I think there are two political juxtapositions that will most impact the 2017 NZ Election.
The first is the that the First Past the Post mainstream media have been forced to report the political polls for an MMP election. Month after month, year after year voters who don’t support National have been told their side is getting flattened.
We report political polls like we report sports win and losses. This has created the perception that National are impossible to beat. By forging a MoU, Labour and the Greens must be reported as a bloc. This dramatically changes the perception from National 47%-Labour 29% to National 45%-Labour/Green 44%.
See the difference? Watch what happens when Labour/Green overtake National by December.
The second political juxtaposition that will most impact the 2017 NZ Election is over the housing crisis. Labour will build houses while National will sell them is as clear cut a political message as the infamous Kiwi-Iwi Billboards Don Brash used. It’s a simple juxtaposition that highlights the political values and uses National’s as a weakness.
After 8 years of growing inequality, NZers don’t want to be told what John Key can’t do for them, they want to hear what anyone else can do for them.
its not as clear cut as ‘labour will build, national will sell’ martyn. the voting public are well aware of land prices and the cost of building a house (a standard house not a big fancy one) the problem labour had and still have after announcing their policy is HOW they can afford to build ‘affordable’ houses at 500k? and lets be honest $500k is still out of reach for first home buyers. also where are all the builders coming from to build them and not forgetting the fact that they will need to be basic and no qtr acre section, ghettos awaiting to happen…like the projects in USA? what do you believe the entry price should be to be called ‘affordable’ $300-$400k? be interesting seeing little and twyford explaining what a $350k new build house in akl wil look like…certainly will not be whats written on the tin for sure!
Rent to buy housing associations is the answer as it has been in other countries with similar housing crisis. Sydney and London being 2 where it has worked for decades and some now own there houses. Govt lashes out the cash in first place then payed back over time. Obviously if our governments had not had their heads up their arses they could have bought when land was cheap and be doing very well on their assists as would the housing associations. The big step for National is the model doesn’t fit their ideology even though it makes $$ for NZ in the long run and houses essential workers in inner cities.
Hope springs eternal Martyn but ,as you well know, it is early days yet and National will do anything to win…. anything, including adopting Labour policies( and getting the credit for it!).
@ GARIBALDI … and don’t forget dirty politics. That’s the game Key and his National reprobates perform best!
Expect some unsubstantiated dirt to rear its ugly head to discredit Labour/Greens closer to the election next year.
Yes, the Nats will do anything and everything they can to stay in charge come next election.
Don’t forget, the Double Dipper from Dipton , he has been building up a war chest with which to bribe the gullible and the promises will come thick and fast, as from the announcement of the next budget.
Labour and the Greens cannot just sit back and let this happen.
‘ THINK NOT ,…what John Key cant do for your country , but what voting for the Labour/ Green MOU can do instead’…
Hmmm.. reminds me of another place, another time ,… catchy though.
And that’s about it. In a nutshell.
The ‘do nothing deliberately’ govt of John Key versus a new govt that will actually get things done.
Can that revolutionary concept even be pondered on in a modern New Zealand these days? How absolutely stunning in its novel and charismatic appeal !!!
A govt that actually got things done for its own peoples best interests as opposed to a govt that only acts in favour of overseas giant corporations and shady offshore ‘businesses’ using NZ as a tax haven.
A govt that actually gives a damn about the provinces and the rural sectors, a govt that actually WILL do something about irresponsible immigration policy’s, a govt that actually WILL build houses and house the homeless, a govt that WILL put into place measures to curb rampant environmental pollution , a govt that WILL put a stop to parasitic private interest running our prisons and education systems…
My God !!!…
Its almost unthinkable that there could BE such a thing.
But there we have it.
The Labour / Green MOU.
Ready to deliver for New Zealand.
Housing is a big one but it is still just one ticket item. What is mainly needed is to establish a clear brand distinction.
National may attempt to steal the sizzle, as they did with the minor rejig that was the infamous $25.00, but fundamentally, their support core still believes Private=Good; State = Bad. For that reason it is easy for the Left to declare loudly that Key’s government can’t start building houses without looking entirely bereft of original ideas and thus box them into a corner where that becomes impossible for them. Also that if the country going to opt of a State-led solution, you had better elect a government that actually believes the State is the best provider of these kind of public-good services. that genuine, money-down commitment to a State Housing department is rather hard to fake, so a comprehensive, beefed-up programme of rental construction should also be declared asap.
The fact is that the Private Sector owns Cheap and Nasty. It is only the State Sector that is both committed and able to provide Cheap and Good. That we have learned something from the ghettos of state house suburbs in New Zealand, high-rise wastelands in the UK or the projects in the states should be front and centre, not only for cosmetic reasons, but because we do, presumably, want to do better this time.
The second part of the equation is a massive upgrade of formal training and apprentice-based training to – finally – get some advantage into the skill-level of our disadvantaged young people.
The housing situation is a winner but there is no sleep-walk path to electoral success.
And, for the majority of voters, believe it or not, Auckland Housing is not the only game in town. It can be a good win, but it also has to be a springboard to a much wider appeal.
Metiria & Andrew MoU gave a wimpy wet bus ticket to the bloody Keyster in Q+A at Parliament today, while WINNIE was better!!
They need to get fire in their bellies, however key looked like a punch-drunk old swagger so time is running out for him and about time.
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