Middle NZ need to wake up however, Labour are a light weight version of National

Fair challenge. I certainly wouldn’t describe the current national government as ‘neo-liberal’. Such a government would not have retained working for families, would not have raised benefits, would not have raised the minimum wage every year…etc etc. There are many voices noting how national have occupied a broad spectrum across the centre of politics, much as blair achieved in the UK. No government implementing a genuine neoliberal agenda can achieve that.

I’m not sure if they are that different. National simply carries out it’s neo-liberal policis in a more subtle, cunning way. The semi-privatisation of powercos and further sell -off of Air New Zealand are examples. As are sales of state houses and outsourcing of state services (eg, Serco). Coupled with tax cuts and reduction of state services; increasing user-pays, and I challenge anyone to prove that “National […] parties Peters has coalesced with in the past are very different animals from those that exist today”.

Or, he may have learned his lessons and do things differently. The National and Labour parties Peters has coalesced with in the past are very different animals from those that exist today.

“Maninthemiddle” and “Righton”; as ALH84001 stated, I too believe that Peters is more inclined to coalesce with National rather than Labour.

But if he does, it will demonstrate he hasn’t learnt his lessons from the 1996-99 fiasco; https://fmacskasy2.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/peters-sorry-about-coalition-nzpa-14-september-1998.jpg

Oh please, Righton.

Contrary to Franks assertions the Panama papers are not simmering. They have been another orchestrated flop. And you’re right about NZF, they are picking up votes from both Labour and National, with Labour continuing to go backwards. Peters will never go with labour as long as the greens are in the mix, he is, deep down, a conservative.

“Then the big question is who will Winston side with after the election. ”

Peters has always said he’ll go with the party that has the largest representation in Parliament. That’s usually the Nats. It’ll be 1996 all over again.