0 Curly Sue's nod to the Crochet Club

Curly Sue must have read our post yesterday; the one where we nicknamed the Green Party's secret fundraising session at its upcoming conference "the Crochet Club".

We know that, because this was e-mailed to us last night:

"Craft Auction" 

by the Crochet Club

We’re the party of principles all the way

When it comes to Tory funds we all say
Cabinet Club requires restriction
But as for us you cannot know
How we raise our contributions
Mo’ money yo
Mo’ money yo

Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a (to our) Craft Auction
The money flows
The money flows
Metiria’s blanket for ten grand is not extreme

All done unseen

All done unseen

We demand transparency every day
But “another rule for us” is how we play

Hippy-crisy is an addiction
Our donors’ accounts are strong
And its all invitation only
Our way’s not wrong
Our way’s not wrong

Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a (to our) Craft Auction
The money flows
The money flows
Metiria’s blanket for ten grand is not extreme

All done unseen

All done unseen

Money go rounds for survival
OK for us not our rivals
Money go rounds for survival
OK for us not our rivals

Hippy crisy is an addiction
Our donors’ accounts are strong
And its all invitation only
What is that pong?

What is that pong?

Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a Come-a (to our) Craft Auction
Mo’ money flows
Mo’ money flows
Metiria’s blanket for ten grand is not extreme

All done unseen

All done unseen

Readers who experienced the 1980's will of course remember Boy George and his band Culture Club. Although Boy George would probably feel more at home in the Labour caucus, his song provides a perfect platform from which to lampoon the Greens. Here's the original:

We thank Curly Sue for this latest gem; keep 'em coming!

0 Do as we say...

Direct from the "You couldn't make this shit up" department, Andrea Vance reports via Stuff:

The Green Party is demanding transparency of political donations - but will hold a closed door auction to raise funds later this month.
Last month co-leader Russel Norman called for more details about National's Cabinet Clubs - where ministers mix with donors over lunch or breakfast. The money raised from ticket sales goes into National party coffers.
It sparked a ''cash for access'' row with Norman saying the Government has put democracy up for sale, and calling for a ministerial disclosure regime.
However, the Greens are coy about their own fundraising methods. An agenda for next weekend's annual day meeting shows the media are barred from a pre-lunch ''party fundraising session'' on the last day of the three-day conference.
A spokeswoman explained the half-hour meeting is an auction for party members. It was a ''fun'' session closed so guests could ''let their hair down.''
Co-leader Metiria Turei has crocheted a blanket which will be offered for sale.
''It's not $10,000 a pop,'' the spokeswoman said, referring to National's fundraising events. 

This is simply priceless stuff; the Greens slag National off about its Cabinet Club, then hold a private, invitation-only "party fundraising session". It's typical Green Party do-as-we-say-not-as-we-do hippy-crisy.

And how about instead of calling it a "party fundraising session" they call it a meeting of the Crochet Club; partly as a tribute to Metiria's blanket, but mainly because with antics like this, it will be a long time before the Greens get anywhere near Cabinet! 

0 A tale of two polls

The Left was cock-a-hoop at the end of last week when the notoriously variant Roy Morgan poll showed Labour/Green ahead of the National Party. But this morning, the bubbly can go back on ice.

Stuff has released the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll, and it makes grim reading; that's if your name is Cunliffe, Norman or Turei. And if your name is Peters, or any other NZ First MP, you'll be dusting off your CV ready for a return to the job market in October. Tracy Watkins has the grim details (for those mentioned above, and their supporters):

National has shrugged off weeks of scandal and is riding high in today's Stuff.co.nz/Ipsos Political Poll.
With Finance Minister Bill English poised to unveil tomorrow what he hopes will be an election-winning Budget, the poll suggests there is no need to pull any rabbits out of the hat.
It puts National on 47.6 per cent support, down 1.8 percentage points on our last poll, but still enough to govern alone if the results were mirrored on election night.
Labour has slipped to 29.50 per cent, taking it below the morale-busting 30 per cent threshold for the first time. 

The Fairfax-Ipsos poll has tended to flatter Labour. Whereas other polls have had David Cunliffe's team fluctuated above and below the 30% line since the 2011 General Election, Labour has held its ground in this particular poll. Until this morning, that is.

And Tracy Watkins predicts a new round of naval-gazing in the War Room:

Today's result is likely to cause soul searching within Labour, however, over leader David Cunliffe's failure to get traction against Key despite the succession of ministerial scandals.
The poll shows Cunliffe sliding in the preferred prime minister stakes to 13.4 per cent, down 3.9 points from our last poll in February and well behind Key, who is on 48.6 per cent. Labour also suffered a blow during the polling period with the news that former leadership hopeful Shane Jones is quitting Parliament. But Labour's biggest enemy may be the improving economy, with the poll showing 63.6 per cent of voters believe the country is on the right track. 

Indeed. Bill English is set to announce the economy is back in surplus for 2014-15 when he delivers tomorrow's Budget, more people in New Zealand are in work than at any time in the country's history, manufacturing and exporting is humming, and tourists continue to visit New Zealand in record numbers. Bill English and John Key have a strong platform from which to campaign for re-election.

Here's how the parties stack up:

Ms Watkins notes that the Greens seem to have picked up some "soft" Labour support, whilst NZ First is going nowhere. Winston Peters is going to need more than a luke-warm spud gun to gain any traction, as Labour threatens to trump him with anti-Chinese rhetoric.

John Key and Bill English will be feeling positive ahead of tomorrow's Budget, and they have every right to be. Bill English has steered the economy through the worst recession since the Great Depression, and the waters ahead are calm, especially compared to the heavy seas facing Australia. Why would any sensible voter put that at risk?

0 Are the Greens media now?

The Green Party seems to have abandoned being a political party now, and taken up journalism. Maybe it was the excitement on Twitter last night as Canon Media Awards were handed out, but that's the only explanation for this tweet from Russel Norman:

And right on cue, the Dom-Post has a story this morning with Dr Norman quoted prominently:

Some of Wellington's most recognisable names paid $3500 each to meet Prime Minister John Key at a National Party fundraising dinner also attended by his taxpayer-funded chief of staff, Wayne Eagleson.
As Opposition allegations continue to swirl around National's so-called "Cabinet clubs" for wealthy donors, it has emerged about 15 people, including former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast and Weta Digital co-founder Jamie Selkirk, attended the dinner at the Museum Hotel, which raised $45,000 for National.
The Cabinet club fundraising events, attended by leading National MPs, have been in the spotlight this week after the resignation of Maurice Williamson, who intervened with police on behalf of a wealthy National Party donor.
Justice Minister Judith Collins has also been under attack over her dinner with representatives of milk exporter Oravida - a company her husband governs, and which has also donated to National.
The fundraisers have been criticised for providing donors with access to ministers in return for cash. National has responded that Labour has done the same kind of fundraising.
The Museum Hotel event was held in 2011, and organised by hotel owner and National Party fundraiser Chris Parkin.
He said yesterday the event was nothing to do with the Cabinet clubs but was his way of helping to support National.
He joked that at least $2000 worth of each donation was for the food and wine. He did not believe anyone attending fundraising dinners expected to be able to "influence" the prime minister. "They are more there to ask questions."
Developer Richard Burrell, who was one of those present, said he was "chuffed" to attend after the asking price dropped from $5000 to $3500, and because Parkin always put on entertaining events that were good fun.
Key and Eagleson chatted to those attending, and it was "a good fun evening".
Payment for the event went to Parkin, he said. Official party donation records show Parkin correctly declared a $45,000 donation to National about two months later.
Prendergast said yesterday that she did not pay to attend, as she was there as a guest of Parkin. Selkirk did not want to comment.
Green Party leader Russel Norman said the fundraiser showed wealthy people could get access to the prime minister when poorer people could not.
Such fundraisers "may be technically legal, they're not right", he said. "If you have a lot of money, you can buy exclusive access to the prime minister." 

Dr Norman seems to miss a fundamental point here. Whilst he concedes that the dinner was "technically legal" he's actually wrong; the dinner was absolutely positively legal. It was promoted as a fundraiser for the party, and the donation from Chris Parkin was legally declared. 

But the point Norman misses is that people in New Zealand have a choice, and if they want to support the National Party (as many business people do, because National is far more business-friendly than the Greens, Labour or Mana) they have an absolute right to do that, provided it is done legally.

The Green Party's complaints here are petty, and motivated by a combination of the politics of envy, the fact that few people would shell out $3500 for dinner with Dr Norman or Ms Turei (or even David Cunliffe for that matter) but above all a desire to see taxpayer funding of political parties. If a Labour-Green government is ever elected, you can guarantee that will be on the agenda.

We suggest that the Greens stick to politics. It's not the job of political parties to boast about breaking stories, and in any event, 3News actually broke the story, although obviously they'd been fed plenty of inside information from the Green Party comms team. If the Greens want to break stories, let them give up the offices and support staff that you and we pay for, let them give up their MP salaries and taxpayer-funded travel, and let them join the Press Gallery and scratch out a living.

0 We can't help but wonder...

Labour's candidate in Pakuranga is a psychologist. And Barry Kirker has offered a professional opinion in this presser:

Barry Kirker
Labour candidate for Pakuranga
2 May, 2014
Media Statement on Maurice Williamson
Pakuranga residents expect and deserve more from their elected Member of Parliament, Labour’s candidate for Pakuranga Barry Kirker says.
“National MP Maurice Williamson has failed the people of Pakuranga.
“Taking care of their friends has become standard practise for ministers in the National-led Government. Maurice Williamson’s lack of judgement follows falls from grace from his colleagues including Pansy Wong, Richard Worth, Judith Collins, John Banks and Nick Smith.
“Those who donate to the National Party appear to get special treatment from Government ministers. This is not a trend I want to see occurring in New Zealand.
“Sadly many local people I have spoken to are not surprised by Maurice Williamson’s actions. He has a reputation for questionable judgment and character.
“Locals are also concerned Maurice Williamson has been taking the electorate for granted and pursing his own personal interests.
“In my experience as a psychologist, people who have serious lapses of judgement such as this, have often engaged in similar questionable behaviour before they were caught out.
“I am running a campaign based on the need for new face in Pakuranga, integrity of character, putting people before profits, equal treatment for everyone in the electorate and transparency in Government.
“A Labour government will represent all of society, not just the wealthy,” Barry Kirker says.

Politicians are indeed complex beings, and analyzing them is probably a challenge for even the best psychologist. But given that Mr Kirker has delivered his considered professional opinion on Maurice Williamson, we can't help but wonder what he makes of other politicians.

For example, what does he make of David Cunliffe's demands that everyone else but him have to be transparent about donations when Mr Cunliffe accepted anonymous donations last year via a secret trust. Is this indicative of "similar questionable behaviour" before he was caught out? And what does he make of Trevor Mallard's bullying and innuendo, and his homophobic interjections in Parliament? 

What is Mr Kirker's professional opinion on Metiria Turei, and her claims of racism or sexism whenever she is criticised? What does he make of Hone Harawira supposedly standing up for poor people, then cuddling up to a German billionaire? 

We could even wonder about how Mr Kirker might view Winston Peters, but that is probably beyond the capability of any psychologist! But we do look forward to Barry Kirker producing the examples of Maurice Williamson's "questionable judgment and character" that he alleges. 

After all, a candidate promising "integrity of character" wouldn't make baseless, opportunistic smears now, would he?

0 Easter good news #2

Well; this one is a mixed news story. For those who want the current Government re-elected on 20 September, it's fantastic news. For David Cunliffe, Russel Norman and Metiria Turei and their MP's and supporters, it make make Easter a little less palatable.

The latest Roy Morgan poll is out. And as Morgan polls tend to do, it has lurched again; here's the commentary:

Today’s New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows a large jump in support for National (48.5%, up 5.5%) now with its largest lead over a potential Labour/Greens alliance (40%, down 5%) since July 2013 as New Zealanders celebrated the visit of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Support for Key’s Coalition partners is little changed with the Maori Party 1% (down 0.5%), ACT NZ (0.5%, unchanged) and United Future 0% (down 0.5%).
Support for the Labour Party has fallen to 28.5% (down 3.5%) – clearly the lowest support under new Labour Leader David Cunliffe, and the lowest Labour support since April 2012, the Greens have fallen to 11.5% (down 1.5%), New Zealand First 5.5% (unchanged), Mana Party 1% (up 0.5%), Conservative Party of NZ 2% (down 0.5%) and Internet Party (1%, up 0.5%) while support for Others is 0.5% (unchanged).
If a National Election were held now the latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows that the National party would regain Government for a third term.

And it's not just the party figures; New Zealanders are feeling very, very optimistic just at the moment; read on:

The latest NZ Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has jumped to 143pts (up 10pts) with 65% (up 4%) of New Zealanders saying New Zealand is ‘heading in the right direction’ compared to 22% (down 6%) that say New Zealand is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.

It's the confidence rating that is Labour's biggest hurdle now. When three times as many people think New Zealand is heading in the right direction than think it's not, where is the mandate for change? 

So as David Cunliffe, Russel Norman and Metiria Turei eat their hot cross buns and Easter eggs they will doubtless ponder this poll which came out as Parliament went into a school holiday recess. Sure, Roy Morgan polls tend to be all over the place, but after a string of poll disasters, it was the one skerrick of hope they had. Where do they turn now?

0 Armstrong on Labour's dilemma

John Armstrong paints a difficult picture as he sums up Labour's current electoral dilemma. Under the headline Labour steps over Greens to pick Peters he opines:

Having turned its caucus room in Parliament Buildings into a war room staffed almost around the clock by policy wonks, political strategists, experts in social media, plus assorted press secretaries - all in readiness for the coming general election - the Labour Party may find itself with another war on its hands before then. Or something close to it.
The "enemy" on this occasion will not be National. Neither will it be Act. Nor United Future. Nor Colin Craig's Conservatives. Nor even Kim Dotcom and his Internet Party.
No, this war will be of the internecine variety where the combatants all come from the same neck of the (political) woods.
It will have been sparked by the seemingly endless positioning and posturing ahead of September's election which will count for little in the aftermath. But this week it all turned ugly for the Greens. And things may yet get uglier still.

It may be that fate has decreed that the power struggle between Labour and the Greens takes centre stage at the worst possible time for the centre-left.
It may not come to open warfare. But the dismissive, almost contemptuous attitude displayed by David Cunliffe with regard to a supposed ally is bound to rankle deeply wherever Green Party members gather.
You can be assured there will be a response; that there will no longer be any scruples about upstaging Labour on the hustings.

Readers with good memories will remember how outraged Clare Curran was in 2011 that the Greens would DARE muscle in on Labour's vote. Yet that is exactly what Labour is now doing in reverse. To give the Greens credit, they campaign well, so any moves by Labour to steal votes from the Greens will not be met with silence and indifference.

Armstrong continues, noting that it is Labour which has caused this situation to develop and fester; something that the Greens have, up until now, been relatively patient about. But with an election just over five months away, time is short:

The Greens may put the stress on peace, love and understanding in the resolution of disputes. Their image may be more flower power than firepower.
But the closer the party gets to seats around the Cabinet table - and thus the exercising of real power and influence - the more the Greens are toughening up to cope with the pressures of being a coalition partner. They simply have to do so. And this week showed why.
Russel Norman, in particular, has shifted into a higher gear in terms of tenacity in both promoting and defending his party. He is now de facto leader rather than just co-leader. He grabs people's attention. And they listen. The same cannot be said for Labour's leader.
The Greens have been exceptionally patient with Labour in expectation that a centre-left victory in September will finally bring long-delayed reward.
They are acutely conscious, however, that time is running out and Labour has done precious little to fill the empty canvas on the centre-left which is Labour's failure to paint a picture in voters' minds as to how a Labour-Greens government would function and what its priorities would be.

When push comes to shove, and Labour needs the Greens in order to govern, you can bet that David Cunliffe will go to Russel and Metiria on bended knee, sincerely apologising for having ostracised them. But how will such an approach be met?

And then there's Winston Peters, not that a Labour/NZF grouping could even get close to governing on the current polling numbers. How does the Labour rank and file feel about Cunliffe climbing into bed with Winston Peters? Will they hold their noses, and pretend it isn't so?

The Left is divided at the moment, and there are no signs of division healing any time soon. Will voters risk a centre-Left coalition, knowing that at any moment it could all turn to custard? We think not.

David Cunliffe has some serious decisions to make; far more serious than his Royal tour pettiness.

0 An interesting poll...

The idea of a formal Labour-Green coalition has been floated this week. David Cunliffe quickly put the public kibbosh on it, without consulting his caucus.

Now whether, when push comes to shove, Mr Cunliffe will reconsider accept Russel and Metiria's marriage proposal is another matter altogether. We suspect he may. That however doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Yahoo has been polling on this issue. And at the moment, the polling suggests that Mr Cunliffe's initial response is the right one; check this out:

Nearly 16,000 people have expressed an opinion in this poll at the time of blogging. From our perspective it is pleasing that so few think a Labour-Green coalition government would be a good idea.We don't think it's a good idea either.