Gordon Campbell on Adrian Orr’s lending scheme, the Collins reshuffle and the Trump coup
Does anyone under 50 know why “Muldoonist” is a bad word? David Seymour was one year old when Robert Muldoon lost the 1984 snap election. […]
National Party
Gordon Campbell on the economic stimulus package
Obviously, yesterday’s massive $12.1 billion economic stimulus package (4% of GDP !) will not totally insulate people from the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus, […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s hopes of driving NZF out of Parliament
For months, National’s best (and only?) hope of winning Election 2020 has involved keeping New Zealand First down below the 5% MMP threshold, and out […]
Gordon Campbell on Kobemania, Palestine, and the infrastructure package
Quick quiz to end the week. What deserves the more attention – the death of a US basketball legend, or the end of Palestinian hopes […]
Gordon Campbell on China treating our citizens as coronavirus hostages, and Election 2020
More than once at her post-Cabinet press conference yesterday, PM Jacinda Ardern claimed it would be “very difficult” to evacuate the 53 New Zealanders currently […]
Gordon Campbell on why Sustainable NZ isn’t self-sustaining
Asking whether this new, environmentally focussed party can make the 5% MMP threshold may be the wrong question…
Gordon Campbell on National’s anointing of Christopher Luxon
Clearly, the National Party hierarchy is very, very excited about Christopher Luxon
Gordon Campbell on Simon Bridges trying to paint himself as a warrior against political correctness
Having failed all year at being a credible alternative Prime Minister, National leader Simon Bridges has lowered his aspirational target this week to something more within his range.
Gordon Campbell on allegations of left wing bias in the mainstream media
The “left wing bias” accusation dates back at least to the mid 1990s… The charge was ridiculous then, and is ridiculous now.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s mishandling of the alleged sexual assault
The focus of Labour’s alleged sexual assault scandal has now shifted from the party organisation to the Beehive.
Gordon Campbell on the cheap politics that National is playing with gun reform
In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Tim Fischer chose not to pander to his own party’s worst short term instincts…
Gordon Campbell on the Budget leak
No doubt the Police will carry out their investigation of the Treasury Budget hack with more courtesy and nuance than their pursuit of the Dirty Politicssource.
Gordon Campbell on scrapping the capital gains tax
With the wisdom of hindsight, the Labour/Greens combo never did have the numbers to get a meaningful capital gains tax (CGT) across the line…
Gordon Campbell on National’s extremely cosy relationship with China
Very positive messages have come from National Party politicians (past and present) about the desirability of increasing China’s trade and investment relationships with New Zealand
Gordon Campbell on National’s tax handouts
Simon Bridges has unveiled a heavenly vision of a “Not Tax But Still Spend” government.
Gordon Campbell on the Jami-Lee Ross Saga
Secretly taping your political leader and threatening to release the contents in public is not a good way to win clemency, or gain support from your team
Gordon Campbell on the party of no ideas
The striking thing about the issues that have political coverage over the past few months is the almost total lack of policy content to any of them.
Gordon Campbell on counting the cost from the Bridges leak
Surely, the public would not be left in the dark forever about the identity of the person who had tried to make political capital out of this privileged information? Unfortunately, yes.
Gordon Campbell on National’s latest attempts at relevance
National has now moved to Plan B in its pose as the only “responsible” party of government. Having ignored the existence of massive problems in […]
Gordon Campbell on Police pursuits
The willingness of the Police to play Russian roulette with public safety via its current policy on pursuits continues to end in carnage
Gordon Campbell on the departure of Steven Joyce
In the end, the party leadership left the loaded revolver on Steven Joyce’s desk, and he did the decent thing. Amy Adams as Finance spokesperson […]
Gordon Campbell on the poisoned chalice Simon Bridges has won
Voters on the centre-right of politics need to pray that Simon Bridges is not the only winner from the National leadership contest.
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership contest
Essentially, English ran a great FPP campaign last year, and if the political system hadn’t changed 25 years ago you’d count that performance as a success…
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership rumbles
There’s a ritual to leadership changes after an election loss, and the National Party is dutifully following the script.
Gordon Campbell on the politics of scaring voters back into line
In 2017, bogeymen of all shapes and sizes seem to have fallen on hard times.
Gordon Campbell on National’s penchant for bashing (a) students and (b) beneficiaries
Occasionally, political parties paint themselves in their true colours, almost by accident.
Devising National’s comeback
How the backroom strategists might be concocting National’s battle plan…
Gordon Campbell on the fear of change
As NZ has woken from its nine-year slumber to confront National’s dire legacy of social and economic neglect, the changes are going to be extensive.
What Other Things Can Steven Joyce See?
PPPs are Steven Joyce’s new imaginary friend…
From the Hood : The Campaign Strategist’s Lament
A National Party Spin Doctor Writes