There’s only one possible government in the new parliament – but negotiations between National, ACT, and New Zealand First are dragging out.
In only three years the former chief executive of Air New Zealand has taken the Nationals from their second-worst ever performance to more than 40 per cent of the vote.
Winston Peters is a vision of what Nigel Farage might have achieved if the United Kingdom had a different electoral system. Paradoxically, the usual beneficiary is Labour.
ConservativeHome’s snapshot retrospective of the shortest premiership in British political history – one year on and day by day.
Just one term after the Ardern landslide in 2020, it has caught New Zealand leftists off guard. But history suggests they should have expected it.
Whether it was a transport minister making decisions on new airports while owning shares in one or a police minister discussing Cabinet briefings with donors, the trend of losing ministers is evidence of incompetence.
Under the Mixed Member Proportional system, a winning party usually needs just shy of every second vote cast to be sure of forming a government.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s visit to London for the coronation is a chance to reflect on the Crown’s unique role in the country’s development.
Both National and ACT are speaking to concerns amongst voters that the proposals would create a two-tier system for certain public services.
After an historic victory in 2020, her government has fallen short on housing and infrastructure whilst overseeing a ‘brain drain’.
“I don’t believe it will be quick or soon, but over the course of my lifetime”, she says.
Ardern’s tough approach has won her praise all over the world. But it’s hard to separate success from demographic advantage.
Plus: Let’s cut VAT on energy bill as soon as we leave transition – deal or no deal. And: first Ardern, then Biden?
There are special gains in luxury cars, migration and services – as Australia looks away from the Pacific and we stride in into the wider world.
Rushed policy generally can do just as much harm as cigarettes in the long run – and, sadly, seems almost as addictive to politicians as nicotine.