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.
In Wellington, the lines between government, politics, and lobbying are far more blurred than would ever be allowed in London.
Both National and ACT are speaking to concerns amongst voters that the proposals would create a two-tier system for certain public services.
Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have all managed to better implement the centre-right recipe for success, despite being ruled by left-of-centre parties.
She won the first overall majority under the country’s proportional electoral system, but voters feel she has done little with it.
A win will be another step in the right direction for the Opposition, and their leader, after several challenging years.
After an historic victory in 2020, her government has fallen short on housing and infrastructure whilst overseeing a ‘brain drain’.
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.
A solid but unspectacular centre-right Prime Minister, with a good economic record, is trying to fight off a charismatic, high-spending challenge from the left.
It has been dispatched by one man – New Zealand First’s party leader, Winston Peters, who has Labour’s inexperienced leader in his pocket.