Auckland Mayoral Election

[canta_brian]

So the Special Votes will be counted up by the 7th of October. Apparently this year's lot adds up to about 15% of the overall vote, so it's a fairly hefty amount.

For those not in the know, they are votes from overseas, votes from those that registered at the voting booth, votes that had to be done by proxy or a nominated helper due to issues relating to health such as disability, etc.

These tend to favour Labour and the Greens, and conversely, usually go against National. Apparently, L&G are expected to nab a seat each at the expense of National this year, like how it gained the Greens a seat the expense of the Nats 3 years ago.

Cheers for that. Is winnie keeping his powder dry until after the specials are in? Any ideas in nz on what concessions labour and the greens might make to him for his support?

[cashead]

So the Special Votes will be counted up by the 7th of October. Apparently this year's lot adds up to about 15% of the overall vote, so it's a fairly hefty amount.

For those not in the know, they are votes from overseas, votes from those that registered at the voting booth, votes that had to be done by proxy or a nominated helper due to issues relating to health such as disability, etc.

These tend to favour Labour and the Greens, and conversely, usually go against National. Apparently, L&G are expected to nab a seat each at the expense of National this year, like how it gained the Greens a seat the expense of the Nats 3 years ago.

Cheers for that. Is winnie keeping his powder dry until after the specials are in? Any ideas in nz on what concessions labour and the greens might make to him for his support?

The three parties have fairly compatible policies, or can easily be bridged by Labour. I think one of the key things was a referendum on the Maori electorate seats, which can be an issue. However, Kelvin Davis did state on Marae the other day that he'd be open to doing one like that on the Maori roll, which I think is an elegant solution - Winston gets his referendum, and it's Maori who get to decide.

[cashead]

The specials are in.

National lose two seats (lol, eat shit), and are now down to 56 seats.
Labour and the Greens each gain a seat, putting them on 46 and 8, for a combined 54 seats.

NZF stays on 9, and since there were no changes to the electorate seats, ACT retains its 1 seat.

A National/NZF government will govern from 65 seats, a Labour/Greens/NZF government will do so from 63. The new list MPs in parliament are: Angela Warren-Clark (Labour) from the BoP electorate, and Golriz Ghahraman (Green) from the Te Atatu electorate. Ghahraman, who is Iranian, will also become the first refugee to become an MP in New Zealand.

[cashead]

The Internet Party ended on 499 votes. A party needs 500 members to be registered as a party. lol.

[morepork]

Jesus ACT...somebody just shoot it.

[cashead]

So now the wait is extended to Monday.

Meanwhile, lol Sean Plunket. You stupid bastard.

Also, double lol.

[morepork]

And still it goes on...

I see Jon's Keys has been appointed chair of ANZ in NZ. All those years of deregulating housing and assets for sale to the highest bidder is about to pay off big time for he and at least five of his closest friends. I like to be kissed before I'm fucked John.

[Spy]

The Kingmaker is ready to anoint his chosen one supposedly this afternoon, yet at 1.30pm the Herald reports Winston/NZF still haven't made a final decision. He's still deciding whether he'll advise Labour/Nat in advance of his announcement, or make them wait to learn with the rest of the country as he holds forth with his pronouncement.

Regardless of which way he breaks, this has got train wreck written all over it.

[cashead]

He's ready to make his announcement. Didn't realise 6pm was "afternoon." I guess, technically in the strict, literal definition, but it's obvious that wrinkleparty cunt was just dragging this shit out because ALL EYEZ ON ME or some shit.

[canta_brian]

Bookies seem to be saying labour. Got to be better than another national govt. surely.

[cashead]

[cashead]

[Spy]

Much as I dislike Winston, full credit for an epic troll of English and National.

[morepork]

Well, that's step one: Remove potato from office. I can't wait to see what apocalyptic predictions federated farmers make of a Labour PM and some Greenies in the mix.

What will poor Mike Hosking do now?

[cashead]

Anyone else enjoying the delicious Tory tears?

[scuzzaman]

Anyone else enjoying the delicious Tory tears?

I always love it when the government loses - although I admit it doesn't matter one whit to this enjoyment which party it is at the time.

After voting for Labour in 84 and 87 I voted once for National (hey, I was younger then!) and thereafter for whoever I thought would cause the most trouble. Usually Winston First, once for ACT. But I haven't voted in NZ at all this millennium.

[morepork]

Labour in '84 worked out well....

[scuzzaman]

Labour in '84 worked out well....

They did. Was my first vote, I turned 18 earlier that year. It was my first year at Uni and as well as detesting that Stalinist wanker Muldoon, as a student I loathed the Education Minister of the time, Merv Wellington. We literally danced in the streets the night of that election. It was an exciting time.

I lost that youthful exuberance somewhere along the way, and became cynical instead. Probably before my time, but my age is steadily catching up to my disdain for hope and change. So .. there's that.

[morepork]

I really don't think they did. They began chipping away at the foundations of infrastructure that has led to the erosion of health, housing and education in NZ. A completely unregulated experiment in economic theory that goes on to this day. We got fucked. Look at the youth suicide rates in the 20 years since 1984.

[scuzzaman]

I really don't think they did. They began chipping away at the foundations of infrastructure that has led to the erosion of health, housing and education in NZ. A completely unregulated experiment in economic theory that goes on to this day. We got fucked. Look at the youth suicide rates in the 20 years since 1984.

Roger Douglas was a libertarian ideologue in labour colours, and Lange had no control over him, so you could argue they went too far in some respects. But that's all of human history right there: we ALWAYS overshoot. Then we correct, and overshoot in the other direction.

But a decade of Muldoonism had completely fucked the New Zealand economy, and a massive dose of liberalisation was absolutely required. I'll give you an example: my girlfriend of the mid-80's had a younger brother slowly dying of some obscure degenerative condition. He was in a private hospital and it was important to all of us that they be able to contact her should anything occur. At this same time we moved into a new place, and because I worked for the Post Office I organised the new telephone connection there. I knew personally the guy in the Engineer's office who issued the Work Orders for these installations. In spite of that, it took six weeks to get the new phone connected. God only knows what people without friends in the right places were putting up with.

But anecdotes aside, Muldoon was the most stalinist command and control PM we ever had, and Lange was the most libertarian lassaiz faire PM we ever had (until he bailed midway thru the second term).

It's no surprise that we're all confused about how we think and feel about those times, because nothing made sense. None of the political labels were anything other than flags of convenience, and nobody was doing what they claimed to believe.

And the ironies continue. Clarke was more like Muldoon than Lange. Keys is just a prick banker (but I repeat myself) totally soulless in his dedication to further enriching the already wealthy and powerful. English is closer to a traditional conservative but without the spine to tell the banking cartel to fuck off and actually run the country for the benefit of the people as a whole. Winston is just a malignant narcissist who craves adulation. The new PM looks like a true believer, but it's hard to say with any certainty from afar. It will be interesting to see if she can stay in the PM's office long enough to enact any major policy, because this arrangement looks quite unstable.

[cashead]

Until you realise that National actually offered more to Peters than Ardern did.

[scuzzaman]

He already had what he wanted most, which is the "kingmaker" role. That doesn't change no matter who he goes with. And what they couldn't offer him was the being the hope and change saviour because if he'd gone with them he'd just be Mr more of the same. I said he craves adulation; he doesn't get that with National, no matter what else he gets.

try to put aside your prejudices and read for comprehension.

[cashead]

"Try to put aside your prejudices," he said.

[scuzzaman]

"Try to put aside your prejudices," he said.

Yes, I'm prejudiced against Winston Peters. That's because I've witnessed his political gloryhounding for longer than you've been alive.

I don't, otoh, let those prejudices interfere with understanding plain English.

Spot the difference?

[cashead]

It's the best when we have cranky old people believing that being a senior citizen entitles them to be an absolute cunt to others, while demanding those around them do what they themselves are unwilling/incapable of. It's just great!