The '90s called and want their man back.
It's not a good move for New Zealand First, it's a bad move. Michael Laws is trouble. He was trouble in the National Party when he was an MP. He was trouble in New Zealand First when he was an MP. He was trouble at Radio Live. He was trouble when he was Mayor of Whanganui. He is trouble right now in his role on the Otago Regional Council.
He's a really, really smart guy, don't get me wrong, but he is not the guy New Zealand First should be trying to bring on board if they want to convince voters they are capable of running this country.
Michael Laws is not their guy. He is fringe. He's been running a show on a media outlet - no disrespect to it - that has a very small audience of loyal followers and to everybody else it looks a bit weird and fringe.
New Zealand First's biggest challenge right now is to appear credible because they really, really want to be supersized in this coalition. And if you believe the rumours going around, Winston Peters wants to finally, after all these years, have a crack at being Prime Minister.
A few weeks and months ago, that kind of seemed possible because they'd captured the zeitgeist. They were promising bold policies that were cutting through to a large group of voters who had become incredibly frustrated by the normal run of things - run-of-the-mill politicians, policies, parties and so on.
But in the past few weeks, that momentum seems to have evaporated and things have got a little bit weird, haven't they?
Winston might have pushed it a bit far with the infighting involving his colleagues and the anti-Indian document, which seems to have given him what he wanted, yet now he's complaining about it and narking on us to the Indians.
Then you've got the Michael Laws announcement which, if it happens, is going to double down on that weirdness.
Michael Laws to announce candidacy for NZ First
Taine Randell was a great get for New Zealand First. Stuart Nash was a good get for New Zealand First.
But Michael Laws is a bad get because he brings the whole party down by association.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and radio broadcaster who hosts Newstalk ZB's weekday Drive-Time Show – where this article was sourced.
Taine Randell was a great get for New Zealand First. Stuart Nash was a good get for New Zealand First.
But Michael Laws is a bad get because he brings the whole party down by association.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and radio broadcaster who hosts Newstalk ZB's weekday Drive-Time Show – where this article was sourced.
23 comments:
Jacinda has a lot to answer for on this one.
Totally disagree. I've never voted NZ First and probably never will, but Laws brings intellectual heft. The other interesting candidate is Elliot Ikilei - ex Hobson's Pledge. I expect these inclusions - along with the well-known Taine Randall - will lift NZ First's prospects. My fear is that may be a cost to ACT.
also agree with Lindsay, NZF is a party of ideas and a ginger group they will not be the government but a portion of it at best and ideas sold well is the best they can do.
Laws is an avalanche of ideas National is a party that resembles an ideas desert.
MMP with three parties is where competing ideas need to be considered.
I'm with Lindsay too. Winston Peters' antics discount him as PM - I can't trust him. And if what puts people off voting for ACT is David Seymour's smile, they need to review their priorities.
Agree that he does not understand what a Regional Council is about but otherwise a top choice and someone who will call people to account, add big numbers to NZF and will fight for the "people' .
Look out bureaucrats.
I also have a lot of time for Michael Law's views and would love some more direct people to be in government. However I just don't trust NZ First to do what they say so if Laws was to go with anyone, pity its not ACT.
Heather, i certainly dont agree. Im not a winston fan or a NZ First fan, but Laws will bring a strong anti woke, anti co governance , and not be afraid to speak up about the subjects we need dealt to. He will highlight the appalling National "steady as she goes" plan. And that will be a benefit to all of us.
I do worry what it means for Act. David seems to have lost some of his guts. Certainly dont agree with this latest episode with brian tamaki
NZFirst's trouble is... they have the IDEAS, INSIGHT, UNDERSTANDING, THINKING VOTERS, but in coalition they are ignored by other parties without courage. So.... the voters are ignored. Maybe this time they get the numbers to get stuff through the house. AS for India... FTA... the weeping and wailing will start once the effects of this stupid agreement hit home... I'll be laughing in my grave.
Barrie, is it a smile or a smirk? At this point ACT should be in, or very near double figures. That it's not must surely be a concern. David has been great in so many ways, but he is now holding the party back. He has little more charisma than Luxon. Sure, to the ACT faithful, he is the man for the job, but for those ACT needs to attract is he?
Wong from TOP is a perfect counterpoint. She is no longer term TOP believer, she was employed for a job. The requirements being attractive to the intended market, a suitable personality and acting ability to get the message across. Whether you agree with TOP, or not, she has been a masterstroke. How long before they overtake ACT in the polls?
ACT need to move on from the one man show, or risk becoming irrelevant. To be clear I would like to give my vote to ACT, but I am not sure they deserve it at the moment.
NZF will take any cooker who wants to join their ranks. I don’t know why they need radio presenters?
Professional jealousy much? Stuart Nash has less to offer than Michael Laws especially in the intellectual property space. Winston is lining up experience for his hoped-for larger parliamentary team. I wish him good luck.
One thing I have learned over many years, is that the single thing that we all have in common on this planet, is that we are all different.
Full stop.
So it highly unlikely that any two people will ever agree on everything, if they are totally honest (oxymoron?)
So, step back a bit when judging people in power (apart from those I disagree with).
ACT & NZ First, in my view are a healthy component of our parliament.
National (only capitalised because it's the staert of a sentence, so to speak) have some of the very best people in the Globe/beehive, but significantly constrained by their leader imho.
Stanford, Wills, Brown, Bishop etc are a cut above anything in the opposition cheap seats.
Ameni
Laws over Nash any day. Maybe Nash is your side crush Heather.
Human nature being(sadly) what it is, people vote for ‘famous faces’ whenever they put themselves forward. The more you have the more votes you get. Winston knows this so he’s loading up, anyone with a whiff of celebrity is a NZF target, thus Michael Laws et al.
He's trouble for the magazine fluff that is Newstalk ZB. Fringe? Dear oh dear Heather. Clearly the Ponsonby celeb's aren't best pleased!
Sorry Heather, i disagree that the The Platform is fringe It has a huge audience now and is growing. I no longer listen tp snoozetalk zb much as you guys seem handbraked by your woke advertisers. And I also think michael laws will be a good mp. Ps I don't know any of thre platform staff. I am just a listener who loves their freedom of sperch.
Doing all I can to work for ACT victory ( the best quality line-up overall) and a big fan of Michael Laws. Regret this party in-fighting. We could have an excellent government with the best from each of Nats, ACT and NZF.
NZ First is already a joke, are they only trying to make it funnier?
Peters has become the Schrödinger’s cat of politics, existing as a firebrand opponent to the government until observed, at which point he reverts to a government MP voting in lockstep with the parties he criticises. With 27 sitting days of parliament left this term, he’ll have a chance to vote in support of at least a few more bills before the house rises. Those votes should create a solid list of things for his party to oppose in the election campaign.
NZF. Exactly what we need, a diverse cross- section of New Zealanders. We care deeply about our country, New Zealand. We are not Maori, part-Maori, White or other. We are simply New Zealanders. I see the 15% threshold being attained. I really like David Seymour but he has squandered an opportunity to capitalise on personal rights and freedoms. His stance on "the jab" and immigration were too pro-National Party..
Why did Peters push for vaccine mandates? Why did he push for DEI? Laws doesn’t align with either of these.
Janine you know Peter’s voted for the jab right? You seem like one of those perpetually “undecided” voters.
What are you talking about hda? The left are full of troublemakers who's actions the far left media try to sweep under the carpet. He cant be any worse than:
Chloe, garahraman, bussy Doyle, Davidson, kiri Allen, ming foon, Sharma, lees-galloway, Whaitiri, Halbert, tana, genter, kerekere, ardern....cripes, how's that for starters. None in the coalition partners are at the gutter level of the left parties members.
Anonymous 7.09.
They all did, just as you would have done if you had been an mp at the time.
The day the demonstration at parliament was 'broken up' by the police (under orders) was the worst day in our history imho - it literally made me weep for this country.
You have a short, convenient memory methinks.
Name anybody in history who has not made a mistake in their life.
I don't know who Janine is, but I find her comments interesting and thoughtful, and add real value to this blog.
Each to their own.
Ameni
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