I'm certainly going to be interested how Cullen intends to pay for all these major new policies Helen's promising — along with whacking great tax cuts --, out of an "empty kitty". And much the same questions should be put to Bill English.

Agreed – I'd like to think that…

"You don't want a gambler and short-term money market player who will risk billions and billions of dollars. We are seeing in the United States the consequences of that kind of mentality unfolding right now"

Which is still absurd political OTTness but a little more…

Meanwhile...

As I've said elsewhere you could perhaps argue that all those acolytes who claim that "Key has run a global finance operation so can run the economy" should perhaps consider the very different risk profiles and implications between the global finance world and a political economy – as evidenced…

1, 2, 3... 4. I'm just saying Craig.

Hey, next you'll be telling me a thumb is a finger. But I'm generally doing OK if I can reconcile my bank statement with the wad of receipts in the wallet, so what do you want! :)

And three more: Bank of New Zealand?

1, 2, 3... 4. I'm just saying Craig.

But yes, sounds like Cullen is drawing a ridiculously long bow.

In an early sign the campaign could focus on personal attacks, Cullen lost no time in attacking Key, appearing to blame him for the worldwide collapse of his former bank, Merrill Lynch.

"Given his background and the fact that Merrill Lynch has just gone belly up, I would have…

on behalf of Grannies other braindead, asswupped, drones, can I just say...

bwahahahahahahah.

Shut up, Agent 69 or I'm going to put ten thousand volts through your VRWC mind control chip. You have been warned – now get back to work on that hard hitting investigation into John Key visiting…

bwahahahahahahah.

As she assembled her cabinet and made other state appointments ... a new pattern became clear. She surrounded herself with people she has known since grade school and members of her church.

I'm painting with a broad brush here, but sometimes I feel like American government completely missed out on…

If you ask me, it has nothing but a populist bias — people like to bitch about the Gummint, and…

I don't want the Herald to reflect Wishart's extremism. Never said that, and putting words in my mouth makes you look more than a little desperate. You can do so…

Too much of this, makes me wonder how the hell a Palin-McCain Administration would react to a rough couple of news cycles, or a disobliging Democratic Congress. Not pretty.

There's some golden "couldn't make this shit up" stuff in that article that Craig linked to:

So when there was a…

It's the Greens environmental policies, I find a tad questionable at times rather than there social justice philosophy.

I like one of David Haywood's early guest posts in which he discovers to his surprise that "The Green's energy policy is by far the most detailed, comprehensive, and well-considered of any…

And, I'd want to be wearing my beige, retro, polyester suit, in acknowledgment of Lovelock's Gaia theory.

Now that *is* a reasonable example of pseudo-religious environmentalism. Which isn't to say that those of us who prefer a more rationalist worldview haven't borrowed the good parts and called it Earth Systems…

Absa-fragging-loutely. And, once again, David Frum brings the reality to the right:

John McCain caught Sarah Palin at the rising part of her career arc. She had been governor for not two years. She dusted away a lot of incumbents who needed to be dusted. Her original proposals for…

There's argument, there's discussion and there's point scoring. Craig, It think you're brilliant and witty, but sometimes you can be a political Trekkie and I like neither Kirk nor Picard (Adama on the other hand...).

I think I'd take that as a compliment, though I'm rather short of nuclear weapons…

Denise Roche is the Greens candidate for Auckland Central. She's also on the Auckland City Council, representing the Hauraki Gulf ward.

We're running a Party Vote campaign. We stand in electorates because that's the most effective way of engaging with voters during an election campaign, not…

That's an easy question that I'll attempt to answer in 8,000 words or less.

Thank you for that, Giovanni. I was born here, but my grandparents weren't, so there's not much depth to my family history here. I'm quite conscious of not feeling solidly grounded here – which probably has…

Actually I'm off to watch telly. Less…

Craig, when the Harold offers equal opportunity handjobs like the fulsome one it gave Johnny boy, we can have a conversation. I'm not going to waste my time for now, either.

Meh. I never read the full thing, so can't comment if it was a handjob or not. But equal…

Craig, when the Harold offers equal opportunity handjobs like the fulsome one it gave Johnny boy, we can have a conversation. I'm not going to waste my time for now, either.

And Helen Clark's never had her face all over a puff piece in her career. Give me a bloody…

Sue Bradford: standing between me and Sue Kedgley and not voting for the Greens.

Heh, almost for me. I have a lot of respect for Sue Bradford and all she's managed to accomplish, but Kedgley represents the rabidly anti-science aspect of some environmentalism that struck me very poorly during the…

Or when the evidence is against you, old bean. :)

Um, what "evidence" is that, Sacha? Oh, I've seen something I don't like in the Herald, therefore they're biased. It's tiresome coming from the right wingnuts — who are equally confused about the difference between assertion and argument — and…

However, the Herald has displayed a bias over the last couple of years which is readily apparent to many of us (not just because we don't agree with the content), so you're wasting your breath trying to say it goes both ways. It doesn't.

*sigh* I'm not even going to…

Battling the entrenched business interests who own the media is not a new phenomena for the left in N.Z.

Oh God... this is almost as much fun as reading the usual suspects on the right claim that Charlie Gibson's hardly penetrating interview with Sarah Palin was a vicious attack you…

Nice blog, Giovanni.

Giovanni, I wonder how long you've been in nz?

Eleven years next month.

And whether you find it unsettled, tenuous – like a young tree with shallow roots, compared to Italy? Do you think the quality of collective memory in Italy,being such an historic, much layered, long-settled place, is quite…

However, the Herald has displayed a bias over the last couple of years which is readily apparent to many of us (not…

But what is clear is that the Herald's coverage cannot be taken as a neutral, near objective angle. And I think that's obvious to anyone paying attention.

Oh, balls. I'm sorry to have to keep repeating this but reading something you find disobliging is not signs of "media bias". Do…

Clark as the victim of media bias here?

I don't think so Craig. The Herald has gone into campaign mode earlier than in 2005 due to the Electorial Finance Act which, I think anyone might agree, their has been some inaccurate reporting of in the paper. But Labour won 2005.…

No affiliated to any party..yeah right, pity the facts got in the way of a good story

Auckland computer programmer Rochelle Rees told the Herald on Sunday she emailed friends a year ago, asking them to put links on their websites to Key's site with the word "clueless" as the link text.

"More than…

As for that Herald article "announcing the election", funnily enough, I skipped over it on Friday, since somehow "Key promises 'issues' election" didn't give me the impression that it was a story about the PM announcing the date.

Oh come on, are you seriously going to try and "Palin" Clark…

(My guess: the hectoring dolphin).

Ha! She was once a sultry feminist in the 70s.

Giovanni, I wonder how long you've been in nz? And whether you find it unsettled, tenuous – like a young tree with shallow roots, compared to Italy? Do you think the quality of collective memory…

Except for Sue Kedgley – never one to pass up on an opportunity to suck all the innocent fun out of life – who answered "I certainly wouldn't want to be a battery hen..." followed by a short lecture on the wretched life of the poor creatures.

Sue Kedgley: standing…

How about The Greens:

The Greens greet hens, I think there is no question there.

A month or so ago a Wellington community paper asked the local candidates what animals they'd like to be, or would best represent their personality, and the responses were all more or less lamely humorous,…

a united future party:

Putrid Farty Tune, aue!

Anal arty point.

Purrfect!

How about The Greens:

Gents here

Interesting contrast, don't you think? Labour might actually want…

Pity National party didn't have an "F"

"Dice 2 kiwis and place of top" (of some kind of tart thing)

I felt sick even as the little mental wheels were churning and coming up with 'They mean frruit! Really!'

Fad Tenuity Rupture
Funerary Tepid Tutu
Denature Purify Tut.

If that's not the essence of Peter Dunne right there, I don't know what is.

an entirely fanciful solution to The Schleswig-Holstein Question

A strip of Holstein 100m wide and crossing the peninsula to be ceded to New Zealand. The viceroyalty of this will be given as a bauble to the junior coalition partner in any NZ government. They will be able to build a…

You do protest too much, Craig. It was just wishful thinking.

Meh... always the wing-nut's excuse, isn't it? The problem isn't that I've said something stupid, but that you need to lighten up blah blah blah... Coddingstonwallop.

But I don't apologise for getting a wee bit pissed off about Geoff making cracks about vandalising hoardings under cover of darkness.

You do protest too much, Craig. It was just wishful thinking. I used to regard the skillful removal of over-sized election billboards as a gesture of public beautification…

I don't know of any Brits who think of themselves as British. They are English,Scottish, Welsh or Ulstermen. In any case, if Brit is an insult, it is a pretty lame one.

Precisely my point. If asked 'what nationality are you?' the answer would be 'English', 'Welsh', Scottish', or whatever.…

Seriously, the way those warty assemblages of 2x4 and posterboard spring up like mushrooms scares and offends me every election season.

I know that this was posted hours ago, but I agree! Driving home tonight I saw billboards for Richard Worth – he must be serious about winning Epsom back.…

Possibly they associate it with being a bit "fruity" (an wholly amorphous term if ever there was one), on account of kiwifruit generally being known as "kiwis" overseas ?

I'm running a very small-scale campaign to change that. Annoys the hell out of me when friends overseas call the fruit…

Well actually it does matter who wins the election if you agree that the “Nats” job is same as it ever was-redistributing wealth upstairs.

The indicators speak–minimum wage frozen 1991-4, $1 increase over 9 years under Nat led governments vs. 70% increase since 1999 under Labour led governments. Repeat for…

If not, expect an uptick among annelids after 'common sense' arises in the leaders' debates.

Sorry Tim – bit previous there. Came in late. No other excuse.

Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

Probably about ten seconds after he mentions 'common sense'.

Actually, it occurred to me that it doesn't matter that much who wins here, in that we'll still have a modern economy run along conventional lines by people who aren't total nutjobs.

Hey Russell! What about the workers?

Golly, we're going to tax cuts for Africa personally funded by candidates at this rate. :)

Thus neatly solving the dilemma of our under-funding (by GDP-based measures) of foreign aid, no?

It was leaked accidentally by The Standard Blog:

Sorry to burst your bubble, PA, but by your logic Kiwiblog is closer to the PM than The Standard.

My tutorial students were surprised to find that I don't regard 'Kiwi' as insulting, and nor do any NZers, so far as I know.

Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

S'funny, cos I don't actually know any Brits…

http://darrenrickard.blogspot.com/2008/09/breaking-news-election-day-date.html

It was leaked accidentally by The Standard Blog:

http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=2995

I cant wait for the big day :)

Over there, on the other hand ... I worry that there might be a nutjob a heartbeat away from the big job.

Nut job? Et Tu Russell? Another sexist smear from the Liberal Media Elite? For shame!

;-)

You mean, apart from being a blind chook with a big arse?

You could try a little lipstick with that...

Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

You mean, apart from being a blind chook with a big arse?

No, I'm going to vote for the first party that comes up with an entirely fanciful solution to The Schleswig-Holstein Question.

Well, you're pretty stuffed then, because the three people who reputedly understood the question have long since shuffled off this mortal coil

Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

Possibly they associate it with being a bit "fruity" (an wholly amorphous term if ever there was one), on account of kiwifruit generally being known as "kiwis" overseas ?

Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

$2 every time a politician claims to know what I think on an issue because I have children, and $5 if it's the exact opposite of what I actually believe.

Golly, we're going to tax cuts for Africa personally funded by candidates at this rate. :)

"Brit" is semi-insulting

Who knew?

Thanks Deborah, you're better than me at explaining IT stuff.

No worries. I think it's just that I'm gifted... at pedantry. :-)

"A Kiwi eats roots shoots & leaves-"

I have a late 1970s t-shirt that sayeth so...

$2 every time a politician claims to know what I think on an issue because I have children, and $5 if it's the exact opposite of what I actually believe.

And if any of your children play soccer, you can throw the term soccer mum into that particular mix and…

and $2 in the jar every time they appeal to “ordinary kiwis”

$5 anytime a member of a political party that is not National (or United Future, just to be safe) uses the phrase "mainstream New Zealanders".

$2 every time a politician claims to know what I think on an…

while UKian is an stupid web-head construct

It also sounds like a race in a sci-fi TV series.

But then, I'm from the UK. There isn't actually an accepted word for us.

At least bulldogs are kind of cool. I look at a Kiwi and just think I'd fail a liver function test... :(

It would also be nice if Agenda wasn't trumpeting using post-grad students (and I hope TVNZ is paying them) to do basic political legwork in an election season.

Haven’t you been watching Craig?

It’s the (paid) media who have spent the last year in an orchestrated campaign to ruin Winston’s…

...commonsense solutions to the problems they face every day?"

No, I'm going to vote for the first party that comes up with an entirely fanciful solution to The Schleswig-Holstein Question. So there!

A…

"What New Zealanders reallywant is...

...commonsense solutions to the problems they face every day?"

]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:22:21 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-now-its-on/?p=69290#post69290 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-now-its-on/?p=69290#post69290 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:19:36 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-now-its-on/?p=69289#post69289 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-now-its-on/?p=69289#post69289

I'm still trying to figure out what message you're sending by colloquially describing the people of your nation with the name of a near-extinct nocturnal bird that resembles a distended liver with an upholstery needle poking out the end.

Isn't it about "eats, roots and leaves" ? ;)

Seriously, I…

…and $2 in the jar every time they appeal to “ordinary kiwis”

$5 anytime a member of a political party that is not National (or United Future, just to be safe) uses the phrase "mainstream New Zealanders".

As a journalist of course I'd much prefer our respective organisations had the ability to have people on the ground, everywhere, and all the time to cover this campaign.

It would also be nice if Agenda wasn't trumpeting using post-grad students (and I hope TVNZ is paying them) to do…

Well, we don't want to burden (let alone hire and properly resource) journalists or camera crews with any fucking work, do we? Not after we blew the budget sending a troop of barely house-trained monkeys to Beijing to make fools of themselves.

As a journalist of course I'd much prefer…

Do kiwis actually work hard?

I'm still trying to figure out what message you're sending by colloquially describing the people of your nation with the name of a near-extinct nocturnal bird that resembles a distended liver with an upholstery needle poking out the end.

Do kiwis actually work hard?

Yes, but only at night. I'm looking forward to an appeal to kiwifruit – they promote regularity.

Jokes just don't work when you have to explain them...

google.co.nz

check 'search pages from New Zealand'

type in clueless

Hit 'I'm feeling lucky.'

Worked for me...

Thanks Deborah, you're better than me at explaining IT stuff.

Campaign Cliche Count: the first in an occasional series

Oooh... I've got one! Unless bird of the genusApteryx got the right to vote when I wasn't looking, dollar in the swear jar everytime a politician appeals to "Kiwis"?

Don't forget Maurice.

Well, Mallard back on the front bench if Labour gets a fourth term?

"The reality is ..."

Winston Peters 43 John Key 37

The talk-back callers and blog-crawlers whom National is so willing to unleash upon its enemies represent the obverse face of New Zealand conservatism. The smiling, cheerful and – most importantly, fresh – face…

I'll be sick and bleating if our new Government includes Gerry Brownlee, Nick Smith, Tony Ryall, Lockwood Smith . . . arghhhh! I can't go on!

Don't forget Maurice.

google.co.nz

check 'search pages from New Zealand'

type in clueless

Hit 'I'm feeling lucky.'

Worked for me...

"The Prime Minister says this will be an election about who you can trust – she is right. United Future, as the voice of the silent majority, will keep the next government on track, allowing it to earn that trust."

The evil of banality. (Hat tip to John Ralston Saul…

No, as I said, tick "I feel lucky". Make sure it's "clueless" with a small c and you use quote marks.

Google searches aren't case sensitive, even if you put quotation marks.

I got imdb. I presume you mean tick "Pages from New Zealand" before you do that.
Or you're an unusually keen fan of Alicia Silverstone :>

No, as I said, tick "I feel lucky". Make sure it's "clueless" with a small c and you use quote marks.

Make sure to…

If anyone's in the vicinity, could you be a dear and pop down and throttle him for me?

Sorry, I've already got my hands full with the commentators.

How about a new drinking game? You can only have a slug when one of the Interpreters For Idiots tells you something…

In a new segment called "Fact Finder" each week the post-graduate students, under the direction of Senior Lecturer, Dr Jennifer Curtin, will research statements made by politicians during the campaign and investigate…

Something else to factor in: Ron…

But try not to muss the hair!

You're kidding me? I'm Italian. We know how it's done.

f anyone's in the vicinity, could you be a dear and pop down and throttle him for me?

On my way.

But try not to muss the hair!

United Future, as the voice of the silent majority, will keep the next government on track, allowing it to earn that trust."

If anyone's in the vicinity, could you be a dear and pop down and throttle him for me?

Far out, we need to start the drinking game already?…

"Agenda" Links Up With University

Right-o — so that will be around 90 seconds on Sunday morning? How about hooking Agenda up with a decent timeslot, say one less brain-deadening visit with Mark Sainsbury a week (and no, Corrie fans, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the…

Just like to point out that the "posted time" on a story on the Herald site is not necessarily a reliable indicator of its availability.

Oooh! Website smackdown!

iirc, there was a few lines from their staff, then something more like a story. I'm pretty sure Stuff was there first…

sounds like the Greens won't be of any use to me in that task.

Just realised that sounds a lot more aggressive than I intended! Simply meant that if the Green candidates are not seriously running for local representation, then I will be focussing on those that are for that…

Although the Herald's effort, posted 1 min earlier, does contain the first third-party comment. Rodney Hide, of course.

Just like to point out that the "posted time" on a story on the Herald site is not necessarily a reliable indicator of its availability.

Do you think he has a chuckle when he comes up with stuff like that, or is he just too far gone?

If anyone's in the vicinity, could you be a dear and pop down and throttle him for me?

On my way.

"The Prime Minister says this will be an election about who you can trust – she is right. United Future, as the voice of the silent majority, will keep the next government on track, allowing it to earn that trust."

If anyone's in…

Bit of a slowcoach, though. He didn't get a column posted until 1.28 pm ;-)

Denise Roche is the Greens candidate for Auckland Central. She's also on the Auckland City Council, representing the Hauraki Gulf ward.

We're running a Party Vote campaign. We stand in electorates because that's the most effective way of engaging with voters during an election campaign, not because we think we…

I was visiting Napier and Hastings last week and the roadside view from Bay View (Airport) to Hastings was dominated by Nat billboards. Oh, for a chainsaw and a dark night....!

Thanks for the memories, Geoff. Of course, when you're fielding a hysterical call from an elderly widow who was…

Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

Look, that will happen in due time; it's just common sense.

I really can't understand how ACT will be gone. Anderton & Dunne always get in, and for the same reason, so will…

By the way, why hasn't there been a headline in the papers yet – "Winnie in the Pooh".

Because a Public Address discussion got there first a few days ago...

Rodney won't hold Epsom, where my spies tell me people are sick of having an even more absentee MP than…

Sorting out the status of the cigars would be a nightmare though.

I lower the tone to crotch level, and you lift it up again. Focus! :)

As far as I'm aware it's Nicki Kaye vs Judith Tizard vs whoever's-replacing-Nandor....
Just wondered if there was any kind of analysis/discussion on this level, or if it's all national party vote.

Denise Roche is the Greens candidate for Auckland Central. She's also on the Auckland City Council, representing the…

Let's see.

Introduced income-related rents for state housing.
Created District Health Boards, changed health funding, moved away from fee-for-service funding.
Reversed ACC privatisation.
Unwound (somewhat) the Employment Contracts Act.
Bought back Air NZ and Railways.

There's another biggie to add, although it's not really a roll-back – the trust-busting of…

But they get to cover both by saying "you can trust us and you can't trust them". That's why Clark said "trust" eight times in five minutes.

And I hardly expected her to say "You know, that John Key wouldn't be a bad Prime Minister." :) But I think she…

Seriously, the way those warty assemblages of 2x4 and posterboard spring up like mushrooms scares and offends me every election season.

I was visiting Napier and Hastings last week and the roadside view from Bay View (Airport) to Hastings was dominated by Nat billboards. Oh, for a chainsaw and a…

...yet, I guess.

turn New Zealand into the Lesbos/Cuba of the South Seas

Actually, that would be great for tourism.

Sorting out the status of the cigars would be a nightmare though.

NZ First and ACT are going into electoral oblivion. Winston's personality won't do it this time, and he is noew just a bit to old to campaign like its 1999. Rodney won't hold Epsom, where my spies tell me people are sick of having an even more absentee…

turn New Zealand into the Lesbos/Cuba of the South Seas

Actually, that would be great for tourism.

But I'll stand by my original comment — Labour gets to pick the line that National is far too right-wing (and to be avoided at all costs) or not right-wing enough (so why bother upsetting the furniture). Not both.

But they get to cover both by saying "you can trust…

Well actually it does matter who wins the election if you agree that the “Nats” job is same as it ever was-redistributing wealth upstairs.

And if you believe that a fourth term is going to see the Liarbore Dykeocracy (finally) show their true colours and turn New Zealand into the…

Gareth – Isn't that to be confirmed following Nomination Day (14/10/08)?

Right, I'm not big on process :>
I thought that National v Labour v Greens for Auckland Central would have already been decided though, if not officially confirmed? As far as I'm aware it's Nicki Kaye vs Judith Tizard…

Yes, but that's a different failing from the one you alleged in your initial assertion.

And has she repealed every piece of legislation she was critical of as leader of the Opposition? I don't think so, David, but if you want to prove me wrong I'll accept correction. I don't…

The indicators speak–minimum wage frozen 1991-4, $1 increase over 9 years under Nat led governments vs. 70% increase since 1999 under Labour led governments. Repeat for…

Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

He's the 'voice of the silent majority' you know? Where "majority" equals betwwen zero and one percent of voters.

Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

Are polls actually conducted in Oharia-Belmont?

If not, expect an uptick among annelids after 'common sense' arises in the leaders' debates.

tedious harrangues from Old Labour folks about how Helen Clark has failed to bring about the Socialist Paradise.

Yes, but that's a different failing from the one you alleged in your initial assertion.

That strikes me as rather undemocratic. If they were to say that Winston Peters as an individual will have no role in their Cabinet, then fine, actually wish they would. But to write off an entire party with the backing of 5% of the nation ain't really right.

I don't…

Helen and the resurgent Greens have make-up sex and put together a good solid little coalition.

To which: Party Vote Green.

Let's see.

Introduced income-related rents for state housing.
Created District Health Boards, changed health funding, moved away from fee-for-service funding.
Reversed ACC privatisation.
Unwound (somewhat) the Employment Contracts Act.
Bought back Air NZ and Railways.

And the answer is no. Sorry, David, but I've been on the end of some…

Seriously, the way those warty assemblages of 2x4 and posterboard spring up like mushrooms scares and offends me every election season.

1. No mention (thankfully) of "god" or "jesus" or even "prayer". It was all "science…

Followed by MUCH wailing and gnashing of teeth by the Clark-haters.

But they should do so in the full knowledge that Winston Peters and his party will have no role in any government they form

That strikes me as rather undemocratic. If they were to say that Winston Peters as an individual will have no role in their Cabinet, then fine,…

Oh, and someone should really grow the spine to ask Clark whether she repealed every piece of legislation she opposed as leader of the Opposition.

Let's see.

Introduced income-related rents for state housing.
Created District Health Boards, changed health funding, moved away from fee-for-service funding.
Reversed ACC privatisation.
Unwound (somewhat)…

Textual analysis: the PM's statement had 1302 words, nine of which were interesting: "The general election will be held on 8th November."

Heh.

Although it is probably notable that "future" and "trust" were both mentioned eight times each.

Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

Well, I've got a third option. Key and Clark holding a joint press conference and saying that if more than 5% of those who cast party votes return New Zealand First to Parliament, that's democracy.…

I choose not to understand what that means.

1st female PM.

La-la-la-laaaa... I can't heaaar youuuuu...

Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

Definitely the latter. Let's face it, at this stage both of those options are only good for their amusement value, and watching the various personalities of the two main parties try and pretend to be…

Well – most popular team.

Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

I choose not to understand what that means.

1st female PM.