This government is made up of numpties: This isn’t my description, it was that of a former National PM. They seem to be committed to hacking everybody off. It feels like there is a very limited range of experience around the Cabinet table. Thankfully many for many of us Te Reo is now simply … [Read more...]
The new government is heading NZ down a scary road…
When we were finally informed of the makeup of the new government it became clear that we are in for an interesting (scary?) time with this lot. Climate Change Another feature of the coalition agreement was the prioritisation of portfolios within and outside of Cabinet. Both Climate Change … [Read more...]
Why Labour lost…
In an impressive editorial Ian Powell wrote in https://politicalbytes.blog/2023/11/22/why-labour-lost-the-2023-election-so-badly/ why he felt Labour lost the election. Here are some of his quotes: It lost the election so badly because it could only see things through a narrow elitist and … [Read more...]
Garry’ thoughts 24 September 2023
I have always voted Labour for my constituency seat. Last election my party vote went to the Greens. This year they will get both votes. I have become deeply disillusioned by the Labour Party which I was a member of for 43 years. In the Sunday Times this weekend Andrea Vance wrote under the … [Read more...]
Our Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber political parties
I recently had an enjoyable lunch with two old mates, both who had been MPs in the Labour Party. I spoiled the occasion a tad by saying for the first time in my life I’m not voting Labour. That led to a spirited discussion which interrupted the polite conversation of two Merivale women sitting close … [Read more...]
Norm Kirk was my big Hero in Politics
Quentin Wilson attends the Tuesday Club, and he prints books. Brave man. Recently he wrote to me with the news that he is about to publish a book about Big Norm. I can’t wait to read it. When it’s published, we might invite Denis Welch to speak to us. Here’s the blurb about the book: We Need … [Read more...]
Duncan Webb, Minister of SOEs
I might have abandoned Duncan Webb as my local MP but it’s good to know he’s finally got what he wanted and has “Hon” in front of his name. He is the Minister of SOE’s amongst other portfolios. Now that he has power, he has the chance to implement big reforming ideas. The Government could win huge … [Read more...]
What does left wing really mean?
An article by Ian Powell last week had an interesting slant on left/right debate. Here’s a portion of the article: “Being left-wing is about wanting to end, or even significantly curtail, the dynamic of wealth accumulation as a driver of societies. This might be through evolutionary or … [Read more...]
Bravo Sara Templeton
I am glad that I left politics before the onset of digital warriors. All I had to deal with was radio talkback which was odorific enough. However, the nasty stuff was at least on the air rather than insidious types hiding behind a keyboard. It’s different now and Sara Templeton has taken a brave … [Read more...]
Political parties have great difficulty handling a maverick, the latest victim, Louisa Wall
I have written many times about how hard it is to survive within a political party. This week Louisa Wall called it quits in parliament. The Labour Party were largely silent in commenting about her. She is this generation’s John A Lee, the architect of State Housing who had the audacity to … [Read more...]
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