Pure Magic: Jacinda Ardern Launches Labour’s Election Campaign

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Photo by John Miller

 

THAT JACINDA ARDERN has the “Magic” is not now in dispute. Labour’s campaign launch proved it many times over. Not only in terms of the 200m-long queue stretching back from the Auckland Town Hall doors. Not only because the whole event went off without a hitch. Not only because Jacinda’s speech was an absolute blinder. The Magic resides in the fact that everyone involved in the launch: the organisers, the media, the audience itself; had turned up anticipating a triumph.

The mantle of success has already been draped over Jacinda’s shoulders. Victory advances towards her with arms outstretched. Her followers are convinced they know how this year’s election is going to end. She has filled them to the brim with hope. That’s the Magic – that’s the trick.

The enormous significance of political magic is made clear principally by its absence. None of Jacinda’s four male predecessors had it. Contact lenses and a new haircut couldn’t make it appear. Speechwriters working in shifts couldn’t summon it. Focus groups couldn’t even tell the party where to look for it. But no Labour member; no Labour voter; had the slightest difficulty understanding that the Magic was passing them by.

Because, without the Magic, the party’s leaders were just so many talking heads; and its policies just so many (so many!) words on paper. They could be wheeled out in front of the public, but the public couldn’t be persuaded to notice them. Promises to do good things could be announced, re-announced, and then announced all over again – and, still, nobody believed them. Absent the Magic, why should they? The party was never going to be in a position to make them happen.

But, oh, what a difference, when the Magic finally appears! First, there’s the shock of recognition. In Jacinda’s case, that came just a few seconds into her first media conference as Leader. No one had addressed the Press Gallery with such effortless authority since the departure of Helen Clark in 2008. The journalists all thought they knew Jacinda Ardern, but they were wrong. The Jacinda Ardern with power was a very different person from the Jacinda Ardern without it. That mysterious and indefinable “gift of grace” – kharisma in Ancient Greek – had taken up residence in Jacinda Ardern, and she was changed.

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No call now for tedious recitations of party policy. When the Magic is with you people don’t want to know the details of any particular reform, they want to know its purpose. And that’s what this sudden infusion of charisma has done for Jacinda. It has enabled her to communicate the passion and the urgency of her intentions with striking clarity – as when she declared Climate Change to be her generation’s “nuclear-free moment”.

Page after page of earnest policy proposals could never have achieved the political impact of that single sentence. Like David Lange’s in/famous quip that “you can’t run a country like a Polish shipyard”, Jacinda’s “my generation’s nuclear-free moment” political marker discloses a potent combination of emotion and aspiration. Not the least of which is her clear determination to not only participate in history, but to shape it.

100 COMMENTS

  1. “When the Magic is with you people don’t want to know the details of any particular reform, they want to know its purpose.”

    When the details are overlooked and reforms fail to deliver, how long will the “magic” last?

    And what will become of the left then?

    • I am over the moon about Jacinda,

      I was so warmed to see our wonderful Helen finally come home to us all.

      She was deeply missed, and now we know Jacinda will carry us from the despair leveled upon us all while in bondage under the evil National Party.

      Then to complete the picture we would like to see Sir Michael Cullen attend a function soon in Jacinda’s honour?

      Helen & Michael left our country in a far safer and better place than these National Carpetbaggers will have left to us by next month.

      Now we are to review the fine print of the treasury report later this week.

      Very interesting times now.

      • Cullen has opened the door for a stake in Kiwibank to be sold. And in a number of years, could potentially be privatised.

        Helen failed to restore/increase core benefit rates, thus missing an opportunity (during an economic boom) to significantly address poverty and inequality.

        To date, Jacinda has also rejected increasing/restoring core benefit rates.

    • Details are only relevant if their adhered to. National have failed abysmally on this front. Promises broken, trust broken and continual lies. Jacinda is not tainted by any of this, thus the magic title.

      Propaganda speak…”When the details are overlooked and reforms fail to deliver, how long will the “magic” last?”

      How can you possibly know this?

      What we do know is that the last 9 years has brought large numbers despair, so much for “all kiwis”

      • “Propaganda speak”

        Rubbish.

        “How can you possibly know this?”

        I looked at the policy and seen the shortfalls.

        Would you care for an example?

          • Here’s a quick six for you to ponder.

            1/ Labour have committed to building 1000 state homes a year, yet (as the Salvation Army’s report pointed out) we need 2000-2500 a year.

            On a side note, they will build 10,000 homes but have only committed to a 1000 state homes, indicating were their values sit when it comes to renters opposed to those that can afford to buy their so-called affordable ($500,000 to $600,000) homes.

            2/Limiting offshore investor to new builds overlooks the extra demand (thus inflationary pressure) it will place on land coupled with the inflationary impact it would have on nearby surrounding areas. As the demand (thus value of land) increases it will add to the overall value (hence purchasing cost) of surrounding homes.

            3/Requiring all rentals to be warm, dry, and healthy to live in while the market is overheated allows more scope for those costs to be passed on. Resulting in further driving up rents. There is no policy to help offset theses costs for landlords, thus tenants.

            4/Labour’s plan to introduce a regional flat tax on fuel, opposed to utilizing progressive income tax. With the flow on effect of this indirect flat tax (as like GST) impacting upon lower income households the hardest.

            5/Compulsory Kiwisaver will hit lower income households the hardest.

            6/Labour’s opposition to the TPP is limited, having aired no concern with the Government’s ability to create new SOE’s being constricted, thus their ability to partake in the market (when required) going forward.

            • I’ll take just this as an example:

              “3/Requiring all rentals to be warm, dry, and healthy to live in while the market is overheated allows more scope for those costs to be passed on. Resulting in further driving up rents. There is no policy to help offset theses costs for landlords, thus tenants.”

              And this is wrong? Allowing tenants to suffer illness through mould spore inhalation or continued illness through wet and damp homes?
              Landlords should not be allowed to let out homes to tenants unless they are healthy. If they choose exorbitant rents, then they run the risk of no tenants.

              So not complying to warm and dry homes just leads to more demand on our health system and therefore more funding, the type of bottom of the cliff policy we know the Nats just love.

              • You’re welcome to take anyone of my examples.

                As for the one you selected, requiring all rentals to be warm, dry, and healthy in itself is not wrong.

                Hence, it wasn’t the point I was making.

                The point is, over 60% of renters are struggling to cope with the high cost of rents. Moreover, you’ll find the one thing people who are living in poor quality homes tend to have in common is they can’t afford a better quality home.

                Therefore, policy that is going to improve their living standards without taking this into account will largely defeat the objective if it results in pricing them out of their home and into a garage, car or streets.

                So while we share in the objective (better quality homes) we require a policy structure that will mitigate higher rents in the process.

                • I can summarise your comment in one word.

                  Greed.

                  No policy will stop greed. But as I said, price you’re rent too high, you price yourself out of the market. Seen it all before.

                  Besides Labours policy provides landlords with a grant…

                  “Assist homeowners and landlords to make their houses warm and healthy to live in with grants of up to $2,000 towards upgrading insulation and heating.”

                  So Labour do have policy on this, it’s just whether greedy landlords wish to abuse their power or not.

                  If they do Labour has a social housing policy to support those that can’t afford overpriced rentals.

                  • An overheated market provides the scope for rents to soar. Thus presents landlords with far more scope to pass costs on and increase rents before they are priced out of the market.

                    Yes, as it is so minuscule, I overlooked the grant. My bad.

                    Nevertheless, Labour is proposing a comprehensive housing WoF, hence grants up to $2000 will alleviate little of the overall outlay required. Therefore, will do little in stopping rent increases. So my point still stands.

                    Earlier you highlighted the taxpayer savings (via health) by improving housing quality. Therefore, isn’t it logical for taxpayers to front up more? Thereby, largely mitigating further rent pressure Labour’s current policy presents.

                    As long as taxpayers aren’t fronting more than they would be saving, it’s a win-win.

                    So not only have I criticized Labour’s policy, I presented a logical alternative to help overcome the policy shortfall. Allowing them to better live up to their rhetoric.

                    Additionally, as I previously highlighted, Labour’s social housing policy also falls short. Hence, it won’t soak up and support all of those that can’t afford overpriced rentals, thus largely wont deliver on the rhetoric being touted.

            • Your first point on 1000 state homes build.

              “Little also said his party would build at least 1000 new state houses each year until there were enough to meet demand, while it would halt the Government’s sell-off of existing state houses.”

              “At least” This was July last year.

              Given the past 12 months of National’s non policy on immigration, their reforms have failed to deliver means that clearly, there will need to be an increase in state home builds, why? Because the National government has allowed for record immigration, forcing more and more into state homes.

              Once Labour become Government( and they will) I have confidence they will up the state home build. As for National, I have no confidence in them and history tells us they are Hollow Men.

              • Yes, voting for Labour and Jacinda can only be the start, then we must put the pressure on for more to be done.

              • Labour have been known to be “Hollow Men” too. Too many centrist running the show.

                Nevertheless, you’re right, National have fallen short and played a big hand in creating this mess.

                But if we are looking at Labour to be the solution, they need to up their game. 1000 state homes a year is vastly insufficient.

                Labour aren’t planning on halting immigration, hence the population (thus demand) will continue to grow.

              • BERT, you are falling for so much Labour Party spin and BS, it is sad to read this. This incessant talk about ‘houses’ is total BS, when it comes from Phil Twyford, friend of sorts of developer Ockham, I note.

                They will NEVER be single standing traditional houses that Labour will have built for social or state housing purposes, they will be smallish units or apartments in blocks, and they will become the slums of tomorrow, if not built properly and for lasting.

                And 1,000 social housing units a year is a disgrace i n the present situation we have in Auckland, a total disgrace. They need to build 2 to 3 thousand a year at least, for a number of years, to catch up with actual need and demand.

    • Long enough to win. Innertia is also a magical thing.

      But please dont allow your carmudgeonly grinch to prevail.

      The reins are offered us. Will we take them?

      I for one would hope that a new admin might try to learn from both the successes and failures of the past.

      There are magnificent opportunities out there.

      We can try to carve a better path and make a country that is better than it has EVER been with a bit of back-there and a bit of never-yet. Or we can wrangle and bitch and become as fuctional as a Trump think tank.

      It may essentially be our choice.

  2. I am over the moon about Jacinda,

    I was so warmed to see our wonderful Helen finally come home to us all.

    She was deeply missed, and now we know Jacinda will carry us from the despair leveled upon us all while in bondage under the evil National Party.

    Then to complete the picture we would like to see Sir Michael Cullen attend a function soon in Jacinda’s honour?

    Helen & Michael left our country in a far safer and better place than these National Carpetbaggers will have left to us by next month.

    Now we are to review the fine print of the treasury report later this week.

    Very interesting times now.

  3. Well, yes. But I think the magic was already there in spades. It just took someone to find the door to the desperate masses. Metiria had the keys in her hands but was bumped just as she was about to turn the lock and they fell to the floor. Her gutless comrades were too mindful of their $-political $-careers to help her find them.

    I think the Adern effect is an overflow from Metiria’s bravery and that was the magic that filled the town hall.
    I’m not looking to the election to change my mind, although I’ll vote labour of course, I’m looking at say a year in. Twelve months, then I might admit I was wrong about my paranoia’s and suspicions and take humble pie without cream and sugar. Labour will however have to work fucking hard to heal the wounds from the freak show of parasites that crawled out of it back in the 1980’s and remember, many of them are still waiting in the wings exerting their vile influence?
    They could just take early retirements with fortunes made up of our monies and keep their mouths shut and hope they die before NZ takes action against them of course. But isn’t it strange, that the terminally evil seem to hang on forever? Where there is life, there is hope though so…?

  4. She truly has / is a marvel.

    I’ve taken an interest over the years in the viewing of historic speeches , and the mannerisms, and just what it was that made those people effective communicator’s. Adern was engaging all in the room , casting her glance around the room , punching her words, using her hands alternatively to indicate expressions of openness and authoritativeness , she was warm , and she gave a message of facilitation for what people truly would like to see happen.

    There were other potent symbols of unity , – such as the recognition and honouring of Andrew Little and the warm hugs of fellow party MP’s at the termination of the event,… the whole atmosphere seemed one of strong unity , sense of purpose , togetherness.

    It has been so long since we have genuinely seen that in this country.

    How could we not want someone like that as our Prime Minister and the supportive cast behind her ?

    This is New Zealands real brighter future.

    • Yes Wild Katipo,

      I felt that bond strongly I almost wept.

      Being of Kiwi-Irish heritage i am mostly very emotionally charged, so it was just simply magic when the feeling rushed over me, no other word depicts this event better than the word ‘magic’.

    • While she puts on a good show, it’s a shame Labour’s policy falls short of the rhetoric.

      Take housing for example, Labour have committed to building 1000 state homes a year, yet (as the Salvation Army’s report pointed out) we need 2000-2500 a year.

      • Whereas National only had the recourse to justify the lack thereof , I would say Labour has a fresh palette to work with , and , – they will want to be seen to be making as much difference between them and National as possible.

        I also suspect Labour will be far more willing to listen to what the Salvation Army and others are saying and act accordingly.

        I also suspect they will focus far more on funding social services than National rather than privatization and corporate welfare/cronyism.

        All in all?…a far better situation for New Zealanders under Labour than another term under National.

        • Interestingly enough, National have committed to building 2000 a year.

          Instead of lowering the bar and accepting their shortfalls while suspecting they’ll do better, we need to put the pressure on them now to up their game.

          As you can see, National is (upping their game). 2000 a year opposed to Labour’s 1000.

          And just today we see National moving into Labour’s turf with their health announcement ($18 doctors visits).

          All in all, a far better situation for New Zealanders if we get Labour to push the envelop now.

          Let’s do this.

          • Yes I see where you are coming from.
            If all Labour have to do is “say” they’ll increase social housing to 2500, then they should do so. After all National says things pre-elelction and then do the opposite.

            • If we want a change of Government to mean more than National lite, I’m sure we’d want Labour to do more than just say they’ll increase social housing to 2500.

      • Read the policy, they are committed to 1000. But when they see PREFU, they will be able to increase that figure as Phil Twyford has explained.

        • “But when they see PREFU, they will be able to increase that figure as Phil Twyford has explained.”

          As for Phil explaining this, it largely only came about after Phil was pressured and shown up by the media via their highlighting of the Salvation Army report.

          Hence, we’ve got to keep pressing them to correct their other policy shortfalls. Unfortunately, too many (looking at their growth in the polls) seem willing to accept a lowering of the bar.

      • A valid point. We do indeed need 2,000 to 2,500 houses.

        But please don’t forget that the National Party solution is to do nothing at all.

        1,000 houses is much better than 0 houses…

        • Saying 1000 houses is much better than 0 houses while we both know it’s insufficient to what is required is just an acceptance of lowering the bar.

          And accepting this lowering of the bar won’t encourage Labour to play a better game and actually make some substantial gains improving our country.

          I won’t vote for National lite.

    • … and have you noticed her colleagues response… smiley, motivated, committed, ready to follow a real LEADER!!! forget the Jacinda effect and get ready for the Jacinda decade.

  5. Oh what a happy political commentator!
    For all my natural cynicism it looks like a decisive portion of the electorate has or will soon fall in love with her, and who can blame them?
    The enthusiasm with which that part of the electorate is welcoming her endows her with a mandate to be more courageous than politicians often own. Contra to a comment I have made previously, cautioning that she is tied to the policies already decided by the party;s caucus , the dramatic turnaround her leadership has afforded her party means that they will oppose her at their peril , and at the party’s peril. It does give her unusual power. I wonder if she realises and what she will do with it.
    Significantly furthering the aspirations she has outlined is going to require taking on here the kind of opposition that Trump seemed at the start to want to address in America. It doesn’t look like he is succeeding.
    Jacinda doesn’t start wit his obvious disadvantages but what is she taking on?
    D J S

  6. judging from this article, i should not vote labour. because actually cold hard policy and facts is what i want, and not ‘magic’.

    • Magic mushrooms?

      Nah mate.

      Just a nationwide collective cheer of ‘ Thank goodness ! – it couldn’t come quick enough ! ‘ .

      What you saw was the much touted ‘ mood for change’ sweeping the country. Or, alternately , you could settle for the Dippers 10 bil throwaway on roads for the private trucking company’s . Or line up for a reprise of Keys old legacy project wasting $25000,000 on a new flag nobody wanted. $ 25000,000 that could have been spent on much needed social services .

      This National govt is so devoid of what people want they deserve every bit of whats coming to them in September.

      So get with the program , take your happy pills and embrace the new PM Jacinda Adern with Labour , the Greens and NZ First .

    • Gareth Morgan’s opinion?
      A pig on lipstick.
      His “policies”could also do with a prune or some wiser heads.
      That said I do like his questing spirit.
      TOP would be a welcome addition to parliament if theey are for real.

      • I totally accept it may well be a long wait, but every dog has its day, I tend to think this one has risen a bot too quickly. Time will tell.

        • Yes it does Dave.

          And I have always believed that nine years in office is long enough for any Government.

          We only need to look at this mob to see that they are the past the used by date.
          They are tired, most look like they need to have a few dates with Jenny Craig and have run out of ideas, not that they had too many to start with.

          It will be great to have a new team in office, full of new ideas, energy and enthusiasm.

  7. Good old Chris is at again, watching this Blairite flap his wings, neoliberalism never dies…it just changes colour. Chris loves a winner, any winner… we should all remember 2002 when Bill English couldn’t muster 21% of the vote, and Helen was meant to be our saviour, instead we just another six years of Roger Douglas in Drag. go to http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/ to read about 2002 election.

    • Labour left us nine long painful years ago with a good low crown debt of $8 Billion and bought back some of the rogernomics sold assets to boot!!!!

      Then this bunch of carpetbaggers National scoundrels, sold most of our assets off, and we are now left with $95 Billion foreign deficit.

      How many more have National now secretly lined up ready to sell if they get back in???????

      Our electricity grid transpower?
      Kiwi bank?
      ACC?
      NZ Post?
      Kiwrail?

      Dont vote National as they will say;

      “It was a vote of confidence that our asset sales were popular so we are going to continue our sale of your public assets purge since you voted us back in to do it again”!!!!!!!

  8. Deep sea oil drilling is New Zealand’s version of the Keystone XL Pipeline..

    President Obama (after years of vacillation), to prove his acceptance of the science of climate change, stopped the Keystone XL Pipeline.

    To prove his fealty to the oil companies, and his rejection of the climate science, President Trump restarted the XL Pipeline.

    So what will Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party, say they will do, about deep sea oil drilling?

    Promise to cancel deep sea oil drilling and prospecting?, Or promise to continue deep sea oil drilling and prospecting?

    This will be the real test of the sincerity of Jacinda Adern’s inspiring words on fighting climate change.

  9. Note the change in attitude by National.
    No longer are they arrogantly strutting around as if they can’t be touched.
    They are experiencing a rare emotion – panic.
    It is game on here.
    National knows it is on the back foot hence the pork barrel bribes.
    But one thing is different this time.
    Every time they dip into the pork barrel this time instead of enthusiastically nodding – the MSM are laughing derisively at them.
    The mood for a change is gathering. The MSM are beginning to bite the hands that have fed them for the last nine years.
    It has a month to go but the signs are good.
    Let’s do this!

    • Yes Mike the lefty

      I see that clearly National are ‘moderating’ and sound keen to splash lots of money around now!!!

      So where’s their long held “Fiscal responsibility” & austerity now I ask????

      National = Dont trust them any more, or we will loose all.

  10. Haven’t heard anything from Labour to suggest they have abandoned the fundamental path of neoliberal economics.

    Nothing on reversing the Employment Contracts Act, nothing on recovering the stolen SOEs, nothing other than window-dressing on most other issues.

    As with Morgan’s comment, the J A effect could all be lip-stick.

    • The Employment Contracts Act , – and its euphemism the Employment Relations Act is a big one , – as is re- nationalizing our SOE’s.

      There will be a tidal wave of resistance. But at some point , its got to be done. It would be nice if it could be wrapped up in one or two term , but I think these two are areas that need constant pressure. Getting rid of National and keeping them out and starving the likes of the NZ Initiative of political influence is the key for the future , however.

      In the meantime, agitation about the criminal unreality of low wages in this country needs to be addressed. Criminal because EVERY TIME we hear about a strong , growing economy , … it is like pouring salt in the wound to tens of thousands of New Zealanders.

      It is the long game we are playing.

  11. Time to heal the wound

    The Hone Harawira, Kelvin Davis debate.

    http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/kawe-korero/S02E120/kawe-korero-reporters-series-2-episode-120

    Hone and Kelvin debate starts at 10:00 minutes in.

    Not that you should skip the rest of the reportage.
    (Except that part about some celebrity sportsman’s sex life, skip that.) The reportage of the troubles in schools and with our young people is distressing, and must be addressed by our political leaders.
    Kelvin Davis says that his party will put an extra $40 million into schooling, and I am sure that will be needed. But Hone Harawira addresses the fundamental problems that make it hard for children, especially Maori children, to do well in the education system. Harawira addresses the problem of poor nutrition and homelessness, and the casualisation of the working population that sees parents shifting from place to place which disrupts their children’s education. (Some schools are now reporting that their roles are being changed by more than 50% a term as their parents shift away because of insecure housing and employment.)
    It should never be forgotten that this fundamental betrayal began with the Labour Party in the ’80s with Labour’s neo-liberal reforms and mass privatisations and resulting job losses, which impacted Maori particularly hard.

    It was this betrayal by Labour which drove the overwhelming majority of Maori voters into the arms of the conservative New Zealand First Party who punished Labour for their treachery by taking all the Maori seats off them. New Zealand First was a bad fit for Maori voters asWinston Peters also courts a racist red neck Pakeha base. This red neck Pakeha base is where Winston Peters gets most of his current support.

    Maori voters have more choices now. Under MMP Maori voters can give their discretionary vote to Hone Harawira without upsetting Labour’s chances of getting National out.

    So come on Jacinda, come on Labour, reach out to Hone Harawira and the Maori Party.

    Heal the wound.

    • I watched the broadcast from your provided link.
      You can learn so much more when you haven’t got egotistic presenters butting after every five words.
      I wish more people would watch this.

  12. After nine years of arrogance and pocket lining with the NatZ – this country seriously does need some kind of magic!

  13. Much “magic” and slogans that may appeal to the crowds, but so far say damned little, and may fail to deliver anything of substance.

    There have been many able to excite the populace, but once they were in charge and had to deliver, all excitement soon vanished.

    Look at this guy, who took over France with his nice talk and his movement En Marche:
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/95983345/french-president-emmanuel-macrons-approval-rating-plummets-to-trump-levels

    Seems we live in interesting times, also dangerous times, as the modern day use of social media, using spin and more, but perhaps lacking experience and the team of experts behind them, will lead to massive disappointment, frustration and anger, which can end in extremism to rise afterwards.

    Can anybody see Jacinda talk face to face and make good deals and moves on the global scale, with such like Trump, Putin, the Chinese leaders, and some even more complicated. Look at how the UN backroom lobbyists did all to stop Helen Clark become Secretary General, that is what Jacinda will be up against also.

    Turnbull will make mincemeat of her, or wrap her around his fingers, once the tough talking starts. There is a worry.

    • No way.

      The Dipper has not exactly made a splash on the international scene, and his predecessor did NOTHING for the 600,000 Kiwis in Australia. Jack shit is what the Don-key did.

      Zero.

      Zilch.

      Except make us an international laughing stock.

      As for Turnbull , he manages to make a laughing stock of his own party by having high ranking MP’s not even know their own laws. At least Adern put the ranting Australian Foreign Minister dominatrix firmly in her place.

      Adern will foot it with either media or foreign leaders. Easily.

      There is no way an orator such as Adern would ever buckle under being ‘wowed’ by any foreign leader. If anything, she will foster good international relations while standing up for the New Zealand way of life and the things that we hold dear.

    • “Turnbull will make mincemeat of her, or wrap her around his fingers, once the tough talking starts. There is a worry.

      Turnbulls a flake. Even the reality television USA president embarrassed Turnbull. Jacinda has already shut down his Foreign minister. Looking forward to Jacinda shutting down The Bull as well.

    • Marc that is why Jacinda has a team who cares about Turnbull he is shitting on us anyway and he is a major a…kisser sucking up to America. Turnbull is just another tory b….d who needs to take heed of his mate Sir johns words and ‘get some guts ‘
      Stop underestimating Jacinda this is typical tall poppy syndrome/glass ceiling NZ bullshert. I noticed the same type put the boot into Aunty Helen. For a country that once lead the way in womens rights/issues we have slipped considerably under our tory masters.

    • Nice concern trolling Marc, but yeah nah. In case you haven’t noticed we haven’t exactly been well served by ace negotiators acting purely for NZs best interest of late.
      Tim “trousers down & bending over” Groser may as well have been replaced by a mannequin with the TPPA “negotiations “. Add a complete spoon like Todd McClay to the mix and …. well to cut a long story short, ANYONE has to be better.

      Bye National. Oh And btw, take that ACT puppet with you on the way out.

      • BS, we need some clear talker like Hone Harawira is here at home, also on the international stage, Jacinda is not so well cut out for that. But maybe some other Labour candidate can deal with that, unless Winston will be Foreign Minister again.

        • “also on the international stage, Jacinda is not so well cut out for that.”

          Any evidence to back this up?

          Because I beg to differ…

          Jacinda used the be the President of an international youth organisation that had members from Lebanon, Palestine and Israel. Probably the most equipped of any Labour minister.

          • Being a president of that youth organisation is one thing, where is the achievements that she made in that role, I wonder? I have not heard or read anything about that, and Jacinda avoids mentioning that international youth organisation, certainly in her Linked In post:
            https://nz.linkedin.com/in/jacindaardern

            So if she was so good in that role, why is she not listing it in her profile on LinkedIn then???

        • There is no evidence to suggest Jacinda or anyone in the Labour/Greens camp is unable to negotiate on NZ’s behalf, ‘cos they’ve been in Opposition these last nine years.
          So yeah, let’s wait and see.
          Won’t take much to better a muppet like Todd McClay though.

          • Hah, she already got scared when the PREFU was announced yesterday, here at home:
            https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96080685

            “What were the lollies Labour had to cancel?

            Labour insisted that all their current plans were still completely affordable with the smaller surpluses, and insisted no other plans had been scuppered.

            But there had been talk around the traps about them possibly bringing their plan to make the first three years of tertiary study free forward from 2025 to some time in the late 2010s. That definitely seems like a tougher sell given the tighter surpluses – but not necessarily impossible.

            Would they raise taxes to pay for it?

            While a capital gains tax is still on the table, Ardern took the opportunity today to rule out any tax hikes on personal income, and the capital gains tax is much more about fairness in the property market than revenue raising. There had been speculation she might introduce a new rate for income over $150,000, but finally today said that was definitely off the table.”

            Sweet smart talking Jacinda is as TAME as they get, when the powers that be whisper in her ears!

            NO tax rate higher than the maximum 33 percent, she would make Tony Blair proud of him having taught her.

  14. Magic without provenanced origin doesn’t impress me. Origin, I surrender myself.

    You talk about magic like it’s a device. For the party of the people it must come from the stomach. Unless you are proposing Blair?

  15. One of listed ingredients of lipstick is “mineral oil”, a petroleum distillate.

    The Labour Party need to take the climate change Lipstick challenge.

    To prove their new image is not just skin deep. If the Labour Party really want to reveal their inner beauty to the world.

    Labour need to screw up their courage, get the tissues out. Honestly look themselves in eye. And rub that lipstick off.

    Labour’s finance spokesman, David Parker, says his party’s policies on oil, gas and mineral extraction are close to those of the Government.

    “I don’t think we are much different from National,” Parker said. “They’ve continued on with the programme that we started in respect to oil and gas,” he said yesterday after a breakfast for the Mood of the Boardroom survey in which chief executives expressed strong support for mining.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10822510

    Parker was Energy Minister during the last Labour Government and said about $20 million was spent on seismic surveys to supply to big oil companies and entice them to New Zealand.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10822510

    • Jenny

      labour was in a different place then before the final Climate change policy ‘Paris agreement’ was signed by national government last year.

      Now national have allowed vast seismic surveys all around NZ since then far more than the last labour government did.

      Jenny ; – Jenny Shipley’s last National mob was far less aware farther back than labour was about climate change and it’s not a good argument you put up here.

      • I agree that Jenny Shipley’s last National government was far less aware than the current National government that signed the Paris Agreement.

        It is good to hear that Labour is also now in a “different place”, than they used to be, since the Paris Agreement was signed.

        Gleangreen, does this mean that Labour have moved on from supporting deep sea drilling, or not?

        If not, then the “different place” is very like the old place.

        And the argument I put up is valid.

        That deep sea oil drilling is our version of the Keystone XL, the iconic controversial unconventional fossil fuel issue that demonstrates whether Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party are sincere about tackling climate change, or not.

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