ConservativeHome’s snapshot retrospective of the shortest premiership in British political history – one year on and day by day.
Just one term after the Ardern landslide in 2020, it has caught New Zealand leftists off guard. But history suggests they should have expected it.
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.
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.
Both National and ACT are speaking to concerns amongst voters that the proposals would create a two-tier system for certain public services.
After an historic victory in 2020, her government has fallen short on housing and infrastructure whilst overseeing a ‘brain drain’.
“I don’t believe it will be quick or soon, but over the course of my lifetime”, she says.
Ardern’s tough approach has won her praise all over the world. But it’s hard to separate success from demographic advantage.
Plus: Let’s cut VAT on energy bill as soon as we leave transition – deal or no deal. And: first Ardern, then Biden?
There are special gains in luxury cars, migration and services – as Australia looks away from the Pacific and we stride in into the wider world.
Governments are more likely to help create conditions for it by seeking economic growth, rather than well-being.
Polling well, more than financially buoyant and administratively competent and unified, the National Party is in a strong position.
Voters habitually opt for parties of the Right when times are tough, only to ditch them for the Left once there’s money to spare. But now populists seek to break the cycle.
It has been dispatched by one man – New Zealand First’s party leader, Winston Peters, who has Labour’s inexperienced leader in his pocket.