Initial Views on Reshuffle
October 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm by David FarrarI love the three main newspapers having their own political blogs. It means we get reaction within a couple of hours. All three have now done a post, so let’s look at what they say:
Colin Espiner at The Press says:
Helen Clark has unveiled her new Cabinet line-up but it’s less than overwhelming.
In fact, this line-up is really little more than a new lick of paint and a replacement of the tapware – certainly not out with the kitchen sink. The faces staring back at the Opposition benches next week will bear a remarkable similarity to the current lot – except that David Cunliffe and Chris Carter will slip into the front bench seats being vacated by Trevor Mallard and Steve Maharey.
Of those reshuffled, the biggest changes are undoubtedly the huge promotion of Cunliffe to health portfolio and consequent sidelining of Pete Hodgson. Clark talked up Hodgson as a magnificent health minister this morning, but there’s no question he’s been pulled for his poor performance.
The next biggest change is the elevation of Chris Carter, who sheds the relatively lightweight portfolios of housing and conservation for the biggie of education. Maharey has left some big shoes for Carter to fill, and he will need to toughen up considerably in this crucial portfolio.
Beyond this, however, there is little to indicate a new team is waiting on the bench. Time-servers like Jim Anderton, Rick Barker and Parekura Horomia remain in Cabinet. Outside, plodders including Judith Tizard, Harry Duynhoven, Mita Ririnui and Mahara Okeroa will continue to draw their ministerial salaries for doing very little.
In fact, Tizard has been asked to do even less, losing her Auckland Issues portfolio, which has been abolished – although whether Auckland no longer has any issues or Clark is admitting they can’t be solved is less clear. (I wonder who will carry Clark’s handbag now?)
Clark has opted for the minimum of new blood that she felt she could get away with without facing accusations of a Clayton’s (excuse the pun) reshuffle. There are no bold moves and nothing that signifies a change of approach from this administration.
Perhaps that is the right recipe – after all, it’s served Clark and Labour well for the past eight years. But with Labour trailing 12 points in some polls, one might have expected a slightly bigger roll of the dice from the Prime Minister.
Vernon Small from the Dom Post chimes in:
Prime Minister Helen Clark has delivered on her promise to make substantial changes to her cabinet – at least by her own track record – in the drive for a fourth term in office.
In other areas Clark has gone for her safest pairs of hands – Michael Cullen in Treaty negotiations, Phil Goff in Corrections and Annette King in Justice as the head of a team of more right-leaning MPs in the justice and corrections area.
Clark was at pains to point out that half the ministers in today’s line up were not in cabinet after the 1999 election and almost half were not in the post 2002 one either.
But one problem remains – the ministers outside cabinet which she select, as opposed to the caucus election for cabinet – still need a clean out of underperforming ministers. That should be her next job to get her administration ready for the 2008 election.
And finally Audrey Young from the NZ Herald:
It is hardly Helen Clark’s big, fat bold reshuffle.
There is no Wow! factor is this reshuffle. But she has been bolder than usual in a couple of respects.
She has finally done what she has never done before and demoted a minister on performance.
Helen Clark’s other bold move, and her biggest risk, is promoting Chris Carter to Education.
Yes, he was a former teacher and his partner is a school principal but Education is an almighty step up from Conservation and Housing. Just ask Trevor Mallard and Steve Maharey.
David Cunliffe deserved a big promotion and got it with Health.
Steve Chadwick is a surprise promotion to the Cabinet – outside Cabinet, maybe, but inside Cabinet makes little sense other than satisfying the informal quota system Clark operates by: a woman and of the Left to replace Burton. Winnie Laban was probably more deserving.
A significant part of the reshuffle is in what hasn’t happened to Phil Goff. By not giving him the mega-domestic portfolio of Health, Goff is still sitting in the wings available to step up to Finance – without major disruption – when Cullen chooses it is time to go.
Overall not a lot of excitement over the moves. As Colin said, if 12% behind you should be more radical.
I didn’t pick up earlier that they have abolished the portfolio of Auckland Issues. Does this mean they have all been solved?
While the promotions are all generally reasonably sound, the problem is there are still a hell of a lot of Ministers who are not performing, and doing little to justify their salary. New Zealand does not need an Executive of 28.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
What does Young thing the ‘w’w facotr is going to be? There’s only a poll of 50 to draw from , we all know who they are, its pretty predictable who’s going up and who down.
Is your poll of polls still showing 12% behind David? I don’t think it is.
Seem to remember Wayne Mapp’s ‘PC eradicator’ spot was dropped when Brash imploded. Does that mean all the PC was eradicated?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Maybe Auckland Issue went the way of biosecurity in the National a few years back (it was biosecurity, wasn’t it?)?
Better guess is that it’s somewhat less necessary now there’s to be a Royal Commission.
[DPF: Heh biosecurity was left off by accident one reshuffle. But there was actually a Spokesperson. At the next reshuffle they used the list from the previous one and it was left off for a second time!!
]
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I would say that since Tizard did so little that there was no need for her to have it anyway.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
So that’s Labour’s reshuffle out of the way. When’s National going to do its one? Tony Ryall, Nick Smith, Bill English, Tau Henare, Maurice Williamson, Murray McCully, Wayne Mapp, Lockwood Smith… it’s starting to look a bit tired, don’t you think?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Helen deserves credit for diversity. After this reshuffle, she will go down in history as the only Prime Minister to ever simultaneously promote to cabinet a Lesbian, a Diane-Yates-Lookalike-Competition-Winner, and an Albino.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I’d say that the PC portfolio did what it was intended to do – change public perception about tolerating political correctness. So in a word: yes.
Not entirely sure what a ‘w’w factor is, but you should have been more outspoken about your clairvoyancy before hand – its so easy to claim you knew after it happens. No one really picked Carter for Education, nor Cunliffe for Health. And the ‘star’ (God I hate it how people call him that) that is Shane Jones did poorly, which was also unexpected.
Though Labour will do nicely with its injection of ideological delirium heralded by none other than Maryan Street. Once she’s got her talons into Cabinet she’ll be hard to pry off. Here’s hoping its lethal to them as it is to the rest of us.
What I think you meant to say is that this reshuffle confirms that the PM has no imagination, and yes, her caucus has no talent. But you just confirmed what most of NZ already knew.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Oh yeah, Tane, that was a great call from you pinkos the other day: Ryall should leave Health, why? Because he managed to put so much heat on Labour’s chief “strategist” that Helen took the health portfolio from him?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Prick, I didn’t say Ryall should be removed, it’s just a rumour that’s doing the rounds. Blogblog seems to think so though:
http://kiwiblogblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/nationals-new-front-bench/
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Tane – “[National's frontbench is] starting to look a bit tired, don’t you think?”
I’m not sure its tiredness that makes Nick Smith look like that.
Hoolian – good effort on the PC eradicator spin, but you’re no Farrar yet. It was young saying there was no wow factor – i’m saying what could have realsitically wowed her (given that Cullen was always staying and Mallard was always losing sport)? its obvious who’s moving up and who down – the portfolios obviously can’t be precisely picked beforehand but the choises are hardly going to be wow anyone
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
It should be noted that the Government Urban and Economic Development Office (GUEDO) (associated with the MfE), is tasked with sorting out problems and taking advantages of opportunities in Auckland… So the Govt isn’t giving up on Auckland, just recognising that actual expertise is better than a figurehead position…
As for the rest of the country – is it that we don’t need the help because we can look after ourselves, or is it that we just don’t matter…?
Tane: Blogblog doesn’t ‘think’…
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:16 pm
It’s not fair, Banksie has to look after Auckland all by himself and will have no-one to carry his messages to Wellington. All the columnists and bloggers to date seem to have overlooked the promotion of the redheaded former small town Union Organiser who is equally well recognised in his electorate, and whose only achievement has been to escort the witch down the red carpet at the premiere to one of Peter Jackson’s fairy tales. No doubt the new education minister will further advance the social change agenda in School Sexual Education. MALLARD has been given further stressful portfolios and it is difficult to see when he will be able to make time to attend his anger management lessons.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Yes, perhaps it was Banks’ election that had something to do with the eradication of the Auckland Issues position.
Hubbard needed a helping hand in dealing with Wellington. Banks certainly doesn’t
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
baxter, I’m pretty sure Darren Hughes was never a union organiser.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Tane:
Not as tired as your increasingly predictable hackery, sweetie. I kinda agree with Espiner, but never really thought Clark was going to go for a “a slightly bigger roll of the dice”. Partly because that just doesn’t seem the way she does things, and mostly because who else was she going to demote or sack entirely without causing internal dissention she needs like a hole in the head?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
But she has had to replace 4 big portfolios – Health, Education, Social Welfare and Justice. National was winning the argument in all 4 so she replaces the Ministers. If Labour cannot win in those 4 then they are finished and hopefully for a very long time.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:49 pm
What did you expect from HC She doesnt have any talent to work with. After 9 years of her over bearing over controlling there isnt any of them with the balls to stand up to her. Thats what you get with command and control freaks.
So we have Street Jones etc playing out the final act of the 3 ring circus that has been the Socialists reign Only 12 more months to put up with their crapola.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I never thought Goff would be given a major domestic portfolio. It’s incompatible with Trade. Helen needs to keep him overseas for as much as possible, so pulling him out of Trade would have been counter-productive. I did think she might give him a couple of baubles that were compatible with Trade: Tourism, Sport, and RWC would have made sense.
I wonder if Annette King’s elevation to Justice signals an imminent about-turn on the EFB, now that Labour’s allies are abandoning it?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Given that the woman with crooked teeth has done her Halloween reshuffle, how come nobody is asking why “Horrormia” is so high up the rankings. DPF suggested yesterday that he will retain his ranking because he is a Maori. True? How Horobile. Bad trick.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:53 pm
No – more like Clark thinks King is going to be more use than a wisp of cotton candy in a rainstorm. You got the sense that even Mark Burton didn’t believe the utter nonsense coming out of his mouth by the end…
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Tane … actually it matters little what you and I think re the reshuffle. We are not opinion makers. But it is a PR disaster for Labour when political commentators from around the country dismiss the announcement as ‘underwhelming’ and lacking vision and leadership.
No bounce likely there old son and that, coupled with the mixed messages coming out from Labour on the terriorism issue and particularly the injudicious comments of ‘Dear Leader’ which will have certainly played into the hands of any half-competent defence lawyer … and the perception of a tired old arrogant Government shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic cements itself further in the public mind.
You really need to lift your game and rolling Helen Clark is but Step 1 …
Now Goff, thats a different story.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Because the answer is so obvious it doesn’t need saying? Having a Bro-free front bench would have been an early Christmas gift for the Maori Party, and they would have grabbed it with undisguised glee. Don’t think Clark would have welcomed facing severely unimpressed Maori delegates at this weekend’s party conference either.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Isnt it marvellous that a very nice but totally incompetent guy like Parekura can keep on keeping on.
Dont you Socialist halfwits get it. The stats on Maori are getting worse by the day yet the person who should be leading the charge to redress the problems is well for christ sakes lets me honest not the sharpest knive in the drawer.
Yet we have a big fat silence from the so called half wit media.
jeez unbelieveable.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Yes I know that, but the woman with the crooked teeth could have demoted him to the bottom of the front bench, surely.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 5:02 pm
gd
Vote:Big Fat silence? regarding Horrormia? Surely not….
October 31st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I admit that an about face on the EFB would have no credibility coming from Burton, but I think that would be too much to hope for.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
This is who she had as options to raise to cabinet. I;ve excluded those that I know are retiring (but might have missed a couple.
Barnett, Tim; Chadwick, Steve; Chauvel, Charles; Choudhary, Ashraf; Duynhoven, Harry; Fairbrother, Russell; Fenton, Darien; Gallagher, Martin; Gosche, Mark; Hawkins, George; Hereora, Dave; Hughes, Darren; Jones, Shane; Laban, Luamanuvao Winnie; Mackey, Moana; Moroney, Sue; Okeroa, Mahara; Ririnui, Mita; Robertson, Ross; Soper, Lesley; Street, Maryan; Tizard, Judith;
From them, the only real options for improvement due to them being too long where they are or other interests are these.
Barnett, Chadwick, Chauvel, Choudhary, Darien; Gallagher, Gosche, Mark; Hereora, Hughes, Jones; Laban, Mackey, Moroney, Okeroa, Ririnui, Soper, Street,
Half of them are probably not up to it, so the options get even thinner.
Isn’t this a case of media hyping, then being underwhelmed when their own hype is not lived up to?
You can hardly expect revitalisation and excitement from the talent available, and given they are mid term. You need an election to clear out the dead wood.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 6:59 pm
yes indeed, a problem with drips
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 7:30 pm
What Dear Leader has done is very similar to rotating the tyres. It probably feels good to her but it’s the same old bent, buckled,bald and unbalanced. And this is suppose to carry the country forward.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Well Clark has now confirmed that hitting your workmates is allowed.
Vote:No smacking your kiddies, but wack the fuck out of workmates with no real punishment.
She really is a joke.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:32 pm
WOW Key looks better and better,every day , ,do you think he will refurbish helens office when he moves in ie get rid of the witches broomsticks , the forged paintings and all the vodoo dolls with pins stuck in them. J
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 7:48 pm
How many coats of paint can a liarbour white elephant take before it falls over ? Just a thought , talk about mad zoo keepers . What a circus !
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Hey Side Show Bob, You have got to get some sort of prize for that quote. LOL..
Whale oil, here is a good quote for your rotating list.
“What Dear Leader has done is very similar to rotating the tyres. It probably feels good to her but it’s the same old bent, buckled,bald and unbalanced. And this is suppose to carry the country forward.”
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:59 pm
How come incumbent Minister of Maori Affairs is still there?
Vote:Would his sacking give the Maori Party leverage?
All based on votes huh; or based on race?
October 31st, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Well, duh Steve. They arent called The Maori Party for nothing. She wont sack that big oaf until she has a Maori good enough to replace him. Shane Jones wont do, has to be someone who looks the part. It’s all about race.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I’ve been out this evening, and only just caught up with this thread – but I still noticed that it only took Tane 14 minutes to try and thread-jack, and a further 9 minutes to link-whore. I guess when the left have nothing constructive to say about what their leader is doing (it was, after all, Helen’s “day in the sun”), they are left with nothing but to attack the messenger. Geez, it must be tough being a leftie these days……..
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Sam, you don’t do subtle at all well. Just come out and say “it’s the pills”. It’s a lot more honourable to be above-the-line when kicking below-the-belt.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Inventory2
Vote:Tane is a jerk, prob off on another threadjacking tangent.
The trolls try so hard and then go all quiet. Let them dig the hole deeper.
There is no racisim in in NZ, except keeping control of those who may vote.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
kk – Sam is typical of a lefty, below-the-belt is all he can muster. I would like to kick him in the balls, but he doesn’t have any.
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 8:43 am
The Herald reports this morning:
“The PM defended her decision to give Trevor Mallard responsibility for the Environment, Labour and Broadcasting portfolios.
“There is a movement to the second bench; there is substantial portfolios change.
“There has been considerable public humiliation. I think the matter should be left there.”"
That’s all folks, move on! Clark is either a gutless wonder for not properly disciplining Mallard, or she is so out of touch with the thought processes of the average New Zealander that she thinks the “punishment” she has dished out to Mallard is sufficient. In all likelihood, it’s a bit of both.
She can’t get away with saying in one breath that Mallard is “under considerable stress”, then adding Broadcasting, Environment (supposedly the government’s key election issue) and Labour to his workload. If he couldn’t manage the stress then, how can he do it now? I repeat – she can’t get away with it – yet she will!
Roll on November 2008!
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 9:11 am
Cabinet surgery – Hmmm… axe, chainsaw, machete or nail clippers?
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 9:38 am
We are a nation of 4 million. We need 120 politicians to govern us. The minority major party of the government has then found it necessary to appoint 26 of their number to ministerial/associate ministerial positions plus they have added a couple of fellow travellers to ensure they maintain power. These 28 now take on 114 minister/associate minister appointments.
All of these appointments must have appropriate trappings/baubles of power. Bit of a Savoy opera/comedy isn’t it.
Look at Arts Culture, Heritage, Library, Sport, Racing, (All I would argue have a culture/arts/heritage connection). We have eight ministerial appointments just for this lot.
But then they are all “hard working and concientious ministers”
Talk about a flat mangement structure
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 10:25 am
Sounds like a Tui billboard eh
All My Ministers are Hardworking and Conscientious – Yeah Right!
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Breaking news. How would a proposed private prosecution re Mallards “Scuffle” affect Helen’s reshuffle:
“A police national headquarters spokesman said police would not investigate McCready’s complaint as he was not a witness to the scuffle or interested party.
But a top criminal defence lawyer says police are failing in their duty by refusing to investigate the incident because it is politically sensitive.
McCready said politicians were not above the law and must face the full might of the justice system if they committed an offence.
He planned to take a private prosecution if authorities did not respond by Friday”.
I say good on him testing the law. One step better than the “Paintergate” and the “Pledegate” not prosecuted by police. Perhaps Justice comes at a price.
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Trevor Mallard is now Minister for the Environment.
I had better brush up on my judo.
Actually, Benson Pope did a good job with the Environment Portfolio – he steered through some good reforms and get Green nonsense at bay.
Vote:FOr example he resisted their demand for “promoting sustainable urban form” a matter of national importance.
What an earth is sustainable urban form and how do you know whether you have got it or haven’t got it? And how long does it take to change urban form.
But fascism has always been an aesthetic movement and these new planners see themselves as artists and we people as the bits of paint they daub on their canvas.
They ask “How do you want your city to look in fifty years?” Anyone stupid enough to answer such a question should never have been asked in the first place.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:38 pm
This is very far from original (heard it on MoreFM) but can’t resist.
Mallard got Environment because of his track record in planting natives.
Vote:November 1st, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Here is my alternative re-shuffle,which need serious consideration by the PM;George Hawkins for Speaker to let M Wilson go back to lecturing lefties, T Mallard for Sport with special responsibility for Boxing promotion,Hodgson for a new portfolio-Health and Spin, and D Cunliffe for Commerce(Telecom share price reduction division)
Vote:Phil Goff will be able to make our prisons nice and cosy in Corrections ,so inmates wont possibly want to leave uninvited,after all his grizzling about escapes under Nats years ago.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Is anyone still listening on this thread?
I note the “transTasman” today records that the EFB will now be the responsibility of Damien O’Connor.
Yesterday’s discussion indicated Annette King would take it over from Burton.
Any thoughts/observations on this or its impact?
Vote: