The magnitude of change that this new government actually represents hasn’t sunk into the mainstream media yet. Most of them believed National would win, hence their bitter shock and they have barely caught their breath on what Labour, NZ First and the Greens truly represent.
While they stumble into comprehension of actually how far this new Government intends to go, here are the 5 images that sum up the change best.
5: The new net and old net both go fishing
The respect and warmth of relationship between Jacinda and Winston is real. He sees himself as the elder statesman and she the fresh new face of a generational political change. It is the values of NZ pre neoliberalism with the children who grew up under its yoke. Those who remember a better NZ and those who yearn for one.
4: A revolution in the billiards room
The Billiards room in Parliament, that most exclusive and elite of old boys networks have two of the youngest new Green MPs playing.
“Corner pocket, Matthew Hooton’s Face”.
“Side pocket, Sean Plunket’s Face”.
3: Paddles the First Cat
Jacinda and Clarke’s cat Paddles has been on Twitter for a mere week. In that time Paddles has gained half the social media following of National’s Deputy Leader Paula Bennett who has been on Twitter since 2009. If Paddles manages to overtake Paula, Jacinda’s pet will have a larger Twitter following than Bill English’s Deputy Leader.
Oh we will laugh and laugh.
2: A tale of two calls
Nothing managed to sum up the new Government’s view of the world than these two reactions by Prime Minister Ardern. On the left she is meeting and talking via Skype to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the right she is talking with Donal Trump.
The difference in perspective says more about what New Zealand’s new foreign policy will look like than any policy announcement.
1: This is the best image that sums up NZs new Government
A refugee human rights lawyer and the youngest candidate in the Auckland Mayoralty standing in the most powerful chamber of NZ politics. They are the face of the new power and the face of a New Zealand that have suddenly found their voice.
The pics make clear why the MSM is apoplectic over the election outcome. Young, capable, competent women ready and able to lead. Add in the elder statesman for support and the cat for appeal.
Of course the MSM has gone full in on tearing them down, if they get a toehold it will take a coup to change the government.
A wonderful selection of photos, but you should have included the hug.
and
A photo of the Maori caucus also, as most Maori ever in parliament.
Loved “The old net and the new net go fishing’ wonderful stuff.
Paddles is a star.
Oh happy days.
“Paddles is a star.”
Paddles is aptly-named: he(or she) has polydactyly, a genetic condition in which an animal or human has extra toes and fingers. So cute! Eventually, he (or she) will no doubt grow into his/her feet….
Great pics altogether: an eloquent summing-up of the changing of the guard in Parliament. No wonder the MSM has its collective undies bunched.
Patricia Bremner: ” The new net and old net both go fishing”
If I remember rightly, this is a reference to a Maori proverb or saying: “The new net goes fishing”. I’m pretty sure that I remember the Maori version being the title of a Maori language textbook that we used in classes many years ago. I think that John Rangihau was the author.
Fuzzy warm feelingthere portayed martyn in your excelent form again, a quality moment there.
Occasionally I still wonder if it was all a (good) dream.
New Zealand Prime Minister – Jacinda Adern – it has a nice ring to it, I think.
What we will get plenty of over the next few months is right wingers who demand that Jacinda fix this and that and everything, pronto!
Yes, the people that until now have denied the existence of any trouble in fairyland now admit it actually exists and although National had nine years to fix it (and didn’t) they think the new Labour-led government should be able to fix it all in a few months.
The irony here is very obvious.
… ” Yes, the people that until now have denied the existence of any trouble in fairyland now admit it actually exists and although National had nine years to fix it (and didn’t) they think the new Labour-led government should be able to fix it all in a few months.
The irony here is very obvious ” …
Yes indeed, … all they have left is to try and use scare tactics ,… which cannot be proven and remains speculative. And every time they try to criticize , they will have a finger pointing right back at them for their incompetence and avarice and crony capitalism that got this country in the sorry state it is in.
The National party have no leg to stand on anymore in even being a ‘strong ‘ opposition. All they can do is try and use speculative fear.
What a joke.
But it will be not be such a joke when Pike River is finally entered , – some very serious truths will come out about just how serious and deadly their policy’s , attitudes to workers and pandering to the uber rich elites really has become.
Time will not be kind to the Key / English led National party at all.
Wld Katipo,
I also look forward to us now achieving some real change but there will be no jokes.
Once the right get over the shock we had better be ready to take them on as they will do everything they can to destroy our purpose and government.
Kia kaha tatou
Go Paddles, NZ’s power cat.
Perhaps we should remove John Keys dubious ‘ knighthood’ and bestow it on Paddles instead.
The First Cat of the Nation has already achieved far more than the shower pissing , pony tail pulling , Forex market corporate plunderer of the NZ economy ever did.
Gorgeous !!!
… ” The respect and warmth of relationship between Jacinda and Winston is real. He sees himself as the elder statesman and she the fresh new face of a generational political change. It is the values of NZ pre neoliberalism with the children who grew up under its yoke. Those who remember a better NZ and those who yearn for one ” …
Mighty words and well put.
And a wonderful image.
… ” If Paddles manages to overtake Paula, Jacinda’s pet will have a larger Twitter following than Bill English’s Deputy Leader ” …
Hehehe… the famous ‘camp cat’ .
And I shouldn’t worry too much about Paddles overtaking Paula in significance and popularity ,… that wouldn’t be hard.
… ” A refugee human rights lawyer and the youngest candidate in the Auckland Mayoralty standing in the most powerful chamber of NZ politics. They are the face of the new power and the face of a New Zealand that have suddenly found their voice ” …
A wonderful photo , – a long time in coming but we can all have a pride in them and also the fact that collectively , – we voted them in. And that we are going to have such a diverse and democratic government. We couldn’t have asked for better.
Just watching those fine, diverse, fair and sensible new ministers being sworn in this morning was magical.
I haven’t felt so enthused and hopeful since Norm Kirk kicked out the National clowns in 1972 after all those dreadful Holyoake years or later in 84 when Lange biffed Piggy Muldoon. A good nine years of Helen and then doom and gloom with a crooked ex banker and a double dipping fool from Dipton.
How dreadful this country has become under the fanatic neoliberalists who have widened inequality and stuffed up a caring and generous welfare state. Compare those new ministers sworn in this morning with English, Bennett, Brownlee, Coleman, Joyce, Collins and the new star of right wing intolerance the coup claiming moronic Matt the Pratt King.
Go the coalition.
Oh God this is so good. It’s double the ecstacy having National booted out and having the Labour and Green block in. Good riddance to those self-service, power hungry Tory’s.
Ridiculous, sorry.
Politics is all about pressure.
The real test for this government will be how they stand up to the behind the scenes pressure that will be exerted on them by the formidable array of;
Banksters,
Financiers,
Financial traders and speculators,
Vested interest,
The rich and powerful,
The Rentier Class
The special interests, with the power and money to hire paid lobbyists, with security passes to parliament, allowing them exclusive access to our our political class.
As well as all this secret pressure, will be the pressure applied on the government by the corporate media. The powerful entertainment and news outlets, radio, TV, Print, that are tied to the above same private interests, whose job is to mould and form public opinion.
The myriad threads that tie our media to the interests of the rich and powerful, come partly come from common social networks and clubs, common interests made up of similar incomes and lifestyle, and schools. But most importantly of all in keeping the media serving the interests of these few, the advertising revenue which is the lifeblood of all major new outlets, the reins of which are held in the hands of this combined corporate elite.
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