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JC

Coronavirus, Ardern and the Wingman

Coronavirus, Ardern and the Wingman

I feel the need for a lie-down. The reason being that I find myself in agreement with two contributors to a weekend newspaper that I am normally at odds with. First, there was Audrey Young followed by the younger Lizzie Marvelly. Audrey’s article had a great headline- New type

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The Ardern/Peters Conundrum

The Ardern/Peters Conundrum

Certain happenings over the last few weeks on reflection make for interesting suppositions leading up to this years election in relation to the Labour and New Zealand First relationship. Perhaps the first thing to comment on is the current investigation by the SFO into donations to the NZ First Foundation.

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Ardern: Savage with Scott, Wimpish with Winston

Ardern: Savage with Scott, Wimpish with Winston

Jacinda Ardern appears to have a split personality and it is not serving her or her country well. In Australia, Ardern decided to take a bull in a china shop approach with Scott Morrison. Someone needs to school her on the art of diplomacy as, along with wrapping fish and

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Core Constituency Cruelly Conned
NZ

Core Constituency Cruelly Conned

With just seven months until the election, the legacy of this Government will be of a core constituency cruelly conned. There is plenty of evidence to support the claim. All arrows in virtually all areas are pointing in the wrong direction – down when they should be up and up when

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Mike for Mayor

Mike for Mayor

So it appears Phil Goff has had enough of Mike Hosking’s home truths re how the city is run and suggested he follows his own suggestion in a previous article and leave Auckland. Just to clarify, that was Mike’s suggestion, unfortunately, not Phil’s. So desperate is Phil

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Being a Token Maori Is Exhausting

Being a Token Maori Is Exhausting

Having read Lizzie Marvelly’s article in a weekend newspaper I am left shaking my head, or should that be nodding my head, in thinking that her piece illustrates exactly why her race is still in the unfortunate position it is. You see, it is after all these years evidently

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Well done Simon!

Well done Simon!

The contest in the Northland seat this election will be very interesting, and possibly crucial to the outcome. There are a number of variables at play which add to the intrigue. Normally a true blue seat, New Zealand First has made inroads in the electorate with Peters winning a by-election

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Politicians, Principles, Power and Peters
NZ

Politicians, Principles, Power and Peters

I am interested, if somewhat irritated, by some of the comments surrounding the decision of Simon Bridges to rule out working with New Zealand First after the election. I for one, and I know of many others, have been clamouring for this decision to be made for some time. The

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The Rime of the Ancient Winston

The Rime of the Ancient Winston

I agree with Mike Hoskings that Simon Bridges‘ announcement regarding ignoring NZ First was a masterstroke. It was also inevitable. There is no way National could be party to another of Winston’s post-election charades. He has now had his little game removed. It’s rather like taking snakes and

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Parker, Politics and Populism
NZ

Parker, Politics and Populism

Richard Harman, in his first Politik article of the year, focuses on a very interesting topic, Facing up to the rise of populism. He concentrates mainly on the views of David Parker and his concerns on the subject. Harman rightly points out that in Opposition the Labour Party opposed the

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Rant Conclusion: Hugs Will WIN

Rant Conclusion: Hugs Will WIN

The commentary by Andrew Dickens in ‘a newspaper’ on Steve Price’s rant about our Prime Minister holidaying in Australia had me watching the video. Before I got to the rant I was startled by the look of Jacinda walking down the road wearing a coat that she looked like

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A Tantalising Leadership Exchange

A Tantalising Leadership Exchange

The question is how can we, in reality, organise the exchange of leaders? The old saying applies – you can’t always get what you want in life. According to an article in ‘a newspaper’ Australians have flooded social media with pleas for Jacinda Ardern to take over as Prime Minister

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No Body, No Parole or No Body: Ten MORE Years

No Body, No Parole or No Body: Ten MORE Years

BFD writer JC writes that National MP Tim Macindoe’s idea is a good one but he thinks that the punishment should be at the front end of the punishment, not the back end. I have some enthusiasm for a Member’s Bill that the National MP for Hamilton West,

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Ministers Lacking Life Experience   Don’t Inspire Confidence: Part Two

Ministers Lacking Life Experience Don’t Inspire Confidence: Part Two

Continued from Part One. Damien O’Connor * Agriculture – Minister * Biosecurity – Minister * Food Safety – Minister * Rural Communities – Minister * Trade and Export Growth – Minister of State O’Connor has a background in farming and adventure tourism and is passionate about rural communities. I’ve found the second one with outside world experience.

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Ministers Lacking Life Experience   Don’t Inspire Confidence: Part One
NZ

Ministers Lacking Life Experience Don’t Inspire Confidence: Part One

With an election year upon us I thought it appropriate to look at the life experience of Ministers in the current Government. Overall, they don’t inspire a lot of confidence. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern After graduating from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Communications Degree, Ms Ardern became a

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NZ Needs a Right-wing Coalition

NZ Needs a Right-wing Coalition

Recently when reading a newspaper I came across an article headlined – Why Socialism became a dirty word in 2019. The newspaper declined to give the author of the article so maybe it was from a right-wing source. The paper seems only too happy to publicise its friendly left-wing sources. The

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