So how do Labour win in 2014?

Now that Goff has done the first honorable thing in his life and fallen on his sword the Labour party finds itself needing another leader.

It seems that the front runners are the equally odious Parker and Cunliffe with the David Shearer as the outsider. There is talk of Grant Robertson making a run but I am not sure that NZ is ready to have an openly gay PM just yet.

As somebody who never wants to see another Labour government in my life I would be more than happy if Labour select Parker or Cunliffe as neither of these two will never be the PM of NZ, they simply will not resonate with the public.

For Labour to win in 2014 they need to appoint Shearer, he is a man the public will instantly bond with, he is untainted by the disastrous Klark era and a man who is (as yet) largely scandal free.

However, just appointing Shearer is not enough, it is time that Labour restructured itself from the ground up. No longer should the union movement have such a strangle hold on the party, no longer should head office have such a huge say in who the branches will select as their candidates and no longer should Labour be hamstrung by pandering to the various factions inside the party.

Labour can only become relevant to the people of NZ again if they revert to being the party of the working man (the party I should support)

The sexuality, race, gender and ethnicity of the candidate should not be a consideration, it is time that Labour started picking the best people for the electorate.

One only has to cast an eye across the back bench of the last Labour caucus to see the shocking lack of talent, a lot of those morons where there at the behest of the union movement but equally a lot of them were there simply because the Labour party wanted to appear politically correct.

The end result of all that PC bullshit was perhaps the most talentless caucus in the history of the Labour party.

So, for Labour to be relevant again the following things need to happen.

1. David Shearer must be appointed Leader.

2. Shearer then needs to use his honeymoon period (and he will have a long one) to take on the factions inside the party and to take on the union stranglehold. Shearer will face huge battles but if he hits the factions hard and hits them early he can come out of it with his power base intact.

3. Shearer needs to reorganise the Labour party from the ground up (something that Lange and Douglas government regret they did not do) more autonomy needs to be given to local branches and less importance on being politically correct.

4. Move all of the Klark era MP's to the back benches and encourage as many as possible of them to retire.

5. Make Labour an issues based party, stop the personal attacks that only energise the morons from the hard left but alienate the vast majority of the voting public. Demote any MP's who revert to type and start abusing other MP's. Labour needs to start acting like a government in waiting not a rabble of frothing morons drooling at the Nat's across the house.

Labour and Shearer need to couch every argument as being one of issues and how their policy will be better for the vast majority of Kiwis, they also must stop the small minded attacks on all "rich pricks" as this turns off as many voters as it wins.

6. Make it clear that while Labour is for the working man they have no truck with parasites and bludgers, make it clear that under a Labour government the genuinely ill and those genuinely in need will be well looked after but the long term parasites and DPB slappers will be expected to work for the money they receive from their fellow Kiwis. Labour must immediately start using the term working men/women in all of their press releases as a way of connecting with the public.

7. Labour must distance themselves from the strong hold the unions have on them, the public have already decided that unions are not relevant in today's work place, the public do not see the need to have unions involved in their lives and detest paying union dues to those that are largely corrupt.

8. Make a real effort to attract candidates who have some real life experience, fewer academics, less lawyers and more people from a business background.

9. Stop attacking John Key, Labour would be far better advised to go after those around Key (lets face it, it is a target rich environment) by attacking (in a factual not personal manner) those around Key they will chip away at the pillars that support Key and ensure that Key spends more time explaining why some of his ministers have stuffed up than being able to smile and wave.

10. Finally, and most importantly Labour and Shearer need to publicly draw a line under the Klark era government, they need to admit that the voters of NZ have now twice rejected social engineering and promise to be an opposition who will listen to what the people want.

If Shearer and Labour can do all this then they have a real chance of becoming the government in three years, they need to reconnect with the working people of NZ and they need to do it in a positive manner.

So....lets hope they appoint Cunliffe or Paker.

It's all over.... thanks for coming

When Dr Brash mentioned in the newspapers that he wished to take over the ACT Party I was one of few people that jumped up and down over the issue. I was 100% against the idea and I didn't hold back on telling my ACT friends that it was a stupid idea.

When he raised the idea that John Banks would possibly join him this was the absolute last straw - choosing Banksie to run and keep the 16,000 vote majority that Rodney worked extremely hard for was never ever going to happen.

Brash stated he would bring 15% of the country's voters to the party. He bought 1.07%. Three times as less votes the previous leader had in 2008 when they got 3.65%.

Today was the final nail in the coffin for the party known as ACT. John Banks is the sole MP "flying the flag" for ACT but who's own personal politics belong entirely within the National Party. I expect when John is appointed as Party Leader on Tuesday many people will or at least SHOULD resign from ACT immediately.

What happened to ACT that led to this complete annihilation. Quite simple. Narrow minded, short termist, selfish individuals who put themselves before the party.

The list of shame includes:

Heather Roy. Back stabbing, power crazed liar. Her constant plotting to oust Rodney and fibbing about bullying to the media started the rot in the eyes of the voters.
Add to that her mate Simon Ewing Jarvie for helping spread the poison.

Members of ACT on Campus for backing Dons coup attempt from the beginning. Several very prominent members of AOC refused to back the leader of the party and were publicly backing the change. Their strong performance for Epsom is hollow as now they are betrothed to John Banks... so either they resign now or they admit they are more conservative than liberal. AOC President Peter McCaffrey voted for Banks to be the Epsom candidate and publicly supported Brash while Hide was leader.

The ACT Board need to be sacked. Now. Purge baby purge. Gutless. They put Banks in. They failed to back the leader and allowed Brash to take over. Forget the obvious, their gambled FAILED. They need to resign this week.

There is no use blaming Sir Roger, he has never gotten along with his party leaders.

Hilary Calvert was the wrong MP at the wrong time although I'm baffled at what time should would ever be right for her. The fact that she buckled immediately when she had given her cast iron assurance she'd back the leader was pitiful.

Countless media types salivating over the turmoil in ACT caused by the above.

I didn't add David Garrett to the list, why should I? He told every single ACT MP including Heather Roy about his past and still was an MP. Heather lied when she said it was Rodney's secret.

So what now? Well I can imagine there will be much soul searching over the next few weeks, maybe longer for the slower ones, to realise that the party now answers to arch conservative John Banks, as I predicted. I said it will happen and I was shouted down. It's awful that I was right, but anybody with half a brain should of seen it coming.

It's most certainly the end of the road for the ACT Party that we know and probably sayonara for every one of my friends who worked for the party up until election day.

Either way, the voters of New Zealand did the right thing for ACT - pity I can't say the same for Winston Peters and his party.

But that isn't for me to say anymore. It's over and out for me. Thanks to you all for reading the blog that I have been working on for 6 years and 7 months, since May 2005. It has been good fun but now it's more of a chore not to mention that there is no political vehicle any more for my beliefs.

Thank you for reading. All the best. Be seeing you soon.

Clint Heine (26/11/11)

Lynx Advert Banned *insert sad face here*

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned the new Lynx adverts cause they are too degrading to women and had a whole 100 complaints against them... out of a population of over 60 million...

The ASA stated: "the adverts were degrading to women, sexually suggestive and inappropriate for public display because they could be seen by children. Some of the people who called into complain reported they had seen the poster displayed near schools."

Now let me tell you - these adverts I first saw in Dubai last month... YES.. Dubai. The very same Dubai that is apparently hard-line conservative and anti pornography and public displays of suggestion.

Are we saying that the ASA has responded too harshly on these adverts based on the wails of 100 people? 100 people! Is this taking people power too far? 100 people isn't even a drop on this overpopulated island!


You can see the rest of the banned pics here....

Election this Saturday....

Read all party policies here

Get live results from here and here

I hazard a guess that both Kiwiblog and Whale Oil will do live blogging as well.

Voted!

I made my way down on a chilly Saturday to NZ House to vote in the NZ election yesterday and it was over all a little too quickly for an election that means so much for a lot of people.

The people manning the voting booths tell me it was a pretty busy day as well - and I expect a lot of Greens would have mobilised their supporters as well, as they are hands down one of the best at getting their offshore voters out to vote. Sadly, despite a lot of initial hot air, ACT didn't bother whatsoever to do anything to get votes in London - and this is from a party desperate for every single vote.

Needless to say, I had three votes, like we all did. My electorate vote was for the candidate I wanted to win, and as I live in Nelson, I made sure I didn't vote for Nick Smith or the Labour woman. And my party vote was well used.

As for the referendum, as I have heard stuff all about it from either side I did a little reading on the options and made my choices based on what I think is fair. MMP in my opinion delivers to us a parliament were 50% of MPs are unelected and I don't think that is fair. I want a proper debate on the voting system, I didn't vote to not change it as we should always question the way we vote. Shutting down debate is protecting ones own interests so you must always question it.

As I said, I'm quitting this blog after the election no matter the result is. I won't offer any comment on who is in or out nor am I interested in gloating or commiserating results either. All I will say is that I'll vote for the type of New Zealand I want to come home to - and that day is coming very soon.

We all know the result of the election, unless you believe the Horizon polls. However I implore people to not waste their votes on the Conservatives or give Winston the crook another chance. The last thing we want is these types of deluded people in Parliament.

WOW... mega fail from the selfish few

You have to see it to believe it!



(hat-tip James)

Wall Street Occupiers Crazy Demands

They demand.... about One Hundred Trillion Dollars to complete all their demands... say what?





So what they are pretty much saying is an end to capitalism and it to be replaced with a system that will oppress everybody in a similar way as the Soviet Union did - although I find it amusing that they have not mentioned in their demands what will happen to those to fight against these proposals.

Shooting?
Hanging?
Being sent to camps?

Good grief. If that are their proposals then they will be sitting there for a very long time. Generations even. Capitalism isn't going anywhere!

You can also view another list here which is also apparently unofficial...

FACEPALM

Okay, I am DONE with Don Brash.

Nice guy. Good policies. Political leadership FAIL.

Getting John Banks into ACT was quite possibly the dumbest move ever. But coming a close second is refusing to rule out serving a full term if you get elected.

Why would I vote for someone like that? Ever?!

I can't wait for this joke of a party to die so that the Right can start to rebuild its shattered credibility in New Zealand.

Is Russia more right wing than NZ?

With Russia finally being accepted into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) things are looking up for the country. Consumers will benefit immensely from the tariff drops that have been negotiated as European-made cars and trucks, furniture, clothes and all sorts of consumer goods and industrial machinery will be available at far lower prices than before.

I remember when tariffs were cut in NZ and the outrage from the left was hysterical. However every day families have benefitted immensely from having access to cheaper imports. Labour and Green MPs ignore this, but they are wealthy enough to pay extra for NZ made items. The same with Green taxes – they only serve to make flights, vehicles and household items exclusive to wealthy people. That’s why the ETS is a joke. That’s why when you buy an air ticket you find much of it goes in taxes. My latest flight to New York is only costing me £99 each way – but I’m being stung over £450 in taxes. How can families afford holidays when politicians are intent on killing the dream?

Part of the accession to the WTO involves the state privatising Government owned banks, wholesale, retail and franchise operations. Experts reckon selling these will bring in more investment, more economic certainty and confidence in the economy. Plus, no country can be truly free if the state is in control of assets, labour and the economy.

How come the Russians get it and we don’t?

How come countries that we used to laugh at in the 80’s like Poland and the former Czechoslovakia are now steamrolling ahead of NZ for several economic indicators – even despite the recession? They are embracing and enjoying the benefits of flat taxes and a winding back of Government intervention – I’ve seen this first hand.

What New Zealand needs is lower corporate taxes so that we can attract the likes of the tech giants and multinationals to our shores. Why do we sit on our hands as our head offices are all setting up in Aussie? Multinationals bring jobs and certainty – sneering at the wealth creators and attacking employers will bring ruin. Why is it that our trade unions can disable our entire economy and yet cannot be liable for the damages it causes?

The challenges facing New Zealand are clear. We need to be more competitive and we need to be attractive enough for people to want to come back. Too many Kiwis are selfish and envious – and want to punish those who pay more taxes. Too many Kiwis expect the Government to give them handouts. Working for Families is a left wing master-stroke – and should have been consigned to the bin as soon as Key won the election. Entrenching it is giving an entire generation of Kiwis the belief that Government is there to redistribute wealth.

Labour will not win the election, but they haven’t lost the war. Their ideology lives on within the National Party. Look at the polls. Many within National would rather go with the Greens than any other party. Many within National do not support asset sales.

This is why Keys second term needs to define the agenda better rather than trying to win a third term. Being in power for 6 or 9 years means squat, if you have not rolled back what the previous Govt did. Labour did – National should.

I'll be voting next week at the NZ High Commission for the party that recognises that hard work for more income is not a bad thing. I'll vote for a party that wants me to come home. I'll vote for a party that won't sneer at me or my friends if we choose to go on holidays to Hawaii. I'll vote for a party that doesn't sell my future by borrowing more to sustain a very unwell welfare state.

I'm confident my voting papers will have one or two options :)

Cats That Look Like David Cunliffe

Seems fair enough. This guy could be the leader of Labour before Christmas if his plans all work out. Although after his nasty sexist attack on Judith Collins last week, his odds have surely widened.



See more here

Overseas Votes from Wednesday November 9th

I rechecked my eligibility and have been informed that I am indeed allowed to vote in this year’s NZ general election which is great considering I have been offshore for 8 years. For those who do live offshore, we can vote as from tomorrow - November 9th. All information can be found here.
As I will be leaving this blog after this election and indeed all things political, I guess I should be blogging more often until then. With 16 more days to go it is set to be a very boring campaign highlighted by the fact that Labour still has not learned anything after their massive loss in 08. The arrogance and nasty attacks on the Government, and the feeling that they SHOULD be in Government has not eluded them.

National not only have this in the bank, they can sit back and ride upon the popularity of their leader for at least 3 more years without too much effort.

ACT look like they could be in danger but unlike every other election where the media guarantee they will lose Epsom or not make 5% - they face another danger – John Banks winning Epsom and forcing the party to be his bitch. For anybody who has supported ACT or voted for the party in the past, this is like swallowing the biggest, fattest, most disease ridden rat one could find. Never mind the quality of the other top 5 or 6 – which are in a class above every other party – Banks simply doesn’t fit into the party philosophy full stop. On that basis, you’ll see Helen Clark stand for National at the next election… he’s not compatible with ACT policy – it’s as simple as that.

Blair in his previous post has put together a pretty neat voting guide – so I don’t need to elaborate too much further on this. The MMP referendum doesn't really bother me - pisspoor campaign from both sides of the coin as far as I'm concerned. The left wanted MMP to stop the right and when they couldn't use MMP to bring hardline left wing policies many wanted STV... while establishment parties like Labour and National would not cry too much if FPP came back.

I will probably head down to the NZ High Commission sometime this week and make my special vote – I live in the Nelson electorate – so will do my part in voting against Nick Smith!

Bring on the election!

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.