TV REVIEW: Goff vs Tamihere on The AM Show

Let’s get ready to fumble.

The very first one on one clash between the two of them happened on The AM Show (which is the sort of content they need to move to if they are to even try and compete with the new Breakfast under John Campbell).

Goff kicked things off, and it’s positive, positive, positive. Sees 40 000 moving to Auckland every year as a positive, talks about reliable leadership.

Tamihere says we need to go back to basics, questions the Super City promises and says they have been unfulfilled. Talks about local control for local Councils and says the current administration is arrogant.

Goff is sensitive to the criticisms of motorway congestion, clearly knows Auckland’s hate the lack of infrastructure. Tamihere claims it’s a mess because we aren’t pushing hard enough to get round the clock infrastructure builds, hints at some new ideas on that front.

Personally I’ve never understood why we don’t build at night when people aren’t using the roads.

There are barbs between the two, but it’s friendly. Tamihere is very clear that Central Government needs to step up and start funding Auckland’s infrastructure.

Goff has the confidence, doesn’t look rattled but Tamihere is the more aggressive.

Neither sold a big vision of the city – it was too short for that, and they both need to work on that.

In terms of winner or loser? It was a draw, which sets up the fight as a two horse race, something Goff doesn’t want and Tamihere does.

The big debates will be where this is won or lost in the mind of the voters.