“Politics is the drug got a hook on me…” could be the line Stuart Nash is singing in 2026?
When you stand back and objectively look at some the people who populate our parliament and have the effrontery to describe themselves as politicians, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask why they are pursuing that vocation because it appears –
A. They don’t seem to have a conviction of any consequence between the lot of them or,
B. They are merely party functionaries or,
C. They have minimal (zero in the case of List MP’s) loyalty to their constituencies.
So, could it be that politicians are just a bunch of dopamine junkies? Hooked on that feeling the brain relishes; The brain’s reward and reinforcement cycle, emphasising behaviours that are beneficial or pleasurable.
Are they in it for the short-term, dopamine fix politics gives them?
It could well be because todays parliamentarians, while pontificating on their individual and collective desires “for the good of the country”, give a great impression of being in parliament for very different reasons.
Apparently, political power has a similar effect on the brain to cocaine!
Makes sense. I could name a few I feel have ODed!
Judging by the number of MP’s who retire and then stand again or the number of MP’s who retire from national politics only to enter local body politics, political power/dopamine hit seems to hold more than a grain of truth.
Are our political actors hooked on the power of politics?
If, as Jacinda proclaimed she would, they got their hit from reducing child poverty, I wouldn’t mind them experiencing a “high” when they announce that they’ve succeeded in that goal. And if that little nightly news slot that they might get each night delivers them a feeling of gratification and they are proud that they are supposedly setting the country’s agenda, well, good on them.
But they are not, are they? All we want to see from politicians is delivery! Delivery of election promises and delivery of legislation that is well thought through and legislation that is going to improve the country.
Politics is about achieving power by influencing others. Ideas may be useful. As are arguments and connections but power is the driving force.
Anyway, back to the man of the moment, Stuart Nash former Labour politician, 2008-2011 List MP, 2014-2017 Labour MP for Napier, 2017-2020 Labour MP for Napier, 2020-2023 Labour MP for Napier. In early 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting the 2023 election.
In early September this year, Nash was a guest speaker at New Zealand First‘s annual conference and…….surprise, surprise, he announced he has put his name forward for selection as a New Zealand First candidate at the next election!
“Politics is the drug got a hook on me…”?
Given National’s evaporating popularity, I think Winston has discerned there is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to oust first time National MP in Napier, Katy Nimon.
I suggest this also presented Winston with a great opportunity to “raise the middle finger” to labour and possibly National. I bet he believed he had executed a coup in snaring Nash.
Nash’s candidacy demonstrates a key tactic of New Zealand First for the 2026 election; Luring disenchanted and marginalised voters away from Labour and National!
Yes, Nash could be a valuable asset for NZ First but in Napier Nash does not generate universal approval. He has been the recipient of considerable disdain during his 12 years as local MP.
In 2021 concerns were being raised about Nash’s close relationships, as Forestry Minister, to the Forestry Industry. In particular, political donations received from the wider timber industry.
Over three elections he declared large donations totalling $99,000, $27,500, and $49,504. In 2020 about half of his donations came from forestry and/or timber companies. One timber businessman explained his financial backing for Nash, saying “It is important to the economy that government has politicians who understand industry.” Nash holds master’s degrees in Law, Forestry Science and Management.
Post cyclones Hale in January ’23, and Gabrielle, February ’23 Hawkes Bay found itself facing a massive and unprecedented clean up mission.
With the forestry slash issue slamming itself into the region’s infrastructure and into the fore front of residents minds, it was then, as Minister of Forestry, Nash should have stepped up to the plate and condemned the way forestry companies handled slash.
Post Cyclone Hale and its accompanying slash havoc, Nash stated “I don’t think there needs to be a government inquiry, or any sort of inquiry, but what I do think needs to happen is forestry companies need to sit down with key stakeholders”
In the aftermath of Gabrielle and facing overwhelming storm damage in Hawkes Bay, residents were faced with the dreadful situation of having to protect their shattered homes and businesses from gangs engaging in looting, stand over tactics and blatant theft. Generators were prime targets.
As the fearless Police Minister, Nash’s woeful response? Asking gangs to “…stop this behaviour..”, “…its totally unacceptable…”, “…this is really, really bad form…”. He was not even prepared to cite the fact that it was Maori gangs creating the problem.
If Nash, once again, became the MP for Napier would Napier be well represented? Personally, I think that is very questionable.
I experienced my one and only, one on one meeting with an MP back in 2020 when I booked an appointment with Nash.
My wife and I wished to present and voice our alarm and disquiet regarding the recently exposed He Puapua document. We doggedly insisted that our concern was to be taken to the next cabinet meeting.
We must have looked very gullible, seemed like a political rubes because fobbed off doesn’t even come close to describing the blasé attitude of Nash to our concerns.
“He Puapua, never going to happen” was his repetitive refrain.
Well, yes you could say he was right, but it was a bloody close thing!
Since Nash’s New Zealand First announcement, Mr Pearshape seems to have imposed himself into Nash’s life.
Interviewed by Sean Plunket on The Platform, Nash was asked what a woman was. Disengaging the mind, slipping the mouth into overdrive and creating a significant distance between himself and common-sense Nash answered “A person with a pussy and pair of tits!” Even prefacing his statement with “the last time I said this I got in trouble”.
Wow! There was only one other way Stuart could have exposed himself more to invite the “pile on!”
Nash later called into the show, saying he had spoken to his wife, and said “…he wished he had not made the comment.” Unbelievable!
Like dropping a sizeable stone in a small pool, these, shall we say, intemperate, remarks have created significant ripples for Nash!
As a consequence, he has had to resign from his employment as a Commercial Director for an international recruitment firm after a formal review was initiated and subsequently resigning as a newly minted board member of the Taxpayers Union!
There is another school of thought circulating in Napier regarding Nash’s return to the world of politics and that concerns his purchase of the historic Napier Courthouse from the Mana Ahuriri Trust. The trust who were furnished with the building as part of the Ahuriri Hapu Claims Settlement.
The building had a CV of $3.77 million and was purchased by the Nash’s for an undisclosed sum. It would be fair to say that sale and purchase raised a few eyebrows around the town.
Far from being in pristine condition, the old building was in need of considerable TLC. A paint job which could set him back the best part of $100,000 plus roofing, piles, plumbing and wiring, costs could possibly run to millions to bring the building up to the standard for the reported Airbnb use!
A $300K cabinet salary plus perks would definitely help in these challenging circumstances.
So, is Nash destined to be NZ First MP for Napier in 2026?
Is he a political junkie, a masochist, a trougher or simply an ex poli, short of a few dollars
Pee Kay writes he is from a generation where common sense, standards, integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes. This article was first published HERE
Are they in it for the short-term, dopamine fix politics gives them?
It could well be because todays parliamentarians, while pontificating on their individual and collective desires “for the good of the country”, give a great impression of being in parliament for very different reasons.
Apparently, political power has a similar effect on the brain to cocaine!
Makes sense. I could name a few I feel have ODed!
Judging by the number of MP’s who retire and then stand again or the number of MP’s who retire from national politics only to enter local body politics, political power/dopamine hit seems to hold more than a grain of truth.
Are our political actors hooked on the power of politics?
If, as Jacinda proclaimed she would, they got their hit from reducing child poverty, I wouldn’t mind them experiencing a “high” when they announce that they’ve succeeded in that goal. And if that little nightly news slot that they might get each night delivers them a feeling of gratification and they are proud that they are supposedly setting the country’s agenda, well, good on them.
But they are not, are they? All we want to see from politicians is delivery! Delivery of election promises and delivery of legislation that is well thought through and legislation that is going to improve the country.
Politics is about achieving power by influencing others. Ideas may be useful. As are arguments and connections but power is the driving force.
Anyway, back to the man of the moment, Stuart Nash former Labour politician, 2008-2011 List MP, 2014-2017 Labour MP for Napier, 2017-2020 Labour MP for Napier, 2020-2023 Labour MP for Napier. In early 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting the 2023 election.
In early September this year, Nash was a guest speaker at New Zealand First‘s annual conference and…….surprise, surprise, he announced he has put his name forward for selection as a New Zealand First candidate at the next election!
“Politics is the drug got a hook on me…”?
Given National’s evaporating popularity, I think Winston has discerned there is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to oust first time National MP in Napier, Katy Nimon.
I suggest this also presented Winston with a great opportunity to “raise the middle finger” to labour and possibly National. I bet he believed he had executed a coup in snaring Nash.
Nash’s candidacy demonstrates a key tactic of New Zealand First for the 2026 election; Luring disenchanted and marginalised voters away from Labour and National!
Yes, Nash could be a valuable asset for NZ First but in Napier Nash does not generate universal approval. He has been the recipient of considerable disdain during his 12 years as local MP.
In 2021 concerns were being raised about Nash’s close relationships, as Forestry Minister, to the Forestry Industry. In particular, political donations received from the wider timber industry.
Over three elections he declared large donations totalling $99,000, $27,500, and $49,504. In 2020 about half of his donations came from forestry and/or timber companies. One timber businessman explained his financial backing for Nash, saying “It is important to the economy that government has politicians who understand industry.” Nash holds master’s degrees in Law, Forestry Science and Management.
Post cyclones Hale in January ’23, and Gabrielle, February ’23 Hawkes Bay found itself facing a massive and unprecedented clean up mission.
With the forestry slash issue slamming itself into the region’s infrastructure and into the fore front of residents minds, it was then, as Minister of Forestry, Nash should have stepped up to the plate and condemned the way forestry companies handled slash.
Post Cyclone Hale and its accompanying slash havoc, Nash stated “I don’t think there needs to be a government inquiry, or any sort of inquiry, but what I do think needs to happen is forestry companies need to sit down with key stakeholders”
In the aftermath of Gabrielle and facing overwhelming storm damage in Hawkes Bay, residents were faced with the dreadful situation of having to protect their shattered homes and businesses from gangs engaging in looting, stand over tactics and blatant theft. Generators were prime targets.
As the fearless Police Minister, Nash’s woeful response? Asking gangs to “…stop this behaviour..”, “…its totally unacceptable…”, “…this is really, really bad form…”. He was not even prepared to cite the fact that it was Maori gangs creating the problem.
If Nash, once again, became the MP for Napier would Napier be well represented? Personally, I think that is very questionable.
I experienced my one and only, one on one meeting with an MP back in 2020 when I booked an appointment with Nash.
My wife and I wished to present and voice our alarm and disquiet regarding the recently exposed He Puapua document. We doggedly insisted that our concern was to be taken to the next cabinet meeting.
We must have looked very gullible, seemed like a political rubes because fobbed off doesn’t even come close to describing the blasé attitude of Nash to our concerns.
“He Puapua, never going to happen” was his repetitive refrain.
Well, yes you could say he was right, but it was a bloody close thing!
Since Nash’s New Zealand First announcement, Mr Pearshape seems to have imposed himself into Nash’s life.
Interviewed by Sean Plunket on The Platform, Nash was asked what a woman was. Disengaging the mind, slipping the mouth into overdrive and creating a significant distance between himself and common-sense Nash answered “A person with a pussy and pair of tits!” Even prefacing his statement with “the last time I said this I got in trouble”.
Wow! There was only one other way Stuart could have exposed himself more to invite the “pile on!”
Nash later called into the show, saying he had spoken to his wife, and said “…he wished he had not made the comment.” Unbelievable!
Like dropping a sizeable stone in a small pool, these, shall we say, intemperate, remarks have created significant ripples for Nash!
As a consequence, he has had to resign from his employment as a Commercial Director for an international recruitment firm after a formal review was initiated and subsequently resigning as a newly minted board member of the Taxpayers Union!
There is another school of thought circulating in Napier regarding Nash’s return to the world of politics and that concerns his purchase of the historic Napier Courthouse from the Mana Ahuriri Trust. The trust who were furnished with the building as part of the Ahuriri Hapu Claims Settlement.
The building had a CV of $3.77 million and was purchased by the Nash’s for an undisclosed sum. It would be fair to say that sale and purchase raised a few eyebrows around the town.
Far from being in pristine condition, the old building was in need of considerable TLC. A paint job which could set him back the best part of $100,000 plus roofing, piles, plumbing and wiring, costs could possibly run to millions to bring the building up to the standard for the reported Airbnb use!
A $300K cabinet salary plus perks would definitely help in these challenging circumstances.
So, is Nash destined to be NZ First MP for Napier in 2026?
Is he a political junkie, a masochist, a trougher or simply an ex poli, short of a few dollars
Pee Kay writes he is from a generation where common sense, standards, integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes. This article was first published HERE
1 comment:
I'm from napier, glad you mentioned the courthouse. There is a stink surrounding that.
hey poopooa, winston and stu-pid-winstons denial he knew nothing of hey poopooa.
stu-pid never considered constituents!!!
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