IT WAS DURING Winston Peters’ three-year exile from Parliament that I first got to know NZ First up close and personal. A friend of mine, a sometime NZ First activist, was contemplating putting her name forward as a candidate and asked me if I’d care to accompany her to a party get-together and fund-raiser in Avondale.
The whole event sounded intriguing. There was to be a film-showing preceded by a roast dinner with all the trimmings. There would be plenty of wine and beer on sale. What was not to like?
Very little, as it turned out. The venue itself was a curious mixture of museum and movie-theatre. As we walked up the long driveway I noticed objects that I had not encountered in more than forty years. Petrol pumps (“bowsers” we used to call them) bearing long-dead brands, and sheet-metal signage of similar vintage. The “dining-room” was packed and seriously overheated on account of the furious ovens in which our meal was cooking.
It was an arrangement that could hardly be beaten if your mission was to sell as many cool drinks as possible. Cold-ish beer in hand, I set out to meet the stalwarts of NZ First.
It turned out to be a jarring experience. Not because the NZ Firsters I met were seriously eccentric misfits and/or irretrievably bigoted rednecks, but because they weren’t. Indeed, what the gathering reminded me of most forcefully was the sort of Labour Party fund-raiser I used to attend in the late-1970s and early-1980s. There was the same mix of robust working-class gregariousness and well-mannered middle-class cordiality – and the same very low incidence of university-educated professionals. When politicians use that dreadful expression “ordinary New Zealanders” these are the sort of folk they have in mind.
It was a great afternoon/evening – made all the more entertaining by watching a movie in what was, surely, the smallest cinema in Auckland – and I came away with an entirely new understanding of the NZ First Party. For a start, it was a real party. Fifty or sixty people had turned up on a Sunday afternoon in support of a party that had no parliamentary representation. A party constructed around the fortunes of a single individual just doesn’t behave like that. The other firm impression I came away with was that, in terms of policy, NZ First was, again, very reminiscent of the Labour Party before Rogernomics: good-hearted, genuine, with generous helpings of both economic radicalism and social conservatism.
I went back at least a couple more times to that strange little complex in Avondale. I was even invited to give my hosts a short pre-dinner talk on the subject of “The Politics of the NZ News Media”. Never again would I be taken-in by the lofty condescension of my journalistic colleagues in relation to NZ First’s political viability. Those journeys to Avondale had convinced me that Winston’s return was a stone-cold certainty. When NZ First bolted back into Parliament with 6.5 percent of the Party Vote in 2011, I wasn’t a bit surprised.
The sort of people who are constantly being surprised by NZ First’s success are the same sort of people who, in the United Kingdom, were dumbfounded by the result of the EU Referendum. Neoliberalism has, for the most part, been very good to these sort of people. With both feet firmly planted on the property ladder; blessed with carefully crafted contracts OF (not FOR) service; taken seriously by journalists, bureaucrats and politicians; they simply cannot understand what the people who are not like them are on about.
That’s NZ First’s great advantage. It’s membership is made up, overwhelmingly, of people who aren’t in the least bit like the people who don’t understand them. As a party, NZ First is a bit like the Guardian columnist who walked all the way from Liverpool to London. Mike Carter knew weeks before the actual vote that Brexit would win. Why? Because the sort of people who never get invited onto the BBC’s current affairs shows had told him how they intended to vote. Men and women who hadn’t cast a ballot for years were making sure they registered. The opportunity to pay back the elites who had ripped their communities to shreds, and consigned them and their families to the social skip, was just too delicious to miss.
Something in me hopes that the boys and girls of the Parliamentary Press Gallery never make the journey to Avondale, or its equivalents in the towns and cities of New Zealand. I don’t want them to send camera crews to Geraldine and Dannevirke to record the packed-out halls for Winston Peters, or the numbers signing-up to NZ First after every meeting. Why? Because I want them to be as shocked on Election Night 2017 as the BBC’s Jonathan Dimbleby was on 23 June. I want to hear them wail: “How could this have happened?” and “What does it mean?” I want them to be left stunned by – of all people – their fellow New Zealanders. The ones they’ve never met.
so mr trotter – can we take it you would be quite ‘relaxed’ about peters propping up a fourth-term key govt…?
and can we mark you down as you outing/registering yourself as a nz first booster/agent between now and the election..?
..it does help to know these things..
..and..y’know..!..peters is not our sanders – he is our trump..
same xenophobic/nativist bullshit as trump..
..peters has long espoused beliefs/policies sanders would run like a scalded cat from..
..(and that he would prop up this vile/uncaring bunch of tory bastards..yeah..that’s real sanders-like…)
in fact it is a total insult to the man that you and rollinson are trying to apply this sheen to him…
..trying to poach what he is/built – and graft it onto that tory-supporting charlatan..?
..good luck with that..!..eh..?
Phillip Ure:
“.and..y’know..!..peters is not our sanders – he is our trump..”
I think that you may well be right.
I see you have read Curwin’s articles on the conference and off course
Chris Trotter here.
Maybe you should read my comment contained here;
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/01/who-are-the-alt-right-clintons-greatest-creation/
But more importantly,looks like you may have missed my comments and links contained here;
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/01/trump-goes-full-blown-fascist-with-new-immigration-speech/
You may well change your mind.
Beware of Confirmation Bias contained in the last link of the major reply
labeled MUST SEE. An interview with the author of Gilbert cartoon.
Cheers.
I think the days of packed-out halls are long gone. An ever-increasing portion of the populace sees the political system as corrupt and ineffective [as far as serving the interest of the general populace is concerned] and incapable of changing.
As already pointed out, half of NZF policies are mutually exclusive (contradictory). And the other half will make matters worse.
Family, friends, acquaintances, fellow club members, and people active on blog sites around the world are all saying the same thing: “Why bother to vote? It makes no difference.” “It’s all a rigged game.” “They promise the earth and deliver nothing.”
The revolution (when it does finally come) will not be televised.
He had 300 to a meeting in Rangiora a couple of weeks back. It was packed
“I don’t want them to send camera crews to Geraldine and Dannevirke to record the packed-out halls for Winston Peters, or the numbers signing-up to NZ First after every meeting. Why? Because I want them to be as shocked on Election Night 2017 as the BBC’s Jonathan Dimbleby was on 23 June.”
You’re self indulgence is excused Chris. Events like that of Jonathan Dimbleby are as good as looking at reruns of Little Britain – and just as good as ONE News’ Max Headroom equivalent feigning empathy for Nikki Kaye.
I think the headline was ” No more ministerial duties for Nikki Kaye as she reveals a devastating diagnosis”
At least it didn’t lead.
I’ve posted elsewhere, and I expect an oooh oooh ooh backlash how could you? (going forward), I’m not sure the political class recognise just how pissed off those they purport to represent are. Certainly the MSM aren’t!
That Max Headroom headline could/should just as easily read
“Martha Areteeddi battles homelessness, government agencies, and finding suitable opportunities for her 3 children as she waits to be put on a waiting list to be put on another waiting list for her chronic medical consition”
Oh shit – headline too long!
The good thing is that dem natives really are beginning to get restless, and I doubt even a lumbering paranoic sociopath, walking down Tory Street – on his way to you know where could counter spin this one – even with Croz’s help
You hit the nail on the head squarely Chris there because this was what we both also found when my wife and I attended a NZ First meeting in May 2014 for the first time and later in June that year before the election again a NZ First meeting in Napier.
You was so right, mate, these folks are the gentle kind that seem to be reminiscent of another time to me as a 72 yr old.
It provokes me to remember back in the 1970’s when NZ was a gentle society before the sharks come onshore in the 1980 and again after 2008 to devour our society and economy.
Good coverage well captured, and I know others are very cynical of Winston and NZ First but if his Party gets over 10% or more as he now is polling 9.5% he will want to get rid of the toxic Planet Key by adding their support to take NZ back, you can bank on this.
We have never seen such a bad government as this one so desperate times demand desperate measures.
I like it , Chris….
That old fashioned element of barnstorming the local halls, … in all their ad lib semi run down surroundings, that connecting with the people , not necessarily the upper movers and shakers, … but ordinary people who otherwise would be accused of supporting populist ideas save for the fact that so many are in fact … the very people who constitute support for those so called populist notions…
The human touch , the common touch ,… isn’t this what politics is supposed to be ideally all about?
Or is it simply the jet set mutually massaging each others egos?
If the latter,… then it simply is a return to a feudal aristocratic class shuffling the posts and playing their little games , – if the former,… it is truly democracy in action. Democracy that was hard won all those century’s ago in a place called England.
Democracy that exerted its power in the form of Brexit. No matter the cost.
And that power came from and was clearly demonstrated to be vested in the common people. And that is a healthy and powerful sign and message to a wayward and out of touch political elite.
For that reason alone,… long may the old style political barnstorming never go out of fashion. There was in fact a USA president who won against all odds by doing just that.
It works.
Why?
Because it engages the people in a strong, accessible and approachable manner.
Otherwise known as the ‘ human touch’.
Interesting.
And yet, according to a document in my possession, Peters may not be the crusader against neo-liberalism as he makes out, nor that many believe…
” Peters may not be the crusader against neo-liberalism as he makes out, nor that many believe…”
Yeah well that may be true , Frank… to a point…
I would say he’s more a shrewd character that knocks the excesses/rough edges off political/ideological radicalism… including neo liberalism.
He’s still a populist, and his supporters show this, again… to a point. Hes cunning. And politically astute. That’s how he has survived and others haven’t. He appeals to a strain of conservatism that is old time NZ- before Roger Douglas and his neo liberal ‘ reforms’…
Look back on his track record… he was willing to have to work with Bolgers govt… and they got on well,… but come Shipley… no. He also didn’t have much truck with Ruth Richardson… Ruthanasia.
And that old time strain of ‘ conservatism’ , which was the old time ‘ right wing’ under social democracy – not neo liberalism – is in fact further Left now than the current Green party.
In fact, … if Rob Muldoon were alive today he would have more in common with Hone Hawira and Mana than he would have with Andrew Little’s Labour party.
That’s how far this country has drifted. I think its a tribute to Peters that he has survived so long amongst this current neo liberal climate. And how did he do it?
Often by an old formula – actually getting out there and meeting the people. And listening to what they had to say. And then incorporating that into policy formulation.
Some cynics would call it populism – others would call it representing the constituents.
No matter what you want to call it – it worked well enough to snatch the assumed safe Northland seat off an arrogant , complacent and out of touch National party.
And that just might happen with the cozy position the Maori party now hold… and if that happens,… National might just find their either out on their ear or have to deal with a handbrake on their corporate plundering agenda.
‘Katipo, I’m working on the story now, and will present the evidence. The rest, as always, I’ll leave to the reader to come to his/her conclusion(s)…
(leans forward – hands-steepled in expectation..)
Whatever else Winston Peters may be – he works for his support. He actually takes his pinstripes out and about. To boldly go where no politician has been for a very long time.
When was the last time that effete little twirler of a PM was seen in the wop wops talking with the plebs without a photo op?
I won’t be voting for him. Yet I admire his persistence, doggedness, and the way he makes Speakers foam at the mouth.
And I’m delighted Ron Mark is back. I just wish Peter Brown had also returned. I liked his defence of and advocacy for coastal shipping. Good bloke.
” When was the last time that effete little twirler of a PM was seen in the wop wops talking with the plebs without a photo op? ”
Nailed it.
Thank you.
True all that, it is so strange here that of those who don’t want Winston have not actually been to a conference at NZ First so why not before they come out with an alternative view.
Best see/meet first before you buy, was the old adage here and Chris’s point was just exactly that.
“Michael let it go” said the woman stealing the Vogel’s bread from a kiwi in NY.
Remember Winston will be the king maker and we need him if you want Key gone, before we are all dead as we cant suffer another three years, did you get that.
Today on RNZ news at 12.30pm the reporter said both Key and Andrew Little told RNZ that they would be happy to work with Winston after the election next year.
I’ve been to 4 NZ First public meetings this year. In the heartland of National strongholds, Pukekohe, the meeting hall was packed, and then some! I liked what Winston had to say so joined NZ First after years of mixed feelings of a failing Labour party and Green Party which is too “PC” for my liking.
I love the common sense of NZ First policy – I’ve read it(unlike most). The surge is on, 500 people turned up to Winstons meeting the other week in Manurewa… labour territory! NZ First is definitely going to take huge ground in 2017. I’ll never be fooled by the neo-liberals in Labour again. I want the good old NZ values again.
Terry, what do you call “P.C.”?
Frank;
Please be careful.
Think he’s just saying “WON”T GET FOOLED AGAIN !!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXrmQBPg2s0
Better with no images. Makes you read the lyrics.
The big power cords lends itself nicely for cut and splice for ads.
Even better an ANTHEM !
Play it loud Frank. Go on,I know you can do it.
Where’s Winston…………….
Cheers.
Things that are cliches are called such because they are much repeated; they are much repeated largely because they are true.
Things are called PC when the caller knows they should be ashamed of their views.
Often things that are called PC are in reality just C.
Nick;
NO !
It’s well known If you repeat the lie over and over it becomes the
truth. Indoctrination.
But that was yesterday.
The world is now awake to the games. Including NZ finally !!
Cheers.
I am trying to imagine what an “effete” would be twirling, between sniggers.
Chris.
Excellent. Keep it coming.
We are truly living in historical times and we can all be part of it.
Cheers.
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