025. So far on track.
And Luxon can say for heaven's sake, people, I'm doing the best I can, I'm doing what I said I would do. But then we have all the distractions and the simmering resentments. The Treaty Principles Bill, that ferry debacle, I mean, we used to give Labour gyp for announcements of announcements – that was the king of all announcements of announcements. We've got David Seymour and then we've got the platitudes from the Prime Minister.
I don't know how many times he can say I get it, it's tough, I hear you, we're working on it, we've got a really good discussion group coming. Then you see Trump come into office and then with a couple of hours, he does what we wanted the new government to do. They still haven't done it and it's been over a year – Trump does it in a matter of hours.
And so we grizzle. And so we moan like the kids in the back of the car. And the Prime Minister, dad the driver, seethes with resentment. I'm going as fast as I can and it'll be great when we get there, you ungrateful wretches. And in the meantime, the opposition parties, who if I'm going to stretch the analogy even further, are the hoons in the lane outside of us, in their unregistered car, not licensed to drive. They toot the horn, give us the fingers and think I wonder when those kids will want to get in the car with us.
Kerre McIvor, is a journalist, radio presenter, author and columnist. Currently hosts the Kerre Woodham mornings show on Newstalk ZB - where this article was sourced.
Does that mean that you and I, that New Zealanders, want to see a government installed tomorrow comprised of Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori? I don't believe so. I think what the polls are telling us is that people want to see action, they want to see results. Like kids in the back of the car on a long, hot summer roadie, we want to know if we're there yet.
For those with mortgages and children and businesses to run, it has been a long, tough three years. We're tired of scrimping. We're tired of barely getting by and making do. We're tired of having a knot of tension constantly in our stomachs that comes from living so precariously.
The Prime Minister keeps telling us economic growth is the key to turning things around. We're going as fast as we can. But things are changing, things are going to get better. Just like Dad driving the car, he's sick of telling us that yes, we're nearly there but we’ve still got a nasty, windy bit to come. For God's sake, kids. I'm going as bloody fast as I can, as safely as I can. And what thanks does he get from the whining kids in the back? None.
National issued a pledge card in the lead up to the ‘23 election. Lower inflation and grow the economy. Check and in progress. Tax cuts. Check. Build new roads. Yep. Tackle gangs, introduce boot camps. Yep. Lift school achievement. Well TBC but certainly making the right noises and going in the right direction with the new school curriculum. Cut health waiting times, give Kiwis access to more cancer treatments. Don't know about the waiting times, but the new cancer treatments have been signed off. Support seniors and deliver net zero by 2025. So far on track.
And Luxon can say for heaven's sake, people, I'm doing the best I can, I'm doing what I said I would do. But then we have all the distractions and the simmering resentments. The Treaty Principles Bill, that ferry debacle, I mean, we used to give Labour gyp for announcements of announcements – that was the king of all announcements of announcements. We've got David Seymour and then we've got the platitudes from the Prime Minister.
I don't know how many times he can say I get it, it's tough, I hear you, we're working on it, we've got a really good discussion group coming. Then you see Trump come into office and then with a couple of hours, he does what we wanted the new government to do. They still haven't done it and it's been over a year – Trump does it in a matter of hours.
And so we grizzle. And so we moan like the kids in the back of the car. And the Prime Minister, dad the driver, seethes with resentment. I'm going as fast as I can and it'll be great when we get there, you ungrateful wretches. And in the meantime, the opposition parties, who if I'm going to stretch the analogy even further, are the hoons in the lane outside of us, in their unregistered car, not licensed to drive. They toot the horn, give us the fingers and think I wonder when those kids will want to get in the car with us.
Kerre McIvor, is a journalist, radio presenter, author and columnist. Currently hosts the Kerre Woodham mornings show on Newstalk ZB - where this article was sourced.
9 comments:
Unfortunately the NZ voters are like kids in a lolly shop. They moan about the economy without any thought about how the economic problems arose, and are quite happy to cause further problems in the future. They have a culture where working is optional yet everyone should be entitled to the fruits of work.
"more people believe the country's headed in the wrong direction" - this begs the question, did they ask people what that direction ought to be of was is simply generic/subjective? I too think what the polls are telling us is that people want to see action, they want to see results ... but what results? If it is removing co-gevernance, ditching net zero, putting English names first and getting rid of Manglish, cutting wasteful spending on the elites gravy train, etc. then that clearly is not happening, it is getting worse. So the answer from those on both the left or the right could be "wrong direction" but a differing view on what that direction ought to be.
I agree, Luxon needs more time. Fixing the damage done by the previous government over years can't be fixed in months. Yes, Trump seems to be cutting corners, but we haven't seen the consequences yet.
I think this analogy is the wrong way around. Luxon is a 'kid' learner-driver, who has done some fundamentals (started the car, put it into 'Drive', and headed off). But adults stuck in the car with him note, with increasing vehemence, that with regard race relations, climate policy, and balancing the books, he is heading apace in the wrong direction. And. He. Will. Just. Not. Turn. Around.
To John Mayes: the problem is, he has not got the time . The Left knows how big the Coalition's task is - so they are steaming ahead to advance Maorification at full speed to further embed this in the system and be ready for 2026. Open defiance of the government - and, crucially, voters' choices in 2023. Luxon is in a bind - but he can and must act more decisively on race relations.
Let's hope kiwis give their votes to seymour and act in 2026, otherwise this country is finished as a liberal democracy. People will need to be assisted to move to other countries. When china was given back hong kong, the brits gave hong kong citizens residency. I don't think the aussies will want millions of us turning up over there.
In the line the children analogy I would suggest that Chris Luxon behaves like a parent who doesn’t know how to handle the children in the car! National has a problem with communication - no channels and easy access to wide public to promote what they do. MSM’s anti-government campaign on the other hand goes constantly, and doing a huge damage to the coalition. And this is not going to end well if Luxon doesn’t learn to read the electorate - quickly!
Luxon needs to look closely at Trump and what he is/has done for USA. Could even look to, dare I say it, Ardern, think oil and gas, climate scam etc. She was able to sign off on any left wing and green policy on day one.
The coalition is the government FFS and needs to act like it listens to the voters.
Act in the best interests of the country, don't concentrate on being re-elected which seems to be the sole purpose of being a politician.
Kay O’Lacey 8:38am described our predicament exactly.
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