Karl du Fresne: The John Campbell question

Once again, state-owned TVNZ has obligingly provided a platform from which its best-known (and no doubt highest-paid) journalist, John Campbell, can flail the government.

This is extraordinary and unprecedented. The government’s most potent communications medium has been hijacked by one of its employees and co-opted in a highly personal political mission.

Anthony Willy: Love’s Labour’s Lost (with apologies to the Bard)

The NZCPR has over the term of the last government extensively documented the mischief and incompetence that marked its passage and now its passing. The unprecedented attack on our institutions has been exposed for what we now see it to be; a naked attempt to destabilise our society and its institutions and supplant them with the trappings of an authoritarian state fashioned around the aspirations of a tiny minority of those claiming Maori entitlement. 

Karl du Fresne: A massive gesture of contempt for the voters

It’s said that great minds think alike. Unfortunately the same is true, by definition, of conformist minds.

As an example, take the political news headlines of November 29. They were strikingly similar. Almost without exception, the mainstream media pounced on the new government’s decision to axe Labour’s ambitious (but possibly unworkable) plan to make New Zealand smokefree.

Karl du Fresne: There's no reason why this government shouldn't go the distance

Notwithstanding everything pessimistic that I’ve said over the past few weeks, I rather like the look of this new government.

At first glance, there are some extremely encouraging policy commitments (enough for my wife and me to punch the air several times while watching the news last night) and some promising ministerial appointments.

Karl du Fresne: Memo to RNZ: the country has moved on

I wonder, does RNZ realise that the government changed five weeks ago? Its editorial judgment suggests not.

The story that led its bulletins this morning – in other words, the news item that RNZ’s editors considered the most significant of the day – revealed that new National Party MP Cameron Brewer had made an election night speech in which he celebrated the return of the “stale, pale male”. Someone had recorded the speech and leaked it.

Karl du Fresne: Those coalition talks: so far, so bad

The coalition talks are playing out just as might have been predicted. Or to put it another way: so far, so bad.

At the outset, the omens didn’t look good when it was revealed that Winston Peters hadn’t responded to David Seymour’s attempts to make contact. Did anyone really believe that Peters refused to answer a text from the ACT leader because he thought it might be a scam?

Ross Meurant: Evolution of MMP

Evolution of MMP confirms that separate List & Constituency parties is henceforth the key to power in parliament.

General Election 2020 saw plus 400,000 Blue voters abandon the Hon Judith Collins lead National party.  This swing gave Labour, constituency seats it had never held.

My old Hobson electorate (split between among Northland & Whangarei electorates when MMP reduced the constituencies to 60) for example, never ever before having been Red, went to Labour.

General Election 2023 saw an equally massive swing, this time away from Labour to deliver many traditional “red” seats to the “blues”.

Derek Mackie: The Three Right Knights

Once upon a time, much much closer to now than long long ago, there were Three Right Knights. 

Their destiny was to save their Land from strife, division and poverty and resurrect the one true Treaty, hidden in a secret vault, which affirmed every citizen's equal rights and privileges. 

 An election had just been held in the Land of Enzed and the good people had voted to get rid of the evil tyrants of the Left who, under the Labour crest, were led firstly by Jacinda the Duplicitous and then by her loyal deputy, Little Chris the Crafty. Labour had ruled for six long, hard, divisive years. 

Karl du Fresne: Suddenly, the media are unimportant - and it hurts

I sometimes wonder whether political reporters ever pause to think how precious and entitled their behaviour looks to outsiders.
I doubt it. They are too self-absorbed.

Right now, members of the parliamentary press gallery are feeling peevish. After feasting for years on a rich banquet of political news and sensation, they suddenly find themselves on starvation rations. And they’re not taking it well.

Adrian Beaumont: Polls understated the right, but National-ACT may struggle for a final majority

While the tide well and truly went out on Labour on election night, there are still several factors complicating the formation of a National and ACT coalition government. Special votes are yet to be counted, with the official final result still three weeks away.

In past elections special votes have boosted the left parties. If that is the case this year, we won’t know by how much until November 3. Consequently, the preliminary results may be slightly skewed against the left.

Karl du Fresne: Australia has never looked more appealing

It came as no surprise to read that the number of New Zealanders leaving the country approached record levels in the year to August 31.

There was a net migration loss of 42,600 New Zealand citizens, not far short of the record loss of 44,400 in 2012. More than half of those leavers were bound for Australia.

Overall, migration figures show an unprecedented population increase. Annual migrant arrivals reached an all-time high of 225,400. Most of the new arrivals came from India, China, the Philippines, Fiji and South Africa.

Clive Bibby: Where to Now?

I’m writing this on Election Day while waiting to cast my vote down at the local school - a deliberate action on my part because it allows me to offer these thoughts while the outcome of today’s vote is still unknown.

It also offers the opportunity to examine some of the promises made or should have been made by those politicians who have, during the campaign, gone to great lengths in an effort to secure our votes. 

At the time of writing we can contrast the different lollies being handed out to a gullible electorate and wonder how many of the parties really expect to be in a position to honour them.

Oliver Hartwich: New Zealand's cliffhanger election could be a major surprise

With only a few days left until New Zealand’s general election, you might think the outcome should be easy to predict. Many polls have shown that New Zealanders think the country is on the wrong path. Usually, this would point to a win for the opposition.

However, the race remains close. Despite current trends, we cannot dismiss the possibility of another Labour government. This has opposition strategists worried about losing what seemed like an unlosable election.

Christie: They Haven’t Counted the Shy Tories

Although I voted on the second day of advanced voting, I am still watching the entire election campaign with great interest. This election is about swinging voters, and also the large number of ‘undecided’ voters that the polls continue to throw up. That makes it interesting.

It is possible that a portion of voters fall into the category of ‘shy Tories’ – a phenomenon discovered in the 1987 British election, when the polls showed a landslide to the left, but on the night, Margaret Thatcher won her third term. It was concluded that many people who were asked their voting intentions did not admit they were going to vote Conservative. Yet they did…in droves. The Conservatives won, when all the polls said that they were on their way out of government.

Mary-Louise Kearney: Democracy - The Real Reset

An open letter to the leaders of  National, ACT and NZ First

Dear Gentlemen,

Hopefully you will read this message.  Whatever the Election outcome,  voters trust you will find ways to collaborate  effectively. Your common goal is to pull New Zealand back from the abyss after Labour’s gross mismanagement and outright deceit which leaves a legacy of shame.

Your  respective  policies all emphasize that  New Zealand faces unprecedented challenges to return to its  “first world country” status. This involves massive hurdles  and success is far from certain. The country is all but broken  with complex issues in all directions.

Ross Meurant: National’s Obfuscation Opened Winston’s Door

There are many who now claim that Rt Hon Winston Peters is little more than an “Opportunist”!  That Winston is elevating the race issue for his own political gain.

I say, WRONG.   (See Addendum)

Winston has always enunciated equality of all cultures which make up New Zealand.

It was not a matter of Winston inventing an issue.  It was a matter of National failing to address the racially divisive policies of a radical element within Māori, embraced by the Labour government and propagated by the “hidden power” within New Zealand aka Mandarins. (1)

NZCPR Newsletter: Undue Influence

As the election closes in, there appears to be an overwhelming mood for change.

New Zealanders have had enough. The chickens are coming home to roost for Labour as disgruntled voters, sick and tired of the incompetence, the lies and deceit, search for alternatives.  

Mike Hosking: We are, in fact, interested in this election

I am very reassured by the ratings of the first Leaders' Debate.

It was a bit over one million, which is about the same as the last election and down a bit on the 2017 debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.

I am reassured because engagement is critical and you could argue never more critical than currently, given the state of the country.

Bryce Edwards: A very hollow election

The 2023 general election campaign must be the most hollow in living memory. There really isn’t much that is positive or attractive about the electoral options on offer. This is an election without inspiration.

An angry mood for change

Mike Hosking: The poll measure that will guide this election

Although there is too much variation in the current polling to be confident of what specifically will happen on election night, we can say, with some certainty, a change of Government is coming.

We can say that because, if for no other reason, we have yet another poll that asks the questions that give it all away - is the country going in the right direction? Is the country on the right track?