I'm sure she's a lovely woman who will prove to do great things for her constituents (whoever they may be). ;)

FGS – why couldn't Nandor have been back in…

- the Green candidate Denise Roche providing a spoiler effect.

Craig has already dissed this point, but it's basically not true. Roche received fewer votes in Auckland Central (as did the Green Party) than Nandor and the Greens got in 2005. Judith went around telling people that Denise had endorsed…

For the benefit of non-Aucklanders

and Aucklanders who don't get out,

can you please elaborate on what Soul Bar is and what Casablanca was ?

Soul is a bar/restaurant in the Viaduct Basin run by Judith Tabron who is a very good restaurateur. The food is excellent and the location…

the Green candidate Denise Roche providing a spoiler effect.

Aw, that's really beginning to annoy me a bit. Whatever you think of the Greens and ACT, they're not actually there to be Denis to the major parties' Maggie — walk three steps behind, carry the handbag, try to keep the…

Now we can talk about dung being good for growing gardens but it's disingenuous to pretend Key's hands aren't dirty. I can certainly understand people not trusting that the poacher has reformed.

Pehaps, but while the Labour Party is giving the Rogernome Severus Snape a makeover into Albus Dumbledore, perhaps…

oul is just a bar/cafe in Ponsonby conveniently located halfway along. Makes really good coffee, if I remember right, is quite large, and therefore a good venue for a large celebration.

I know the bar you mean, but that's not Soul... Can't remember what it's called though.
Soul is in…

if you've got any evidence that John Key was involved in any fiscal chicanery

Craig, I'm not on the woe-is-us bandwagon but you're trying way too hard here. Key does not need your defense of his proudly proclaimed role in creating new forms of chicanery – including the dodgy derivatives…

She seems a bit vapid, yes (going on a two minute clip on Campbell Live)

If Kaye had just discovered the cure for cancer, AIDS and the common cold, she would have come across as 'a bitvapid' on Campbell Live. Don't know if you're a long time lurker, second time…

Time to give Nikki a chance. So far it's apparent she's a hard worker, and that is exactly what you want in an electorate MP.

And worth noting that a (provisional) majority of around 1,200 puts you in a marginal seat, by any definition. Kaye knows that.

Time to give Nikki a chance. So far it's apparent she's a hard…

Ouch – was that a bit nasty?

Just a wee bit, Mark. And sorry to disappoint, but Soul on a gaw-jus Sunday afternoon is the kind of place I'd confidently take a posse of maiden aunts for a nosh.

However while the latter seems like a nice enough lady, I wasn't sad…

Someone described Soul Bar to me as the same crowd (men) that used to party at Casablanca in Parnell and now, of course, are 20 years older, but that the women are the same age as those who once frequented the earlier venue.

What does that tell us about Nikki,…

You can tell by the houses: made-over villas, freshly painted in tones of grey with a cement garden for OSP and a stone-clad wall to keep the natives out.

Oh, God! The one thing I don't miss about Auckland is all the old houses and building being painted dark grey…

For the benefit of non-Aucklanders, can you please elaborate on what Soul Bar is and what Casablanca was ?

Or for the benefit of some of those living in Auckland for that matter...

Someone described Soul Bar to me as the same crowd (men) that used to party at Casablanca in Parnell and now, of course, are 20 years older, but that the women are the same age as those who once frequented the earlier venue.

For the benefit of non-Aucklanders, can you…

Someone described Soul Bar to me as the same crowd (men) that used to party at Casablanca in Parnell and now, of course, are 20 years older, but that the women are the same age…

National didn't have more resources than Labour this election. Nikki Kaye worked full-time on the campaign, but she didn't have the parliamentary resources…

People believed she was there to fill in a seat for Labour and had, how shall we say, grown accustomed to the role and took it for granted.

She…

I don't…

Actually, many National MPs have jobs and families as well.

Yes, but if they're an MP, then their job for the past couple of months consists of getting themselves elected. Smaller parties, like the Greens have to cover as many electorates, but only have half a dozen people who are…

Some of these people have jobs and families, and might be able to take a week off work for the election, and just do evenings and weekends beforehand.

Actually, many National MPs have jobs and families as well.

National and Labour have the advantage of having full time MPs who…

There's a lesson in that for Labour — and for the Greens, who need to learn to get their vote out and translate their polling into real election results.

Yeah. Hard for the Greens, who have to front up with almost 60 candidates whose jobs isn't actually to campaign for…

Craig, I have no qualms whatsoever about what Key, English, Clark and Cullen did before becoming MPs. My comment was not meant to be snotty, either. (Or did you actually mean "snooty" ?). ;)

Grant: You're quite right. I was taking a general hack at the way people say "former…

It was emblematic. Where once an election involved campaign meetings and the exchange of ideas, wit and banter, we now have branding experiences and mall encounters.

Once independent groups were able to offer up ideas for discusssion in the public domain. Politicians took a stance on issues raised by the…

I have a good friend who is very happy that we have ditched this government that has created such an economic mess over the past 9 years. He operates at a different level of business to me and I find it hard to argue against his…

So Auckland Central's becoming a slightly hipper Epsom?

You can tell by the houses: made-over villas, freshly painted in tones of grey with a cement garden for OSP and a stone-clad wall to keep the natives out.

Excuse me you two but that's my neighbourhood you are taking potshots at…

A celebration of the last 9 years would seem to be in order along with an appreciation of what it has been like living under the influence of one of the…

They all had their own manner, but I don't believe I have ever heard a New Zealand leader tread with quite such heavy-footed lumpishness through the glorious first minutes of their incumbency. The tone was odd.

Yes, it was pretty bizarre.

Fortunately he recovered in an interview I saw later…

And she doorknocked, I believe.

Yes. I can understand why the media gets swept up in the presidential blah blah big picture blah blah polls polls polls elements of the campaign. But I always say, even under MMP, you should never underestimate the value of a good old school "kiss…

great scenery

Forget the Environmental Protection Agency, there's a clear need for a Ministry of Scenery going forward. Someone better find out if Peter Jackson's available for the role of Director General...

but I don't believe I have ever heard a New Zealand leader tread with quite such heavy-footed lumpishness through the glorious first minutes of their incumbency.

Perhaps you should be offering your services as speechwriter to the stars again?

And its all very well making snide comments about Nikki Kaye,…

She's obviously a clever young woman. Plus she must've ran a good campaign to win a previous Labour stronghold.

I wouldn't be so sure. While I think the good people of Auckland Central elected a poor candidate, there is no reason to believe that they felt Tizard represented their interests…

Auckland Central lost Point Chev, which provided a substantial chunk of Labour support. At the same time, the gentrification of the inner suburbs has continued apace.

So Auckland Central's becoming a slightly hipper Epsom?

Isn’t that like putting an alcoholic in charge of the drinks cabinet?

No, and if you've got any evidence that John Key was involved in any fiscal chicanery you've got the Labour Party Presidency locked up.

How appropriate – an ex-currency dealer is now running…

I "hear" what you're saying Craig, but let's not forget that he was also president of the Harvard Law Review, etc. The man's not a mug, with out wishing to state the obvious.

And you might not much like what John Key & Bill English (or Helen Clark & Michael Cullen those…

She's obviously a clever young woman. Plus she must've ran a good campaign to win a previous Labour stronghold.

I believe the boundary of Auckland Central was tweaked slightly to compensate for its increasing population. I'm not sure exactly what the change was, other than it's now a smaller area.…

Where once an election involved campaign meetings and the exchange of ideas, wit and banter, we now have branding experiences and mall encounters.

I wonder: what would John A Lee have made of it all?

OK, but what's really new here? You could be describing Bolger's 1990 campaign, with its…

*sigh* But a "community organiser" isn't such a bad call, right?

I "hear" what you're saying Craig, but let's not forget that he was also president of the Harvard Law Review, etc. The man's not a mug, with out wishing to state the obvious.

Last night John looked as happy as a dog with three tails. On Monday he's going to find out how it feels to have them all wagging him.

ROFLnui !

I have heard Nikki Kaye speak at meetings and on the radio. I have yet to hear her commit herself even once to a clear and unequivocal opinion.

Her words are the stuff of modern management. The sentences are embroidered with 'In terms of' and 'the reality is'.

She seems…

We do things differently here. We launch a new government in a gaming palace.

Well, hired a hall in a hotel/conference center. Which does strike me as somewhat commonplace, unless there's a world full of very large primary school halls out there.

While the rest of the world recoils in…

maybe she can take some tips from Judith Collins on how to get constituents of traffic tickets...