In the latest Taxpayer's Union Curia poll, they are the third biggest party now, overtaking Act and the Greens.
If you’ve been watching the polls lately that’s not a surprise. This has been coming for a while.
There are a bunch of reasons for this.
Winston is very statesman-like. He manages to disagree with his coalition partners without being quite as bratty as David Seymour can sometimes be.
NZ First are choosing their battles. They stayed out of the pay equity kerfuffle, so they didn’t cop the blowback.
But mainly, it’s because they’re being refreshingly blunt.
Shane Jones doesn’t care if the lizard-lovers get upset that he wants to dig a mine where the lizards are. He just says it.
Winston doesn’t care if Grey Lynn and Aro Valley are offended that he wants transwomen kept out of women’s sport. He just says it.
He doesn't care if wool carpets into state houses is likely a bad financial decision. He got it done.
This party is unashamedly appealing to a group of voters no one else really is, which is working class New Zealanders – people who see things simply and often more correctly than elites would care to imagine.
It’s the same thing playing out in the UK with the rise of the Reform Party. It’s the same reason Trump is back in the White House.
Of the three coalition parties NZ First is the only one hitting the same vein of voters.
Now, we’re still only talking about 10% and 10% doesn’t a major party make.
But it’s only been headed in one direction lately, and that tells you something.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
8 comments:
Having lost faith in the National Party (= Labour Light) I was an ACT voter, but on current form I would likely be an NZ First voter.
What has everyone got against David Seymour? There is nothing bratty about him? Watching the replay of the last media conference he fronted up to - he gave a masterclass of how to respectfully manage and respond to complete idiots while getting your points across….for nearly an hour!
I've decided to vote for whoever out of ACT and NZ First is lower in the polls. I want both of them there. And less of National. I can't vote for National now with Stanford as education minister. And I had hopes for her.
My hope is for ACT and NZFirst to be the major coalition partners for next gummint, with Nats there as minority [minus Luxon - serves them right]. While there is a notable "maori blood" faction in NZF, they are not "working class"... rather, well educated, middle class, balanced graduates not falling for woke craaaap.... UK sees a similar shift with Nigel Farage and Reform party. Clearly there is a growing world population totally fed up with the "left"....
The Goebbels treatment - repeat a negative ( and untrue) comment about someone often enough and the slur will stick. Nat is very afraid of ACT.
And this must be made very clear to National/Luxon. Watts is another such disappointing and even dangerous minister. They are now big liabilities.
"If voting made a difference, they wounldn't let us" M Twain
I really feel the main reason the media hate him is BECAUSE he REALLY has cut through with the "we are all equal" mantra. Only ACT and NZ First are the parties not kissing Maori backsides...and it clearly rankles with them ( the Media).
Seymour is clearly the most intelligent, and thoughtful leader of the 3 in coalition ...his reception reveals just how thick the population is in NZ...truly many ' sheep' in NZ :-(...
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