Bryce, a great summation of our greatest political charlatan, Winston Peters.
I have absolutely no doubt that his recent call for a NON binding referendum on the racist Maori seats will garner NZ First a further lift in the polls.
BUT, the hapless voters easily forget his past treachery on this issue.
During the 1996 campaign Peters PROMISED that he would only go into a coalition if the major party agreed to a BINDING referendum on the Maori seats.
Bolger offered Peters the necessary baubles of office being Deputy Prime Minister and the position of Treasurer which was created especially for Peters.
The referendum was never discussed but Peters got what he wanted - the baubles of office.
The 2017 was worse as far as “ promises “ from Peters was concerned.
Once again, NZ First was in a position to negotiate because Peters stated ad nauseum that a condition of going into coalition was a referendum on the Maori seats.
Both Ardern and Robertson later confirmed that Peters NEVER raised the question of Maori seats as a condition of coalescing with Labour !
Peters could not have cared less.
Once again he had received the baubles of office and his so- called “ promises “ were never discussed nor brought up during the 3 year term.
Not only is Peters our greatest political charlatan but the most economical with the truth in the House today.
Peters “ promises “ and electioneering are not to be believed under any circumstances.
Judge Peters by prior actions , or inactions - NEVER on his “ promises.”
The Maori seats are not racist. They reflect real communities, albeit imperfectly, which makes them unique in the current system of government. Maori have a choice (a very limited one) in respect of which constituency they feel they best identify with. Taking that choice away from Maori would make the system less democratic. On the other hand giving the same choice to non-Maori would be a radical step forward towards a genuine democracy.
True democracy is abhorrent to the people who want to abolish the Maori seats. The last thing they want to see is non-Maori gaining the same rights as Maori presently enjoy. However they should think again. If you abolish the Maori seats, many Maori will quite sensibly walk away from the system, returning to rangatiratanga and the rule of te Whakaminenga. Many non-Maori will join them. Abolition of the Maori seats will thus hasten the demise of the colonialist system. So bring it on, by all means.
Peters is playing a cunning game. Sound leftish to secure his vote. After the election hangs onto the right’s coat tales once again! People need to be made aware of this. His spots will never change. A duplicitous scorpion with every member of his mafia.
Be careful, Bryce, with much use of Curia polling results. It is worth checking the Taxpayers Union website and locating the actual questions asked by Curia in the poll. The type of questions and the way they are phrased, elicits support for the views that the Taxpayers Union wishes the public to believe. Certainly Peters is espousing views that will gather him support from racists, from smokers, from those wanting fewer gun regulations and those following conspiracy theories about health. Will those issues continue to be the ones which shape voters' choice come November? Let's hope not.
Secondly, using the polls to allocate party shares in the next parliament should not be done merely on the party percentage in the polls. While support for TPM has fallen substantially, it is still probable that several current TPM members will be returned as a result of winning the electorate contest. That would result in an overhang in the next parliament, giving Labour, the Greens and TPM the possibility of forming a governing coalition without NZ First.
Most important, let's hope there will be substantial, informed discussion of policies, showing how the current coalition's policies are seriously misguided, as your recent post on the LNG proposals records. We cannot survive as a unified nation with a continuation of these ill-informed, and erroneous proposals
And pragmatism equals short-termism, which equals the status quo embedded. New Zealand, captured by MMP, snookered by design, and destined to ride the train to nowhere.
The analysis and the Comments/ reflections that follow, consistently remain at the top end of my “ trust in the media”, concerning our political life here in god zone. Ngā mihi.
However, worryingly absent in the korero of where the spoils (and “baubles”) may land, come November, is the specter of Shane “Drill Bay Drill” Jones, reputedly educated for leadership from within te Ao Māori but now…?!
Peters manages to consistently talk out of both sides of his mouth, but Jones is shamelessly ‘gun for hire’ and doesn’t even nod in the direction of being otherwise. He’s too busy loquaciously preening and ‘grooming’. When I observe the worst of the U$, Oz and Lesser Br, it’s not that dark yet, over here…but it’s getting there. Mr Jones might yet be that dark? The demise of “Freddie” would be Jones’s petit hors d’oeuvres. The global and very secretive “rare minerals” deal being cooked up with Trump, plus Peters and AUKUS are frightening “dead rats” for anyone of progressive mien to contemplate, let alone swallow. Add the inevitable loss of recent surge young Māori voters, if Te Pati Māori continues to implode and the status quo not only survives but will be strengthened. Come a hot November.
Excellent analysis. However, the centre-right is just as unwilling as the left is to believe Peters won't go with Labour. They believe, against reason and history, that he "learned his lesson" after putting Ardern into power in 2017.
I notice The Post editorial says Peters promised in 2017 to hold a referendum on the Maori seats. In fact, he went further and said it would be a "bottom line".
I wonder if Swarbrick and Davidson would actually reject being part of a coalition with NZF after the election if they were offered some sop like a couple of ministerial posts outside Cabinet.
I'd like to know more about the bills NZ1 have submitted to the biscuit tin. At least one was withdrawn within a week of submission in order to re-submit the previous one. So has this been a NZ1 strategy? If so, the exercise delivers positive publicity whilst potentially limiting the workload. So what are the bills they have submitted, how soon after have any been withdrawn and which bills now remain? Is there a pattern?
Your analysis is depressing Bryce. Maybe W Peters won't do that well. His vocal supporters may turn out to be an insignificant number on election day, like those in the last election shrieking about potholes and road cones, who turned out to to be of no consequence. NZ voters aren't as dumb as those in the US who put Trump back in, are they?
It isn’t going to happen. Labour voters and NZF voters would be horrified. The author is just geeing up his side to move to the centre. It’ll be the current coalition with Peters and Jones in a stronger position which will suit National voters just fine.
You are ignoring history. It happened in 2017, as a pragmatic move by the GP to prevent another term of carnage by the Nats under the idealogue English.
The Greens are pragmatic regardless of what Bryce and other commentators may claim.
Peters thrives on revenge, he seems to want revenge on Hipkins for something, he said he wouldn't go into coalition with labour with Hipkins in charge, I'd say believe it,
Bryce, a great summation of our greatest political charlatan, Winston Peters.
I have absolutely no doubt that his recent call for a NON binding referendum on the racist Maori seats will garner NZ First a further lift in the polls.
BUT, the hapless voters easily forget his past treachery on this issue.
During the 1996 campaign Peters PROMISED that he would only go into a coalition if the major party agreed to a BINDING referendum on the Maori seats.
Bolger offered Peters the necessary baubles of office being Deputy Prime Minister and the position of Treasurer which was created especially for Peters.
The referendum was never discussed but Peters got what he wanted - the baubles of office.
The 2017 was worse as far as “ promises “ from Peters was concerned.
Once again, NZ First was in a position to negotiate because Peters stated ad nauseum that a condition of going into coalition was a referendum on the Maori seats.
Both Ardern and Robertson later confirmed that Peters NEVER raised the question of Maori seats as a condition of coalescing with Labour !
Peters could not have cared less.
Once again he had received the baubles of office and his so- called “ promises “ were never discussed nor brought up during the 3 year term.
Not only is Peters our greatest political charlatan but the most economical with the truth in the House today.
Peters “ promises “ and electioneering are not to be believed under any circumstances.
Judge Peters by prior actions , or inactions - NEVER on his “ promises.”
The Maori seats are not racist. They reflect real communities, albeit imperfectly, which makes them unique in the current system of government. Maori have a choice (a very limited one) in respect of which constituency they feel they best identify with. Taking that choice away from Maori would make the system less democratic. On the other hand giving the same choice to non-Maori would be a radical step forward towards a genuine democracy.
True democracy is abhorrent to the people who want to abolish the Maori seats. The last thing they want to see is non-Maori gaining the same rights as Maori presently enjoy. However they should think again. If you abolish the Maori seats, many Maori will quite sensibly walk away from the system, returning to rangatiratanga and the rule of te Whakaminenga. Many non-Maori will join them. Abolition of the Maori seats will thus hasten the demise of the colonialist system. So bring it on, by all means.
Peters is playing a cunning game. Sound leftish to secure his vote. After the election hangs onto the right’s coat tales once again! People need to be made aware of this. His spots will never change. A duplicitous scorpion with every member of his mafia.
Be careful, Bryce, with much use of Curia polling results. It is worth checking the Taxpayers Union website and locating the actual questions asked by Curia in the poll. The type of questions and the way they are phrased, elicits support for the views that the Taxpayers Union wishes the public to believe. Certainly Peters is espousing views that will gather him support from racists, from smokers, from those wanting fewer gun regulations and those following conspiracy theories about health. Will those issues continue to be the ones which shape voters' choice come November? Let's hope not.
Secondly, using the polls to allocate party shares in the next parliament should not be done merely on the party percentage in the polls. While support for TPM has fallen substantially, it is still probable that several current TPM members will be returned as a result of winning the electorate contest. That would result in an overhang in the next parliament, giving Labour, the Greens and TPM the possibility of forming a governing coalition without NZ First.
Most important, let's hope there will be substantial, informed discussion of policies, showing how the current coalition's policies are seriously misguided, as your recent post on the LNG proposals records. We cannot survive as a unified nation with a continuation of these ill-informed, and erroneous proposals
And pragmatism equals short-termism, which equals the status quo embedded. New Zealand, captured by MMP, snookered by design, and destined to ride the train to nowhere.
The analysis and the Comments/ reflections that follow, consistently remain at the top end of my “ trust in the media”, concerning our political life here in god zone. Ngā mihi.
However, worryingly absent in the korero of where the spoils (and “baubles”) may land, come November, is the specter of Shane “Drill Bay Drill” Jones, reputedly educated for leadership from within te Ao Māori but now…?!
Peters manages to consistently talk out of both sides of his mouth, but Jones is shamelessly ‘gun for hire’ and doesn’t even nod in the direction of being otherwise. He’s too busy loquaciously preening and ‘grooming’. When I observe the worst of the U$, Oz and Lesser Br, it’s not that dark yet, over here…but it’s getting there. Mr Jones might yet be that dark? The demise of “Freddie” would be Jones’s petit hors d’oeuvres. The global and very secretive “rare minerals” deal being cooked up with Trump, plus Peters and AUKUS are frightening “dead rats” for anyone of progressive mien to contemplate, let alone swallow. Add the inevitable loss of recent surge young Māori voters, if Te Pati Māori continues to implode and the status quo not only survives but will be strengthened. Come a hot November.
Excellent analysis. However, the centre-right is just as unwilling as the left is to believe Peters won't go with Labour. They believe, against reason and history, that he "learned his lesson" after putting Ardern into power in 2017.
I notice The Post editorial says Peters promised in 2017 to hold a referendum on the Maori seats. In fact, he went further and said it would be a "bottom line".
I wonder if Swarbrick and Davidson would actually reject being part of a coalition with NZF after the election if they were offered some sop like a couple of ministerial posts outside Cabinet.
I'd like to know more about the bills NZ1 have submitted to the biscuit tin. At least one was withdrawn within a week of submission in order to re-submit the previous one. So has this been a NZ1 strategy? If so, the exercise delivers positive publicity whilst potentially limiting the workload. So what are the bills they have submitted, how soon after have any been withdrawn and which bills now remain? Is there a pattern?
Your analysis is depressing Bryce. Maybe W Peters won't do that well. His vocal supporters may turn out to be an insignificant number on election day, like those in the last election shrieking about potholes and road cones, who turned out to to be of no consequence. NZ voters aren't as dumb as those in the US who put Trump back in, are they?
It isn’t going to happen. Labour voters and NZF voters would be horrified. The author is just geeing up his side to move to the centre. It’ll be the current coalition with Peters and Jones in a stronger position which will suit National voters just fine.
Max, don’t believe that.
This is Peters last rodeo, it is always Peters First - not NZ First.
Peters wants a Co - Prime Ministership, period !
Remember when he went and crowned Ardern, his supporters went berserk but Peters and Jones couldn’t have cared less.
He NEVER even brought up the Maori seat issue despite it being a BOTTOM LINE !
Regrettably, there 100’s thousands in retirement villages who have forgotten and are prepared to be made fools of again.
I think the antipathy between Peters and the Greens will prevent this from happening.
You are ignoring history. It happened in 2017, as a pragmatic move by the GP to prevent another term of carnage by the Nats under the idealogue English.
The Greens are pragmatic regardless of what Bryce and other commentators may claim.
That was then - things are rather different now. But yes it's still a possibility - but unlikely.
Peters could only break the curse in the presence of such a flatfooted leader with his fingers in his ears.
Peters thrives on revenge, he seems to want revenge on Hipkins for something, he said he wouldn't go into coalition with labour with Hipkins in charge, I'd say believe it,