We do all appear to be slow off the mark today. Bernard, your analysis of the outcome is spot on, as usual, but passes over the role of the mainstream media. So much of the media coverage focused just on personalities and polling support for individual parties. Apart from your efforts with Kaka, where was the substantive debate on policy issues?
A lot of us who read here, will agree that Hipkins made a mistake back in February by dismissing much of Labour's leftist programme. There were, however, still matters which identified them as different from National/ACT. If there was any media coverage of these, it was just cursory.
So, with an electorate grumpy from lockdowns and inflation, it was always going to be an uphill battle, when Labour failed to sell its vision and demonstrate how National and ACT policies would take the nation backwards.
For the future, the really good thing about the upswing for Te Paati Maori, is that unlike the other occasions when Labour has lost MPs in the Maori electorates, on this occasion TPM has a clear progressive policy stance that means it will continue to advocate strongly for the actual needs of tangata whenua, and not sell out as happened on earlier occasions. This means Labour, TPM and the Greens have to work out how to function collectively, maintaining their identities, while sharing common ideals such as elimination of poverty, measures to achieve climate change goals, maintain full employment and infrastructure resilience.
I don’t think a Capital Gains tax should be seen as a “leftist” policy. It just helps create better, more equitable tax policy and is supported by many economists, accountants and bankers from the right, as well as from the left. It is leftist in the sense that not even Labour had the political gumption to implement it when they had the chance.
On the one hand, it was a very bad result for the Labour Party (they got what they deserve deserve). On the other hand, it was a very bad result for younger New Zealanders and the planet (they deserve better).
None of the parties represent either 1)the working class or 2) the environment: so why should those that care about either bother voting? You can't expect them to believe what corporate labour and corporate greens say just before the election. Their real priorities are exposed now. Especially the case if you're preparing to move to Australia.
Chris H needs some time in which to decide on his future on his own terms... He should not be pushed! He must do what feels right for himself, as well as for Aotearoa and the Party. breathing space, it’s called!🍷👍
There's a letter in a Wanganui or Taranaki paper from about 1850 where a group of about 4 local Maori are asking what this "aotearoa" was. They knew of the Aotea tribe but Aotearoa was very unfamiliar and were wondering if this was an augmented version of the Aotea tribe.
It's at the following link, right at the bottom. I love the 'enslaved fish' btw.
We do all appear to be slow off the mark today. Bernard, your analysis of the outcome is spot on, as usual, but passes over the role of the mainstream media. So much of the media coverage focused just on personalities and polling support for individual parties. Apart from your efforts with Kaka, where was the substantive debate on policy issues?
A lot of us who read here, will agree that Hipkins made a mistake back in February by dismissing much of Labour's leftist programme. There were, however, still matters which identified them as different from National/ACT. If there was any media coverage of these, it was just cursory.
So, with an electorate grumpy from lockdowns and inflation, it was always going to be an uphill battle, when Labour failed to sell its vision and demonstrate how National and ACT policies would take the nation backwards.
For the future, the really good thing about the upswing for Te Paati Maori, is that unlike the other occasions when Labour has lost MPs in the Maori electorates, on this occasion TPM has a clear progressive policy stance that means it will continue to advocate strongly for the actual needs of tangata whenua, and not sell out as happened on earlier occasions. This means Labour, TPM and the Greens have to work out how to function collectively, maintaining their identities, while sharing common ideals such as elimination of poverty, measures to achieve climate change goals, maintain full employment and infrastructure resilience.
I don’t think a Capital Gains tax should be seen as a “leftist” policy. It just helps create better, more equitable tax policy and is supported by many economists, accountants and bankers from the right, as well as from the left. It is leftist in the sense that not even Labour had the political gumption to implement it when they had the chance.
A Capital Gains tax, a wealth tax, and other fair, equitable tax policies were left on the table.
On the one hand, it was a very bad result for the Labour Party (they got what they deserve deserve). On the other hand, it was a very bad result for younger New Zealanders and the planet (they deserve better).
Yep, looks like quite a few Labour and Green voters were not enthused enough this time to vote.
None of the parties represent either 1)the working class or 2) the environment: so why should those that care about either bother voting? You can't expect them to believe what corporate labour and corporate greens say just before the election. Their real priorities are exposed now. Especially the case if you're preparing to move to Australia.
Chris H needs some time in which to decide on his future on his own terms... He should not be pushed! He must do what feels right for himself, as well as for Aotearoa and the Party. breathing space, it’s called!🍷👍
There's a letter in a Wanganui or Taranaki paper from about 1850 where a group of about 4 local Maori are asking what this "aotearoa" was. They knew of the Aotea tribe but Aotearoa was very unfamiliar and were wondering if this was an augmented version of the Aotea tribe.
It's at the following link, right at the bottom. I love the 'enslaved fish' btw.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18620208.2.4?items_per_page=10&query=%22enslaved+fish%22&snippet=true
Also you can see that they use the Maori term there for New Zealand, Niu Tirani, which to my ears sounds kind of Dutch... for New Tyranny.
Have a nice day.
What vision? Labour has a vision? It is a managerialist neoliberal party- it has no vision
Not even neoliberal, just fascist.
My views are summarised here https://ianguy.substack.com/p/reflections-on-october-14th
If you can't be bothered - we're doomed to the centre right being pulled further right by Act.