National Party climbs closer to record high in latest NZ opinion poll...

National Party climbs closer to record high in NZ opinion poll...

PM John Key

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Mark MitchellThe National Government's support has risen to near record levels while Labour's polling has fallen below the 30 per cent mark in a 3News poll reported last night.



According to the Reid Research poll, National's support was up 2.9 percentage points to 57.5 per cent, not far off the record 60 per cent it hit in the same poll two years ago.



Labour was down 3.8 percentage points to 27.1 per cent.



The Greens were down half a point to 7.7 per cent, NZ First down half a point to 2.8 per cent.



The Maori Party was up marginally at 2.5, and Act picked itself up off the floor, rising 1.1 points to 1.7 per cent, while United Future remained the cellar dweller at 0.2 per cent.



Labour also fared poorly by the preferred prime minister measure. As Prime Minister John Key rose a touch to 52.4 per cent, Phil Goff remained at 6.8 per cent.



Commenting on the result, Mr Key told 3News National was "very focused on the issues that matter to New Zealanders - they are in relation to the economy, the earthquake, law and order".



"The contrast between us and Labour is that Labour are focused on themselves."



Mr Goff, who in the past month has had to contend with the Darren Hughes affair, rumours of a leadership coup, and Damien O'Connor's criticism of the party's list selection process, acknowledged it had been "a couple of hard weeks in politics".



The poll questions 1000 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.



Acknowledgements: Adam Bennett/ MSN News

Simon Power quitting politics - Key losing touch with his party...

Image via Wikipedia

Labour questions Power's explanation for quitting politics - Key losing touch with his party.

The Labour Party leader is questioning whether problems within Cabinet are behind fourth-ranked minister Simon Power's decision to quit politics.

The MP for Rangitikei, who holds the justice, commerce and state-owned enterprises portfolios, says he wants to explore opportunities in the private sector.

Prime Minister John Key said he was stunned and flabbergasted when Mr Power told him he would stand down at the election. He said Mr Power had the potential to be leader of the National Party.

Labour leader Phil Goff says it's very unusual for a first-time minister with a high ranking to leave politics. He expressed doubts about the simple explanation being offered for Mr Power's announcement.

But Mr Power said through a spokesman that suggestions of a split in Cabinet are laughable. He said there had been no ructions in caucus or Cabinet with Mr Power and his colleagues were shocked about his decision.

He has had a gutsful of neanderthal fscists in the National Party.

Acknowledgements: © 2011, Radio New Zealand

Related articles

• Power resigning at election (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• John Armstrong: Key's ploy a dilemma for Labour (nzherald.co.nz)
• Which is the real Goff? (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Steve Jobs Knighthood nomination shot down by Gordon Brown: Ex- British PM opposed as Apple CEO refused an invite to Labour Party Conference? (devicemag.com)
• The essence of Irish Labour (politics.ie)
• Pat Rabbitte: Voters don 't want Labour to remain as wallflowers (politics.ie)
• Ehud Barak to quit Israeli Labour party (guardian.co.uk)
• NZ poll set after Rugby World cup (bbc.co.uk)
• Barak quits Israeli Labour party (ft.com)

National down in the polls - turning green...

Image via Wikipedia  Goodbye Anne Tolley.
Support for National down:


Support for National has taken a hit in the latest Colmar Brunton poll..

It's survey of over a thousand voters shows support for the National Party's dipped four points from last December to 51 per cent.

However its loss has been the Green Party's - and not Labour's - gain.

The Greens are up three and a half points to eight percent while Labour remains static on 33 per cent support.

The other mover is New Zealand First.

Its support has been increasing since August and is now at 3.6 six per cent, a half point rise since Christmas.

KR says:

NZ First received 4.5% at the last elections - they are nearly there again 9 mths out!

I don't think Labour is too concerned that the Greens have taken back some of their election vote. Labour has not lost any support. Labour will take seats from the Maori Party and South Island general electorate seats. Act will lose their only seat and into oblivion! Peter Dunne could also lose his seat to Labour. National is nearly gone already on paper. Add Anne Tolley to that list too!  And Labour still attracts a majority of potential  Maori voters.

National is losing the key to power!



Acknowledgements: © 2011 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles

• Maori support still with Labour - poll (nzherald.co.nz)
• National's support slips but it's still out on its own (nzherald.co.nz)
• Maori Party backers split about coalition (nzherald.co.nz)
• Hone: the people's verdict (nzherald.co.nz)
• Street poll backs Harawira (nzherald.co.nz)
• Only one poll counts but ... (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Is MMP good for wee parties? (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Poll: Most voters want to retain MMP (nzherald.co.nz)
• Five do battle for online audience measurement (mumbrella.com.au)
• Banks losing support among shareholders (news.theage.com.au)
• John Armstrong: Key's ploy a dilemma for Labour (nzherald.co.nz)
• MMP's support has shot up in a year (nzherald.co.nz)
• Distinguishing rogues (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Fine Gael: Themselves Alone... maybe, perhaps... never know... and what then of Labour? (cedarlounge.wordpress.com)

Key signals a focus on welfare beneficiaries return to work - but where are the jobs says Goff...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
PM John Key signals the future of welfare delivery in NZ  -  focus on a return to work - but where are the jobs says Goff.? Over 700 jobs are being lost every week.

Changes to the way welfare is delivered are on the government's agenda this year, with the focus on getting beneficiaries back into work.

Prime Minister John Key signalled the government's intentions in his statement to parliament yesterday, saying having more than 220,000 children in benefit-reliant households was not good enough.

While his comments about the future of the public service gained most attention, Key also focused on welfare in his scene-setting statement on parliament's first day.

"New Zealand should be proud to be a country with a social welfare system that looks after its most vulnerable citizens and that supports people when they can't find work, are ill or aren't able to work," he said.

"But we should be ashamed that others remain on a benefit for years even though work is available to them."

Key said the government was waiting for the final report of the Welfare Working Group and anticipated changes in three main areas.

The first would be changes to better support beneficiaries with children back into paid employment "and to ensure they are fulfilling their responsibilities to their children", he said.

The second would be new approaches to better support sickness and invalid beneficiaries into work, and the third would be new approaches that ensured young people had the skills to avoid the benefit system.

The bottom line was "if you can work, you should work".

Key's commitment to a leaner, more efficient public service was a clear signal that there will be more mergers and staff cuts this year and it drew a response from the Public Service Association (PSA).

"Three years ago John Key promised there would be no wholesale restructuring of the public sector, no cuts to public services and that tax cuts would not come at their expense," said PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff.

"The National government has done all of the above. It's time it admitted it's not working."

Labour MP Grant Robertson, who was Labour's state services spokesman until last week's reshuffle, said wholesale changes often didn't deliver the benefits some people thought were going to be achieved.

"We have already seen 2000 jobs go in the public sector and that is starting to have an impact on the kind of services that are going to be offered," he said.

"Further cuts mean further reductions in the quality of services."

Roberston said it was very difficult to deliver more at less cost, as Key was promising.

"The public sector has been pared back significantly, there are fewer people working in it than there was even in 1990," he said.

"We're in a position now where I believe the quality of service is in danger."

Labour leader Phil Goff asks where the jobs are.

Related articles

• Key pledges state service shake-up (nzherald.co.nz)
• Public sector facing further cuts (nzherald.co.nz)
• John Armstrong : More public sector cuts? Quelle surprise (nzherald.co.nz)
• The Big Society: innovation or slogan? (independent.co.uk)
• Key had urged pay freeze for MPs (nzherald.co.nz)
• Public Sector Unions Are Different (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Capping public sector pay will be a mistake. (politics.ie)
• Editorial: Election-year roadblock for welfare change (nzherald.co.nz)

Key doesn't fit the National Party lock...

Image via WikipediaJohn key appears to be out of line with the philosophy of the ruling National Party in New Zealand. key claims that National will not , if re-elected next year, raise the eligibility age for National Superannuation to 67 years over the next few years. Yeah right!

The colourful Winston Peters, leader of the NZ First Party who were routed and kicked out of parliament at the last elections, returned to the House to give evidence to a committee considering a report that wants the eligibility age increased to 67 years eventually, because the country could not sustain a National Super from 65 years. Peters claims the country can and should continue to afford it.

While in power, Labour began its Cullen scheme of virtually prepaying a certain percentage of National Super funds each year by investing them overseas. Some say a certain percentage should also be invested in the domestic economy too. This would be in line with the compulsory NZ Super scheme of the former Labour Government in 1974 which invested locally. Robert Muldoon arbitarily and illegally forced employers to stop deducting their employees contributions when he was elected in 1975.

Perhaps a return to the Labour compulsory scheme of 1974 would be of benefit to the NZ economy. A scheme similar to that of Australia who has billions of dollars invested locally from their scheme.

Related articles

• Key: Poll predicting Peters' return not credible (nzherald.co.nz)
• First-term MP to replace Wong (nzherald.co.nz)
• NZ First conference this weekend (nzherald.co.nz)
• Poll puts NZ First back in contention (nzherald.co.nz)
• PM urged to take Finlayson off foreshore duties (nzherald.co.nz)

So the Mana by-election was a victory for the Gnats - haha...

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeSo the Mana by-election was a victory for the Gnats - haha...

It was always going to be difficult for the Labour candidate Kris Faafoi, he was unknown and up against a seasoned candidate in Hekia Parata.Nobody was going to replace Winnie Laban in a hurry. Her sudden decision to leave politics has never really been discussed.

There were a couple of other good candidates standing which pulled votes off the Labour candidate. But he won and won by over a thousand votes. About 47% of voters bothered to vote, remembering it was postal voting too, which does not guarantee people to vote.

He will triple his majority at next years general elections and double that three years later.

I don't think that Phil Goff had too much an influence on the result; but his inability to find some traction is of concern to the Labour Party.

Labour won and the Gnats came second. Next years general elections will be determined also by the re-emergence of New Zealand First who received 4.5% of the vote at the last elections. I expect Rodney Hide to be defeated, the Maori Party to decline because of their association with National, the Greens to increase their percentage of votes, and New Zealand First to poll at least 5% of the vote. If they go with Labour and the Greens it will be goodbye nurse despite whatever Labour was showing in the pre-election polls. And who cares how popular John key may still be - he may well be a popular political corpse!

Related articles

• "Mana by-election" and related posts (tumeke.blogspot.com)
• "Labour's mistake in Mana almost cost them the 2011 election" and related posts (tumeke.blogspot.com)
• Labour's Kris Faafoi wins Mana by-election (nzherald.co.nz)
• PM sets Mana by-election date (nzherald.co.nz)
• Mana throws up jubilant losers and defiant winners (nzherald.co.nz)

Labour announces child poverty plan - what has National got to offer?...

Image via Wikipedia

Labour announces child poverty plan...

A six year initiative to tackle child poverty in New Zealand is being proposed by the Labour Party.

The Labour Party has unveiled plans to cut child poverty.

Deputy Labour Party Leader, Annette King, has told the party conference, child poverty is unfinished business for Labour.

Ms King says they have a six year plan, that puts children at the centre of investment in social service delivery. She told NewstalkZB, "When you're dealing with children, you can't deal with one aspect, we're looking at what you need to do in health, housing and early childhood education."

Annette King isn't saying how much it will cost , but says they have crunched the numbers and will reveal it before the election.

What does the National Party government have to offer?

Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles

• Labour promises bold new policies (nzherald.co.nz)
• Labour looking to 'positive parenting' as way out of welfare (nzherald.co.nz)

Latest NZ Political Poll: Cold shower for labour - what does it mean?

Image via Wikipedia

The latest political poll still shows a huge advantage for National - what does it mean?




Latest NZ Political Poll: Cold Shower For Labour  - what does it mean? Indeed! NZ First could prove to be the giant killer if it receives 5% or more at the next election. John Key would be well advised to give this some consideration. Phil Goff could be a New Zealand version of Julia Gillard in Australia. Just imagine National with 45% and Labour putting a coalition government together with a total  of 55% .

It would  take more than slickness and a silly smile for National to survive in power. He would then have to stand down and hand over the leadership to Bill English, earlier than he intends to do if National wins next year.



The poll results:


Labour leader Phil Goff grudgingly admitted this week John Key is a “slick operator.” In damning his opponent with faint praise Goff was seeking to explain Key’s popularity, as distinct from his own lack of it. The latest TVNZ-Colmar Brunton poll rated Key at 48% against Goff’s 8%, suggesting even some Labour supporters prefer Key as PM to the Opposition leader. Given Goff has been in Parliament for 26 years, 15 of them as Minister, his rating remains a conundrum his party may have to wrestle with for some time. Opposition MPs had been confident the public was becoming disenchanted with the Govt because of the prospective GST rise, plans to mine the conservation estate and the re-opening of the foreshore & seabed issue.







But the Colmar-Brunton sampling gave them a cold shower. National support is still around 54%, which indicated it has bounced up from the Roy Morgan poll earlier in the month, a track followed by National’s own polling. Labour remained static at 33%, and the gap is so large it adds to pressure on Labour’s hierarchy to find new answers which differentiate it not only from National, but from the legacy of the Clark Govt. Given Jim Anderton is getting set to leave Parliament (possibly to contest the Christchurch mayoralty), the Green Party has lost its greenest champion in Jeanette Fitzsimons, Winston Peters has joined the grey brigade, thousands of votes may be looking for a fresh home at the next election. But Labour in its present shape doesn’t look capable of capturing them.


KR says:


What does this poll really mean? Labour has basically stood still. National goes up and down a bit in percentages. What has never been considered since the last elections is the 4.5% that NZ First received, but failied to win any electorate seats. When MMP is reconsidered in a few years, the coat-tail gains through an electorate seat should be scrapped.  A party which fails to gain 5% of the vote should only receive  what it gains in electorate seats. This should apply to any party. Act would only have one seat under that formula and the Maori Party would still have what it gained through electorate success - five seats.


Please go to: http://peter-petterson.blogspot.com/ The latest poll!

National Puts Kiwi Supergold Free Travel Scheme At Risk Again...

Image via Wikipedia

National Puts Kiwi Supergold Card Free Travel Scheme At Risk Again...




 The possibility that pensioners in Dunedin may have to pay for what have been free bus trips under the SuperGold Card free travel scheme shows National can't be trusted to keep the scheme going anywhere, says Labour transport spokesperson Darren Hughes.



"Grey Power has every reason to be fearful of a report in the Otago Daily Times today that says the Transport Ministry has told the Otago Regional Council it wants to cut the SuperGold Card bus subsidy from 75 percent of the adult fare to 65 percent," Darren Hughes.



"Grey Power knows how important it is to keep the pressure on John Key's National Government over this issue.



"Since March this year, when Transport Minister Steven Joyce seemed to suggest consultation was starting on a review of the scheme, Grey Power has been left in no doubt how slippery National is on this issue," Darren Hughes said.



"As soon as National realised at that time how angry pensioners were, it quickly backtracked, of course.



"Steven Joyce lamely and unconvincingly tried to explain that his media release might have been confusing --- and that he was never really talking about eligibility, but just about getting a better deal from transport operators," Darren Hughes said.



"Now, six months after John Key asked people to watch his lips, and promised that the scheme would not be cut back, the Transport Ministry, no doubt acting on Mr Joyce's instructions, is trying to back the Otago Regional Council into a corner where it is forced to try to screw more funding from bus companies.



"Steven Joyce's office says nothing has yet been approved by the cabinet, but who can trust National given what was first said in March, and given what Steven Joyce tried to fudge a few days later," Darren Hughes said.



"Otago Regional Council is not making this up. Nor is the newspaper making it up. Nor is the Transport Ministry making it up.



"Grey Power knows that, and that's why it smells treachery.



"The problem that National is finding is that when you start being slippery on an issue, people stop trusting you," Darren Hughes said

Related articles by Zemanta

• List MPs put their $40,932 elsewhere (nzherald.co.nz)
• Nat MPs might get conscience vote (nzherald.co.nz)
• Big majority for lower alcohol limit (nzherald.co.nz)
• Call for driving courses (nzherald.co.nz)

Was Chris Carter right - Phil Goff is not the right man to lead Labour...

Image via Wikipedia

One has to really feel for Labour MP Chris Carter. What a stupid thing he did writing eo rgw mwsia in a self addressed envelope which revealed his identity.

Now about the comments he made about Labour leader, Phil Goff. Was Chris right about Goff's ability as leader and an alternative prime minister to lead New Zealand? At this stage I would have to agree with Chris Carter, Phil Goff is not the right man - but who else? David Cunliffe? With some leadership experience I would say yes.

David told me on Facebook that Labour's leadership was all decided and supported by the caucus through to the next election. Mmmmm! But things and times change!

We know what National intends to do after the elections, sort of. There will be some form of privatisation of state assets or government departments. Some PPP's, most likely in education.

What we need is a leader who will come out and state that all privatisation will be reversed; only compensation will be at original cost! The old fashioned re-nationalisation! If Key and his cronies know this, they will be very careful setting up PPP's and other privatisation programs.

So we will finish the way we started - was Chris Carter right about Phil Goff not being the right man to lead Labour? And I would have to agree with him at this stage.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Carter sacked for Goff coup letter (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• "Chris Carter is a bloody idiot and why Goff can win in 2011" and related posts (tumeke.blogspot.com)
• Carter, Jones and Ririnui (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• National and Maori (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - June 14 (reuters.com)
• Is Phil Goff and Labour finally coming in from the cold... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Goff on Auckland (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• "Goff's Daughter caught by Aussie Drug paranoia" and related posts (tumeke.blogspot.com)
• Carter defiant and calls for a new leader (kiwiblog.co.nz)

NZ Opposition MP's staged walkout in protest against National chairwoman...

Image via Wikipedia

Opposition MPs staged a walkout at a parliamentary committee today in a protest against the undemocratic conduct of the chairwoman, National MP Sandra Goudie.


Labour MPs Clayton Cosgrove, Rick Barker and Carmel Sepuloni and Green MP David Clendon walked out of the law and order select committee.



Mr Cosgrove said the walkout was a protest at Ms Goudie's conduct.



It was the "culmination of 18 months in which she had refused to respect the democratic role of Opposition MPs to ask questions and challenge government departments", he said.



Mr Cosgrove said Ms Goudie should study the way other committee chairs worked, specifically National's Chester Borrows who was "unfailingly polite" and seemed to want Opposition MPs to contribute to the democratic process.



"It's a matter of giving everyone a fair go."



Mr Cosgrove said he would write to Speaker Lockwood Smith about Ms Goudie's undemocratic behaviour.



Acknowledgemts:  - NZPA

Related articles by Zemanta

• Labour Can't Fill Select Committee Posts (iaindale.blogspot.com)
• Select committee elections: Margaret Hodge offers Labour spending inquiry (guardian.co.uk)
• Letters: John McDonnell will inspire leader debate (guardian.co.uk)
• Two Lib Dem MPs vote against VAT rise (libdemvoice.org)

Three strikes becomes law - but what about John key and his cronies...

Image via Wikipedia

Three strikes becomes law - but what about John Key and his cronies...




Legislation to remove eligibility for parole for the worst repeat violent offenders has passed through parliament, 63 votes to 58



The controversial three strikes legislation has passed through parliament, 63 votes to 58.



It removes eligibility for parole for the worst repeat violent offenders and imposes maximum terms of imprisonment for people who repeatedly commit crimes.



Police Minister Judith Collins says it ensures the worst repeat violent criminals have less chance to re-offend and sends a message that parole is a privilege, not a right.



Forty serious offences have been named that are punishable by a maximum of seven years prison or more.



There has been much opposition to the bill, with Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party all saying it will do nothing to stop offending.


Who are the worst offenders:  the criminals out there or those ratbags on the government benches?









Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles by Zemanta

• Accused in Sask. slaying was denied parole (cbc.ca)
• Sex offender held for San Diego-area knife attacks (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Supreme Court Bans Life Without Parole for Teens Who Haven't Killed (abcnews.go.com)
• US supreme court repeals no-parole laws for children serving life (guardian.co.uk)
• Chelsea's Law: No Money Down, $54 Million Due In 2030 For Sexual Predators (themoderatevoice.com)
• Parole board warned man charged in murder would reoffend (canada.com)
• Letters: The Young Are Different, Justices Rule (nytimes.com)
• Napa sex offender jailed over 2-day crime spree (sfgate.com)
• Violent parolees go unsupervised under Calif. law (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• State lawmaker proposes stricter penalties on sex offenders (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• What the 2010 budget means for kiwis and their families... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Anzac Day tragedy - helicopter crash kills three people in Wellington, NZ... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• 1 reviews of Three Strikes Law (Multiple States) (rateitall.com)
• No More White Pages For New York? (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• New legislation in New Zealand will crack down on young drivers... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Sensis Cites Big Markets, Economy in Print Slide (domainmacher.com)

National is a one term government but...

National is - should be a one term government. It has renegued on its only real policy - tax cuts! It is making a hash of everything else as this inexperienced and inept group of politicians blunders from one crisis to the next.

Its only saving grace is that the opposition Labour Party lacks leadership since Helen Clark and Michael Cullen gave Labour and the country the flick.

If there is an alternative to blundering 'FIll In' Phil Goff it needs to come forward now, because National has signalled it will return to privatisation in a new and real way in its second term.

New Zealand needs that leadership now! It will have enough time to gain experience and public exposure. If it leaves it too late, National may be tempted to call an early election to stymie any future Labour plans!

Employers have been exploiting workers in this fashion for ever...

CTU says employers hiring contractors to exploit loophole in law which allows less than minimum wage to be paid. They have been doing it for years and nine years of a Labour-led government didn't change it - do you really believe National will do anything about it? Yeah right!

The Council of Trade Unions claims employers are using contracting arrangements to get around paying the statutory minimum wage rates to people doing work such as leaflet delivery.

The CTU has contributed to the redrafting of a bill that will be debated in Parliament today aimed at closing the loophole.

Secretary Peter Conway says the downturn in the labour market has seen an increase in subcontracting work.

"The minimum wage is a really important protection and this loophole allows people to be employed as contractors and their piece rate does not add up to effectively the minimum wage. So we'd like to see that loophole closed."

Mr Conway says some businesses are evading the law concerning minimum wages by farming out low-skilled work to individual contractors who have little or no choice about work available to them.



Acknowledgement:
© 2009 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Thanks for the Labour memories, Helen, Michael and Jim...

With Helen Clark gone, and now Michael Cullen, the leadership of the Labour-led Government of nine years has gone. Jim Anderton is just a back bencher of a one man band. Phil Gough, new Labour leader, is facetiously described as just "filling in".

Times have changed; deteriorating economic conditions can do that to a government who defeated Don Brash three years ago when he thought victory was inevitable.

John Key,(who?)seems so unchallengeable, but National is in the same situation as Labour was for nine years - a two man band with a number of support crew!

But the difference is National won't and can't last for six years, let alone nine years, and maybe no more than three!

The economic tsunami will wash John Key away eventually, and maybe Bill the English Speaker may survive, and maybe he will get washed away just like Johnny Kash!

By then Labour's next generation will have been decided and blooded, but it will be a long time before they can produce anybody remotely of the stature or class of Helen Clark. New Zealand will be so much the poorer for her absence, but maybe the world will benefit in some other direction.

Thenk you Helen, and you too Michael and Jim. Thanks for those two good terms of government, especially the first when you led New Zealand back from the brink of social disaster and to economic sanity. Thanks for the memories. New Zealand will thank you three too in time to come. Bye for now!

Makes political sense to use a political loophole if you ask me...

I haven't read the booklet yet, but it makes commonsense to use a loophole in the law if there is one. We are fighting an election for the political souls of New Zealanders:

A legal expert believes Labour has made smart use of a loophole in the electoral law.

The party has issued around 64,000 booklets for people aged over 60, which give advice about government entitlements and the impact of this year's tax cuts on the pension.

Associate Professor of Law Andrew Geddis from Otago University says the electoral law still allows MPs to communicate with their constituents.

"Labour has just chosen to do that around election time to remind everybody of what their MPs are doing. If they had used the word 'Labour' or they'd even used the colour red, that may have fallen foul of the election spending rules."

Mr Geddis says the way Labour has crafted the pamphlets means the money spent on them is kept outside the Electoral Finance Act rules.

But National is accusing Labour of dipping its finger back in the public purse in a bid to round up votes.

MP Gerry Brownlee claims the booklets are a twisting of the rules. He says the intention is to have the candidate photograph sitting on the coffee table with the subliminal message that they should be voted for.

Labour was caught out at the last election for spending $800,000 on its pledge card.



Compliments:
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Helen Clark has announced the NZ elections on NOvember 8 2008 - and "Clueless" John Key wouldn't have a clue...

Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, has announced that the New Zealand parliamentary elections will be held on November 8 2008.

And John Key the "Clueless" Leader of the opposition wouldn't have a clue. Talk about the Emperor having no clothes; that is the understatement of the century!

The latest polls that continue to see National moving ahead are not really worth the money it costs to run them. Actually Labour has only lost 2 pts since the last poll, and as Helen Clark said, if that is the worst thing that can happen with the fallout from the Winston Peters episode, then nobody should worry too much.

Well it is onwards and upwards from now on. Rally the troops and drive the "Clueless Sassanachs" back to the swamps they emerged from. LOL