Blair Mulholland Makes Endorsements for the 2011 General Election

It's election time in New Zealand, so to continue a tradition I started three years ago, I am offering my endorsements for this go-around. I suspect my influence is slim to none, but I hope it makes for entertaining reading:


The Referendum
This is by far the most important part of the vote. Funnily enough, I think the best system would be a reformed MMP with half the list MPs, no double candidacies, and a Senate. But I don't think we will get that sort of reform if people vote for the status quo, which makes other alternatives more attractive. My view is that MMP encourages statism and government spending far more than FPP, which, because it is less democratic, ironically encourages more moral decision making. It means MPs in safe seats can afford to be bold and lead. And because the Right is smarter and more mature than the Left, and consequently coalesces around fewer parties and political organizations, FPP favours the Right, the more unified force. MMP rewards fractured politics and factions. So VOTE FOR CHANGE.


Party Vote
I've thought about this a long time and finally come to a conclusion: Stuff the lot of them.

I support Libertarianz policies, but without a Preferential Voting system for the party vote, a vote for them will make no difference. ACT are attractive with Brash, Isaacs and my good friend David Seymour, but because they are relying on Banks, even if they are successful the amateur hour mess that ACT has become will continue and in fact, become worse over the next three years, if that is possible. They need to disappear so something else can rise up in its place.

That leaves National, which I am still a member of. Have they done enough for a mallowpuff? No. They are increasing government spending, have shuffled the tax code around without reducing taxes, have not touched Working for Families or NZ Superannuation as they need to, streamlined the RMA instead of gutting it as they should, reduced our human rights through their law and order reforms, halted their mining initiatives, and introduced only the most tepid of welfare reforms. I never expect to get everything I want from a party I support, but I refuse to reward this degree of wetness. If I take Keith Holyoakes benchmark of only ever agreeing with 70% of what his party did, I think I would struggle to get to double digits. So no soup for National.

I have half-jokingly entertained the idea of voting Labour for the facetious view that "at least they are honest about being big-government socialists". I often wonder that, like an alcoholic, perhaps New Zealand needs to hit rock bottom before she finally considers real reform, and Labour would move to rock bottom a lot faster than National is now. I also think that despite being the Nasty Party, they still make a better opposition than the Greens or (God help us) NZ First. They need to be a strong opposition, much stronger than they are now. But no, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I bleed blue at the end of the day - I am a member of the National Party and no matter how awful this particular government is, I will not turn traitor on them.

That leaves me with nobody. National will still be the government, so it's not like it matters too much. LEAVE THE PARTY VOTE BALLOT BLANK.


Electorate Vote
A vast number of choices here, and my own particular take on the 70 races, with short notes:

Auckland Central: What did the financial and cultural heart of our largest city do to deserve such gee-whiz, thin-resumed candidates?! And no Liz Shaw after all? Even so, I have to go with my brother from another mother, ACT candidate David Seymour.

Bay of Plenty: Vote for Tony Ryall, since there's nobody else decent.

Botany: A no-brainer - Jami-Lee Ross, National's newest and finest MP.

Christchurch Central: Would be great to take this off the Left. Nicky Wagner.

Christchurch East: Is there anybody left living in this electorate?! Dodge the portaloos and go down to whatever makeshift tent they have set up there and vote for Aaron Gilmore.

Clutha-Southland: Don Nicholson. I endorsed the Labour candidate last time, but nobody is going to beat the awful Bill English. More's the pity.

Coromandel: Scott Simpson.

Dunedin North: Safe Labour, so vote Julian Crawford to legalise.

Dunedin South: Claire Curran is good entertainment value and she seems to be one of the few Labour MPs with a brain, so we may as well keep her on.

East Coast: Don't let Moana Mackey back in - support union-busting Anne Tolley.

East Coast Bays: I can't believe I am endorsing Murray McCully, but there ya go.

Epsom: Oh crap. Well it has to be Paul Goldsmith, doesn't it? Keep Banks out, and maybe we can save classical liberalism in New Zealand.

Hamilton: Tim MacIndoe and David Bennett in these marginal seats to keep them blue. Tim Wikiriwhi in H West if you can't stomach voting for the National guy.

Hauraki-Waikato: Angeline Greensill. Yes I know she's standing for Mana, but she's funny and she always sings waiata in her speeches. And there's nobody else. Give the Princess the boot.

Helensville: I suppose it's good form to support one's Leader, so John Key. It helps that Nick Kearney got personal with me on Kiwiblog a few times, so I don't have to be nice to him.

Hunua: Ian Cummings. I've never forgiven Paul Hutchinson for voting to ban smoking in bars.

Hutt South: Paul Quinn is kind of a douche, but so is Trevor Mallard, so best to have the former rather than the latter represent this seat.

Ikaroa-Rawhiti: Na Raihania. Get rid of Parekura the Hut.

Ilam: Gareth Veale. Don't vote for the authoritarian King Gerry.

Invercargill: All decent people, so why not give Shane Pleasance a tick?

Kaikoura: Ian Hayes.

Mana: I'm no great fan of a trougher like Hekia Parata, but it would be fun to win this seat off Labour, so vote for her.

Mangere: Casey Costello.

Manukau East: John Minto. Just kidding! Vote for Ross Robertson, one of the few decent Labour people, and we need to keep those in their caucus.

Manurewa: Louisa Wall. Help Labour learn to put Maori up in general seats instead of leaving them in the electoral ghetto.

Maungakiekie: Another no-brainer - vote for Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Mt Albert: David Shearer. Another talented and sensible Labour man who might help bring them back to the centre and to sensible policies.

Mt Roskill: Funnily enough I think Goff could be vulnerable here. Vote for Jackie Blue for that reason.

Napier: No endorsement here. I think Chris Tremain does a good job. I like Stuart Nash also. And ACT's John Ormond is a good bloke. You'd do well to vote for any of them.

Nelson: Vote for the far-left lesbian. It's important. We need to get rid of fifth-column MP Nick Smith at all costs. Maryann Street it is.

New Lynn: Tim Groser in this marginal.

New Plymouth: Jonathan Young to keep Andrew Little from having legitimacy. Of course, if he were Labour leader they would be out of power for a generation, so on the other hand...

North Shore: Anyone who votes for Maggie Barry over Don Brash is mad. Put Brash in.

Northcote: Keep Jonathan Coleman in this marginal.

Northland: Too many ex-cops in National already, so go for Barry Brill, the ACT guy.

Ohariu: Get rid of waste-of-oxygen Peter Dunne by voting for Charles Chauvel. Once Dunne is gone, National can take the seat in 2014.

Otaki: Nathan Guy never impressed me much, so Peter McCaffrey of ACT.

Pakuranga: Got to be one of my favourite Nats, Maurice Williamson. Plus, Chris Simmons is a douche.

Palmerston North: Let's turn Palmy blue! Vote Leonie Hapeta.

Papakura: Judith Collins really should be punished for turning into the Minister Representing the Police to the Public. I confess I never saw it coming. And John Thompson is a great bloke, so vote for him.

Port Hills: Supposedly marginal, but who cares about David Carter? Vote for Geoff Russell.

Rangitata: Jo Goodhew. Or Tom Corbett. Whatever.

Rangitikei: Ian McKelvie, or Hayden Fitzgerald.

Rimutaka: Jonathan Fletcher to win this marginal off Clark-the-even-younger.

Rodney: Gotta support my old committee - Mark Mitchell.

Rongotai: Chris Finlayson has not always said things I've liked as Attorney General, but you should vote for him.

Rotorua: Lacking any alternative, vote to keep "Boris" - Todd McLay.

Selwyn: Amy Adams.

Tamaki: Can't go too wrong here. I'm endorsing Stephen Berry, since Boscawen doesn't want to get back, and Simon O'Connor is going to win anyway.

Tamaki-Makaurau: This is a hard one, but on balance, I'd say Shane Jones. He'd make a good Labour leader.

Taranaki King Country: Ugh! Shane Ardern is the only serious option in a tiny field of four.

Taupo: Louise Upston seems to be doing a good job, so keep her in and keep Labour out.

Tauranga: Another no-brainer - Simon Bridges all the way.

Te Atatu: Give the very entertaining Tau Henare a shot.

Te Tai Hauauru: Tariana Turia supports welfare reform, so I support her.

Te Tai Tokerau: Hone must be stopped - vote for the excellent (and underrated by his own party) Kelvin Davis.

Te Tai Tonga: Katene has been pretty average - vote to legalise with Emma-Jane Mihaere Kingi!

Tukituki: Craig Foss if he promises to get rid of his gay ute.

Waikato: Kate Sutton. Nah, kidding again. Ugh, I don't know Robin Boom, but that'll have to do as I am no great fan of Tisch.

Waiariki: There's only three candidates and Te Ururoa Flavell is the least worst of them by the looks.

Waimakariri: Cosgrove is a good local MP, but he's a bit of a clown. I'd put Kate Wilkinson in there instead.

Wairarapa: John Hayes seems to be doing a good job, but he's going to win anyway, so vote for Libertarianz Leader Richard McGrath.

Waitakere: National's welfare reforms have been limp, but Paula Bennett is a reasonably good Minister and MP and should keep both her job and her seat.

Waitaki: No, I can't bring myself to support Jacqui Dean. Vote for ACT's Colin Nicholls.

Wellington Central: Well the National candidate seems almost as bad as the Labour one here, so vote for Regan Cutting (great name for a libertarian candidate in Wellington, don't you think?).

West Coast Tasman: It wouldn't be too bad if Damian O'Connor got back in, so I won't shore up Auchinvole here. Vote Steven Wilkinson to legalise.

Whanganui: Ugh, I can't support Borrows. I'd like to see how Mastermind does. Let's give Hamish McDouall a crack.

Whangarei: Another poacher turned gamekeeper in this seat - Heatley is just limp as a Housing Minister. Protest by voting Helen Hughes.

Wigram: ...and last one... you know, I don't give a shit, this Economic Euthenics guy looks interesting. Tubby Hansen. Vote for that guy. Yeah.

So happy voting folks, and remember: New Zealanders will always get the government they deserve.