“It is a bit soon to be jumping to conclusions.

1) Remember that the historical norm is for Govt polling to sag mid-term and rally at election-time as people look more closely at the alternative. I find it hard to believe that voters taking a hard look at Labour and the Greens is going to help them.”

Name one second-term government in New Zealand history that recovered in such a way by the next election. The historical norm is for the opposition to experience significant positive swings heading into the election from that position.

Voters in general don’t fear the Greens, and the media give them an easy run, so I don’t see the opposition scare-monger factor playing much of a role.

No need to worry team unless the UN sacks Helen for mismanagement and she comes home!

very funny Mr Cunningham, but are you sure we shoot Shearer, or that other

wreck1080, would you be prepared to give me a figure on income from overseas, and how could Labour Green help

“The big adverse gap in productivity between New Zealand and other countries opened up from the 1970s to the early 1990s. The policy choice that increased immigration – given the number of employers increasingly unable to pay First-World wages to the existing population and all the capital requirements that increasing populations involve – looks likely to have worked almost directly against the adjustment New Zealand needed to make and it might have been better off with a lower rate of net immigration. This adjustment would have involved a lower real interest rate (and cost of capital) and a lower real exchange rate, meaning a more favourable environment for raising the low level of productive capital per worker and labour productivity. The low level of capital per worker is a striking symptom of New Zealand’s economic challenge.
”
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/reviews-consultation/savingsworkinggroup/pdfs/swg-report-jan11.pdf

I’d say that 158,000 owed by NZ First is money well spent.
The vested interests behind National sure have deep pockets (and the odd diesel powered super yacht too no doubt)

Conservatives I don’t think are a real coalition option – unles something really changes in the next 18 months they’d need to triple their share of the party vote to get over 5% and look unlikely at taking an electorate seat anywhere.

I imagine they will cause the dollar to go lower thus improving my income.

Although, I’m seriously considering throwing in the towel anyway as I’ve given up on the dollar falling and my income has nearly halved in the last 5 years. I wonder how many are feeling like me? (providing IT services to overseas companies)

1) Remember that the historical norm is for Govt polling to sag mid-term and rally at election-time as people look more closely at the alternative. I find it hard to believe that voters taking a hard look at Labour and the Greens is going to help them.

2) If this polling is right (and I admit that’s a big if) it would only take a 1pc rise for National and a 1pc fall for NZ First and National would likely be re-elected, so things are still pretty close.

History tells us that Winston says one thing and then does the opposite.

But regardless, its really just the same left block moving between Labour and the Greens with the serious nut jobs going for Mana, the overall left block number does not change, National still commands the middle ground, but only just.

The lack of any partners of note and the “relaxed National voters who think that they are 10 points ahead of Labour so why do I need to vote old style FPP” thinking may yet be be the undoing.

Has he developed a teflon coating, or is it my imagination

Purely a result of the oleaginous little dumpling’s glands working overtime during the summer.