There is a very real risk that, at least in the short-term, New Zealand’s economy, faltering due to the loss of so many skilled workers, gets stuck in a doom loop which fails to draw people back.
New Zealand’s case study offers British Conservatives clear lessons. Radical change to transform spending priorities in expensive yet popular areas is possible – and, once implemented, can be hard to roll back.
There are around 18 months left to implement new policies and create a record on which the coalition parties can positively campaign. Broken election promises won’t be easily forgotten.
In February, major news provider Newshub announced its closure. It will shut its doors on 5 July, leading to the loss of 300 jobs in a tiny sector. Most of those journalists won’t be rehired.
The biggest driver for New Zealand’s approach to immigration is a pragmatic, economic one: in order just to keep the country standing still, let alone growing, immigration is essential.
There is a lesson for Conservatives here in the UK: with focus and a clear agenda, it is possible to do a significant amount in a short space of time.
Without political leaders trying to make appeals beyond their specific constituencies of voters or engage with the broader concerns of Māori, the significance and controversy of the treaty, beyond the spectacle, is likely to wane.
Originally founded by exiles from Labour’s neoliberal wing, it is now an important part of the new right-wing coalition government in Wellington.
If National are to comprehensively balance the books and leave room for the investments in infrastructure and public services that need to be made, nothing less than swingeing cuts will be required.
There’s only one possible government in the new parliament – but negotiations between National, ACT, and New Zealand First are dragging out.
Winston Peters is a vision of what Nigel Farage might have achieved if the United Kingdom had a different electoral system. Paradoxically, the usual beneficiary is Labour.
Whether it was a transport minister making decisions on new airports while owning shares in one or a police minister discussing Cabinet briefings with donors, the trend of losing ministers is evidence of incompetence.
Under the Mixed Member Proportional system, a winning party usually needs just shy of every second vote cast to be sure of forming a government.
Five months out from the election, voters want the parties to focus on issues such as interest rates, and the ricing prices of petrol and food.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s visit to London for the coronation is a chance to reflect on the Crown’s unique role in the country’s development.