the stone in Winston

The Greens made a good choice in not standing a candidate in the Northland by-election but the win from Winston and NZF is not good news for them.

I like the Green Party and I'd be happy if they were dominant in Parliament but they aren't and they have some major issues to sort out notwithstanding Winston's win. They have to elect a new co-leader and that is a big one. Russel Norman is a very effective co leader - I have had issues with some of what he has said in the past but he does have gravitas and he speaks with authority. He can and does take the fight directly to National and he can look them in the eye with disdain whilst asking the hard questions. He will be very hard to replace and his replacement will have a very big job on their hands.

The Greens have a dilemma in that they have an eternal internal battle about what their kaupapa is. Yes the environment but social policy and economic policy are currently welded in there to. Some want them to concentrate on the environment and be available to work with both Labour and National - this would make them palatable to the 'middle' and dispel the meme that they are kooky, and others want a broad left approach to the issues of social and economic policy so that they remain true to their traditional constituency. The last election result where they at best held their ground provides reinforcement for both ideals and I don't know the answers or what they should do to be honest. I'm not sure what will move the balance and create momentum for a bigger presence in Parliament. You'd think that public self interest with the looming global issue of the effects of climate change and peak oil would guarantee votes for them but with the clamor of voices saying it's 'business as usual' shows that the basic drive for self preservation isn't being felt. Will it take a calamity, a disaster to move people? Probably, but by then it will be too late.

If NZF and Winston goes head to head with labour and National for the middle movable votes and achieves success then the Greens have a big problem electorally. NZF will cut the Greens out. If they become dominant they will cut them out directly, if, after the war of attrition, Labour retains it's position as the big 'left' party they will need the Greens but on their terms not the Greens terms and history has shown that Labour and the Greens aren't the buddy/buddy team that they could be. For the Greens to have influence they must get the votes and a 4 way competition for the 'middle' isn't going to give them those votes. The 'middle ' is not the solution, the 'middle' is the problem.

So big issues for the Greens that I hope they can resolve and become the force they need to be - the election of Winston Peters in Northland is not good for the Greens, not even slightly.

get lost keylite

I've tried to keep out of the Labour Party infighting because, well I gave up on them long ago, but the news that their leader David Shearer 'forgot' he had over $50,000 in his bank account and 'forgot' to declare it is too much. Idiot/Savant says it so much better than i can

No Right Turn

Shearer clearly knows the rules around bank accounts, because he already declares one (a term deposit with Westpac). So he can't claim ignorance as a defence. If he deliberately tried to deceive the New Zealand public about his assets, then he's morally unfit to be leader of the Labour Party, or an MP for that matter. But even if we accept his excuse, and ascribe it to sheer forgetfulness (something which I think the New Zealand public would find extremely difficult to believe), then he's too incompetent for the job. 

Shearer is a total failure and will, if given the chance, lead the once great Labour Party to another dismal failure at the next election. He is not a left politician he is a keylite and he is a liability to true left thinking people. All of the tribal labour people need to wake up and seek another political party to support. I don't expect they will choose The Mana Party because, well it is too indigenous for them and their privilege but at least they should go with the Greens who for all of their faults at least are honest. This disclosure from shearer about his non-disclosure is the final nail in his coffin I hope.

it's life jim, but not as we know it

Photo Source - the Listener

It’s hard to imagine how low some people will go sometimes – that is until they show you. don brash has shown us. During his debate with Pita Sharples on Native Affairs he pulled out the $50 and waved it in all our faces. Lew at Kiwipolitico remarked at the time

To appeal to Sir Apirana Ngata in a newspaper advertisement — as Brash did this weekend — is merely crass. To bring that actual visage in as a prop in an argument to dismantle the Aotearoa that Ngata and others had worked to build — that, as Sharples said, Ngata was criticised for being a “radical” by rich white guys like Don Brash — and seeking to imprint his divisive and offensive policies with Ngata’s mana is offensive to the man’s memory. To seek to take personal credit for Ngata’s mana being properly recognised — “I made the decision” — is obscene. To play a statesman’s memory like a chip on a weak hand at the last-chance saloon is no sort of respect. It is the ultimate “I’m not racist” gambit — “look, some of my best banknotes have Maaris on”.

Well don has gone further he is saying this about Sir Apirana Ngata, "In our current context, I'm confident he would feel his values were best embodied in the ACT Party's philosophy and policies.” I feel incensed with rage at that comment. Na Raihana expresses it well.

Radio NZ

Na Raihana, the Maori Party's Ikaroa Rawhiti candidate, says Dr Brash's conjecture that Sir Apirana would be an ACT supporter if he were still alive is "despicable."

Despicable, obscene – take your pick. Nothing is sacred to brash – he is still trying to own Māori now, today. I loathe don brash.

The image is from a listener article by Diana Wichtel - well worth a read

We have one of those futile exchanges we’ll hear a lot of this year when the question of the unique place of Maori arises.

Brash: Who do you now mean?

Me(Diana): People who identify as Maori.

Brash: If I had one 32nd Maori, could I call myself Maori?

Me: Fine by me.

Brash: I discovered to my surprise when I was Governor of the Reserve Bank two of my senior colleagues were Ngai Tahu. I couldn’t tell. They look as European as I do.

Me: What do looks matter?

Brash: Okay, it doesn’t matter. But how do you define people who get the privilege?

Me: Privilege?

Notice his technique of shifting position when his pathetic racism against Māori is exposed. Classic.

The really sick thing is that brash will be back in parliament after the election and in a position of power. The gnats have done the deal in Epsom and will campaign for the Party votes while Act will campaign for the Electoral votes. The maori party have been set adrift by key. Labour with goff will get devastated and won’t be able to do anything – it will be up to Mana and the Greens to hold the line – they will be the impenetrable barrier to blunt their assault.

tosser doesn't give a toss

The greens have rightly asked if the prime minister of this country is going to do or say anything about the racist ads from their coalition partner, the soon to be extinct Act.

NZH

"They're his coalition partner, does he support the racist campaign they are running?" party leader Russel Norman asked NZPA. "The Prime Minister speaks on behalf of all New Zealanders, and the vast majority of New Zealanders are not racists and are very uncomfortable with what ACT is up to and I think it essential he condemn this kind of racist campaign."

And what does key say?

This morning, Mr Key told reporters there was nothing new in either the Act advertisement - which was "factually incorrect" or Mr Ansell's subsequent comments and he was not bothered by them. "What happens with him and the Act Party, frankly I don't give a toss about, but at the end of the day I don't think any of us would be surprised that he's making those comments." He said the comments would not sour National's relationship with ACT. 

Yep the prime minister doesn't give a wank about it - no issue, not bothered. He should care but smile and wave can't see the votes in it, so out of sight - out of mind.

Mr Key said the advert and comments would not affect National's intentions regarding the Epsom electorate where it has essentially allowed ACT to win a seat, giving it a presence in parliament. 

I suspect this position will change as we get closer to the election. Act are going down and brash is going with them. Brash does not realise that kiwis like their racism more downbeat than this - a bit more under the carpet. I don't think kiwis will vote for these Act idiots and i hope they see the truth of key before it is too late.

in like a needle out like a plough

Good work by labour's David Parker on highlighting the plans of the Chinese company wanting to buy Crafar farms. Thank the gods for the Official Information Act and those who know how to use it to get this information out into the open.

Stuff

Shanghai Pengxin's aspirations to branch beyond the $200 million-plus farm purchase into real estate, infrastructure development and mining in New Zealand are included in its application to the Overseas Investment Office, released to BusinessDay under the Official Information Act.

In the application the company said it regarded the proposed purchase as its "initial" investment in New Zealand.

"[Shanghai Pengxin] will actively seek other opportunities to invest in New Zealand in agribusiness, real estate development, mining and infrastructure, utilising its expertise in these areas gained in China and elsewhere in the world.

There is a saying - In like a needle out like a plough - and this is exactly what these bridgehead 'investments' are. As Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says

"We'd be idiots if we let the Chinese companies buy up all this stuff. But Labour and National have shown they are capable of it in the past so I wouldn't be surprised if they let them do it again."

Reports have said that the Chinese Investment Corporation may invest up to 6 Billion or 1.5% of their fund into this country's assets. That compares with 2% that they have supposedly set aside for Australia. Jeepers if true that will have society changing consequences for this country. We know that the government wants to sell our assets and they are going to try really hard to. To tell you the truth I don't care who stops them as long as someone does. The Mana Party will be strongly opposed, as will the Greens. Winston will rally against it and Labour will have a go, as Parker has here. It may be asking too much for Labour to lead this as they oppose Hone and Mana even more than the maori party, and as Russ mentioned their track record is not good. 

People power is the answer - it works and puts real fear in our opponents hearts.

known by the name

It doesn't really matter what the new name is for Hone's new Left Māori Party. It seems to have leaked via the greens that it is The Mana Party. We will see - I like that name and for me it says it all - no explanation needed. It also provides a relationship to Mana Motuhake and The Mana Māori Movement, and that whakapapa is important. 

Update - well it seems pretty official now - The Mana Party - launch next Saturday.

For the new party the effectiveness of the message is the key - keep it simple, repeat often and keep to the planned pathway. Some things need no comment, others a little and then there are times to really give it heaps and saturate the coverage. The battles are those that align with the kaupapa.

What does the party stand for and believe in? Simple and repeatable phases. Hone is onto it with his latest excellent press releases about petrobras. His quote about the 'warships coming over the horizon' is evocative, simple and repeatable. His outrage that this should be happening on ANZAC day to tangata whenua who have given so much, is genuine and I share it. They have no shame.

The kaupapa that i believe will attract all people is one based upon support for equality, the disadvantaged, kaitiakitanga and tino rangatiratanga. I will say it again - these principles are universal human rights and values that are not attached to any ethnicity. It will soon be time for people to make choices and I believe many people will join the waka.