New Zealand political discussion thread

[CumbrianLefty]

Judith “Crusher” Collins is out as leader of the National Party

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/456496/live-judith-collins-steps-down-as-ational-party-leader-all-the-latest-updates

Dr. Shane Reti is the interim leader

Deservedly as more info has come to light. Simon Bridges only made a mildly crude remark (not fully clear what it was but it was based on "an old wive's tale" about having a baby apparently) that he apologised for at the time, and then she lied about having the backing of the party board, as well as bypassing her MPs. You wouldn't expect Judith Collins to go down as an ultra-PC feminist, but in her desperation that's how it turned out lol.

What an absolute clown show

[CumbrianLefty]

Latest poll shows NZ Labour at their lowest for a while, and a modest National "new leader" boost.

[CumbrianLefty]

Just as well you aren't her, then.

[CumbrianLefty]

Honeymoon finally over then.

Still it was good, really good, while it lasted.

[CumbrianLefty]

Though until a few years ago, the centre-right appeared to be in a period of hegemony there.

[CumbrianLefty]

New Zealand has moved to the orange traffic light setting. This means that social distancing requirements are now gone. The only restrictions left are mask mandates and self-isolation for confirmed cases and household contacts. Masks have been removed in schools and dancing has been allowed again at nightclubs. The Covid Response Minister did get confused about the rules in his own press conference, but the general rule seems to be that masks are still required inside.

Seems very incongruous with the general relaxations to me.

[CumbrianLefty]

Ardern was likely always going to win, but National bombing as hard as they did was much less inevitable.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, this is a good day for you.

[CumbrianLefty]

Windfall taxes are generally easier to sell politically, though.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, can see moves coming to bring the voting age down to 16 in other countries too.

[CumbrianLefty]

Politically, this latest news adds to the growing feeling that a National Party victory is virtually inevitable. The election must be held by the end of 2023 so the timing is awful for the government. Who knows what will really happen though.

I certainly wouldn't go that far.

[CumbrianLefty]

Well the NZ centre left equivalents of Hodges/Rentoul no doubt have their "the opposition should be much further ahead mid-term if they hope to win the next election" takes prepared already

[CumbrianLefty]

Haha, he called the NZ version of Change UK - MOMENTUM??

[CumbrianLefty]

Is she wrong, though?

[CumbrianLefty]

Getting out near (if not at) the top is a skill many politicians don't have.

[CumbrianLefty]

(context: Auckland is under fcking water right now)
His sheer intellect is incomprehensibly astounding. What a remarkable specimen Auckland found and promptly elected.

He SPEAKS FOR THE NON-WOKE MAJORITY, though!

[CumbrianLefty]

Just fills you with confidence

[CumbrianLefty]

What this polling really shows is that there is little genuine enthusiasm for the NP.

[CumbrianLefty]

Elect in haste, repent at leisure. Or something.

[CumbrianLefty]

Ardern on just 2%?

How soon they forget

[CumbrianLefty]

Oh dear, surely he will also be discouraged from standing again as an MP after all that.

[CumbrianLefty]

The poll graphics above don't seem to be showing.

[CumbrianLefty]

The new government not having so much of a honeymoon rather suggests to me that the last election was a winnable one for Labour, and it was a case of them losing it rather than National winning it.

[CumbrianLefty]

Just makes Hipkins fumbling the ball last year all the more frustrating.

[CumbrianLefty]

Indeed, but such "clever" plans have come unstuck plenty of times in the past.