Hooton on Joyce
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 am by David FarrarBy coincidence Matthew Hooton’s column in NBR today (print edition only) is also focused on the successful Steven Joyce. I’ve stolen a couple of paragraphs to blog here:
Steven Joyce first became prominent when he helped pick up the pieces after National’s 2002 disaster but was not embroiled in any of the infighting that followed. Many, including me, doubted the wisdom of his appointment to Cabinet before he had even been sworn in as an MP, but Mr Joyce has met Mr Key’s expectations and exceeded those of everyone else.
In Mr Joyce, Mr Key has entrusted his personal priorities of sorting out New Zealand’s shocking transport and IT&T infrastructure, and he is deeply involved in decisions about Auckland governance.
Associate to Bill English in Finance and Infrastructure, it is to Mr Joyce that the prime minister will turn when the government hits a major crisis.
Key and Joyce have a number of similiarities – in that they both have 20 years or more of commercial experience, and both very sucessful when in business.
Tags: Matthew Hooton, Steven Joyce
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
I’ve yet to see any evidence of Joyce’s political ideology. Is he small government pro individual or BIG GOVERNMENT pro collectivism?
If he doesn’t know, or if he doesn’t care either way, and prefers to seek refuge by taking the middle road, then he needs to go away and think about it.
NZ desperately needs politicians who will take it in a new ideological direction. If Joyce doesn’t know this he should.
If I could advise him on the matter, one thing I would say to him is to be wary of praise from confused media liberals like Matthew Hooten. Brash knows the value of having the gushing progressive Hooten as a supporter.
Hooten and middle NZ are on two different courses.
Joyce also needs to distance himself from the fascists running road law enforcement in NZ. This is one government department that is wildly out of control, and if he continues to support them, its perhaps another sign of a lack of ideological conviction.
The left who have ruined this country are committed ideologues. You do not defeat them by being wishy washy. You have to have a sense of political purpose.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
..and that sense of political purpose has to be driven by core beliefs.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
Joyce certainly close to Key – to the extent of passing him advice notes during question time. The closeness of the relationship is in stark contrast to that with English. After a few years in the house one can read body language and my only question is how far up the front bench Joyce goes when Key reshuffles this time next year.
[DPF: They may not be advice notes. They may be jokes, or love letters or cartoons!]
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
No mention of approving ads for National for the last week of the campaign in 2005 when they had spent all their broadcasting allocation. I suppose hes a bit like Key as he too seems to have all his mistakes blamed on someone else.
So far the transport portfolio is full of fudged figures about new spending that isnt. Motorways that are finished but not opened. Australian experience shows these private toll roads to be a financial mess, and in this climate, when the big banks cant find money too easily , some hick roading project will probably snare up this wonderkind very quickly
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
“In Mr Joyce, Mr Key has entrusted his personal priorities of sorting out New Zealand’s shocking transport and IT&T infrastructure …”
Transport is not shocking. It was exceedingly abysmal but after having huge amounts of money spent on it is not in a constrained but adequate position. The rail system has been brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century and the Motorway network has significantly improved.
Back in 2000 Spaghetti Junction was experiencing 8 hour traffic jams. It is much better now.
PT is greatly improved. You just have to see the numbers using it.
Either through blundering or perhaps through cynical manipulation further development plans have been thrown into disarray. The Station upgrade plans are in turmoil and integrated ticketing is floundering.
Transport projects take years to develop and implement. All that I can see Joyce as having achieved is to create at least 12 months of turmoil if not the destruction of urgently needed projects.
As for IT again it is greatly improved. The problem with his goal is that fibre to the gatepost is not needed by 98% of the internet. Will downloading movies quickly really improve productivity. All that most people need is reliable broadband and Cunliffe’s reforms were achieving this. Again this new activity has created churn and confusion.
Bring back Helen!
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
“Bring back Helen!”
Helen Klark poured unprecedented millions of taxpayer money taken from hard working New Zealanders trying to raise their families, into the UN, and now, surprise surprise, has a senior position there.
NZers need Helen Klark like they need Al Capone.
Mr. Joyce may not have a strong ideological bent, but at least he won’t be found feathering the nests of international totalitarians and dictators in his own interests.
He’s for NZ. Not himself.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
some hick roading project will probably snare up this wonderkind very quickly
And that patronising sneer indicates why Labour doesn’t hold a single provincial seat appart from the university town of Palmerston North.
Strangely enough, those hicks believe their taxes also entitle them to some base level of government services. Keep up the good work, Mr Van Hartog.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
mickey; spoken like a true aucklander.
Where i live, roads are appalling. PT is appalling. So far Mr Joyce is the only minister whom seems even half interested in sorting out the mess that is the greater wellington transport network.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Oops. For ‘appart’, read ‘apart’.
What has happened to the Edit Comment function?
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Trevor – I can’t see a change in the Deputy Leadership coming next year, infact I can’t see it coming within the next 3 years.
I know for 9 years it was the Helen/Cullen show, but Key likes to surrond himself with good people. He’s a smart guy as you know.
Infact, if you’re a beting man Trevor, I’ll bet you a nice bottle of Grey Goose Vodka that there is a leadership change in your party before English is demoted..
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Why rise to Mallard’s bait? Or Mickey Mouse Savage’s? Or Jerkoff Van Halfwit’s??
Don’t be sucked into a defensive posture.
Attack.
Get a clue.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
senzafine where do you live? Your post suggests Wellington.
Wellington’s PT is really good and will only get better. THanks to the last government new trains and carriages are on the way and there has been a huge amount poured into the system recently. They do not need Transmission Gully, all that it will do is cannibalise rail PT. I only wish the rest of the country had the same sorts of PT usage that Wellington had.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
“I only wish the rest of the country had the same sorts of PT usage that Wellington had.”
The rest of the country isn’t taken up by block after block of government departments filled with grey paper shuffling pen pushers, propagandizing publicists, treaty lawyers and mincing collectivist regulators. I wonder if overall, NZ wouldn’t be improved immensely by diverting all Wellington trains to run directly into Cook Straight.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
…err Cook Strait.
(where is the edit function?)
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
“They do not need Transmission Gully”
Clearly you do not live in Wellington either Micky because only a fucking idiot would make a comment like that if they were a Wellingtonian.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
..Why rise to Mallard’s bait? Or Mickey Mouse Savage’s? Or Jerkoff Van Halfwit’s??.. so says Rebaiter.
hello , his moniker is red-BAITER.
Surely the wolf hasnt come inside to lie beside the fire .
perhaps he has been a national poodle all along
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I’m yet to be convinced about his performance as Minister of Transport and the advice he is getting on Auckland transport. Consider:
* Pulling funding for integrated public transport ticketing, directly undermining Nikki Kaye’s election promise to champion it.
Vote:* Pulling funding for half built rail stations and interim diesel trains
* Rail electrification delayed as the whole tender process is reviewed
* Waterview motorway tunnel being reconsidered for an above ground option that won’t be significantly cheaper than the full tunnel option, yet involve the destruction of hundreds of homes as well as park land.
* Amending the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding without any meaningful consultation with Auckland City or the ARC
* Saying that he supports transport projects that make economic sense, yet backing totally uneconomic roading projects like 4 laning between Puhoi and Wellsford.
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Mickey Savage – “Back in 2000 Spaghetti Junction was experiencing 8 hour traffic jams.” Utter crap – unless there was a MAJOR smash – like a crashed plane/helicopter landing on it. Until Vic Park and Newmarket viaducts are sorted – along with Mt Wellington interchange and patch between Constellation and Albany (can’t remember name of interchange) there are still going to be jams. Accidents no matter where they are will cause major delays. There is some truth that things have improved however but only marginally. Now – as it was in 2000 – on a Friday, don’t try to travel from the Shore to the Bombays and beyond anytime between 2.30pm and 6.30pm – as you will be sure to be caught in major delays.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
least we know Labour have admitted defeat. John Key is outta reach.. time to start attacking number 2 heh
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Dear God. Baiter offers Joyce his sage advice. I can only hope Joyce isn’t interested
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
“I can only hope Joyce isn’t interested”
Maybe he wasn’t, but if he ever read your comment on the matter, he’d probably think twice. Who with a brain would want to be on your side?
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I live in Wgtn big bruv and I think TG is a complete waste of money. Better off extending the coastal route and doing some bypass or other work in P’pam, Waikanae and Puk Bay than building a whole new road through no man’s land. TG looks a huge hole we will be chucking money at for years and years.
Vote:April 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Joyce is one of those guys who speaks well and is obviously smart. He’s done well for himself in his own business and IMO is a future leader. Long may he reign over the debating chamber
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 8:36 am
re Mr Mallards comment. I think as PM I would far rather be receiving notes from one one of my Ministers rather than having to write one to a Minister telling him to constrain his thuggish behaviour in Parliament as happened under a previous regime not too long ago,
Still got the note Trev?
Vote: