NZ Politics: NZ Govt Wades Into The Heavy Stuff
June 9th, 2010
The Govt was wading into the heavy stuff this week, an international crisis in the Middle East, renewed controversy over international whaling, initiating a trade negotiation with Russia, and paving the way for Brazil’s state-owned Perobras to join the NZ oil hunt. On the domestic front it was dealing with bushfires over the ETS, the Auckland super-city, mining and Andy Haden’s outburst on Rugby’s racial issues. This is the grimy face of politics, and latest polling by Colmar Brunton showed National’s support dipping 5 points to 49%.
- – - NOT A SUBSCRIBER? – - — – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT WITH NEW ZEALAND’S NO.1 POLITICAL LETTER
THE TRANS TASMAN POLITICAL LETTER
Published since 1968. Hot On The Spot from Wellington and Canberra. An indispensable guide to what’s happening and why it’s happening…in Politics, the Economy, Legislation and Regulations. Analysis and Forecasts which are impartial, accurate, reliable and timely. Published each Thursday 46 times per year.
To subscribe http://transtasman.co.nz/home/special-introductory-offer
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
It suggests the Key Govt has passed a watershed, after its 18-month dream run. Other authorities saw the dip in Colmar Brunton sampling as no more than a reversion to the average poll levels over the 18 months. Some believe the Key Govt needs to lift its political management. But even though it attracts criticism it is poll-driven, Ministers are adamant the PM is never deflected from the goals he set for his Govt at its inception, nor is he deviating from the strategy he spelt out not just to National but to the coalition partners. This is why, despite surface friction with ACT (over the ETS) and the Maori Party (over the refusal to give Tuhoe its claim to the Ureweras), the coalition is holding firmly together. The Labour Opposition is still sitting at 33%, the level it reached on election night, which underlines it is still not re-connecting with the voters it lost then.
Copyright © Trans Tasman Media Ltd
Duncan Cotterill