Gerry Eckhoff: We the people

NZ First Leader Winston Peters apparently made a unilateral decision to assume he was in charge of negotiations to form a new Government. 

Was he really in the pursuit of enhancing Parliamentary governance of the country or was he merely determined for reasons of self-interest, to advance the influence of a 7% party? 

We all knew that the special vote count would be similar in percentage terms to the last election so where is the value in all the delay and attention seeking by Mr Peters? And how does it help our country’s governance if policies already voted on by the public are then negotiated away or watered down in the process of forming a Parliamentary majority?

Brian Arrandale: Beware Labour and the Greens

If Labour do take this election with a clear mandate, then we can truly give them the dubious accolade that they are instituting their agricultural policy of eliminating the only world dairy Industry which can economically produce dairy products without the aid of subsidies.  

But emotive and exaggerated environmental concerns over ride economics and a greatly reduced export income. Although according to the Labour/Green electioneering this country will be a cleaner greener place with rivers sparkling.  (They forgot to mention the huge urban pollution from towns and cities)! 

Lindsay Mitchell: Jacinda Ardern will increase poverty because she doesn't understand the drivers

Last year I wrote a paper which explored the link between child poverty and family structure. 

The strongest correlation with child poverty is single parent families on welfare. Additionally, children born into de facto relationships - which had a much higher likelihood of dissolving than marriages - were much more likely to become poor.

In a Sunday Star Times column Jacinda Ardern attacked my research:

This week I opened the paper to find some astonishing "news" - a lack of marriage is to blame for child poverty.

Brian Arrandale: Back From The Past

Rotten ‘List’ Boroughs - why have we returned to the past in electoral terms?

In 1832, Britain in passing the “Great Reform Act” was instrumental in once again, following the early principal instituted in the signing of Magna Carta. It was followed by a long overdue Ballot Act of 1872, which introduced the secret Ballot. 

The passing of these two Acts over time, allowed the majority of people to enjoy the privilege of being able to vote in their Representatives into Parliament; without the interference of privilege, or the fear of recrimination in the way a person votes.

Frank Newman: New Zealand's Got Talent

Jacinda Ardern is cool - Bill English isn't. That's a significant challenge for National, but it's not the only challenge it has. National is too establishment. Boring, safe, prudent - but boring. Being fiscally responsible matters - a lot - but does not matter enough to enough people to assure National of another term in Parliament.

The world  is rising against the establishment; Trump vs Clinton, Brexit, the UK election result, the rise of Emmanuel Macron in France. National is just too establishment for its own good.  Their smug born-to-rule attitude is far too evident in the likes of Chris Finlayson and Nick Smith, and to a lesser extent Simon Bridges. It's a party that does not do humble well.

Frank Newman: Labour's capital gains tax proposal

Labour has foreshadowed the introduction of a capital gains tax (CGT), but given no detail of what such a tax could look like if it were to be elected government - as is now a real possibility.

Labour has said it would implement the recommendations of a yet to be formed Tax Working Group. Labour will set the terms of reference and appoint the members of that Group. Given that lack of independence there is every reason to believe the recommendations of the Working Group will reflect the wishes of the Labour Party.