Transtasman Political Letter – 7th July Digest
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7th July 2005
Political parties bowled bouncers at the Black Caps, but the tour to Zimbabwe will probably go on
… Ambassador Charles Swindells threw a curved ball at the Govt, (though nothing as crude as no nukes spells no free
trade deal) and PM Helen doesn't see a "big problem" in relations between the US and NZ
…The OECD gives us the best report card ever, and heigh-ho, we are heading back to the top half of the OECD, if only we
fix a few things: like the electricity sector, like education, like the labour market, like welfare-to-work, like road
congestion et al
….So are tax cuts affordable? Well, yes and no… Winston Peters promises he won't keep the nation waiting for 9 weeks,
and, anyway it was all the media's fault
…And the capital may get a new highway north, if only all the regional mayors can agree.
Blunt Message From A Suave Diplomat
Departing US Ambassador Charles Swindells had a blunt message for NZers this week: NZ could lose its relevance for the
US if the relationship between the two countries is "starved of trust."
Pitching For The "Family" Vote
While Labour has been seeking to corner the "family" vote, with its Working for Families package, and the focus this
week on early childhood education, National has been dog-whistling the "mainstream" theme. This will be reinforced when
it announces its full tax package, which it says will "ease the pressure" on middle-income families.
Defence Poll Shows Divisions In Public View
Results of a recent DigiPoll announced by ACT Parliamentarian Ken Shirley highlighted why Australians, especially, find
NZ attitudes toward the US on defence and security matters difficult to understand.
Govt Switched On To The Fight-Back
The Govt, shaken by yet another poll showing it's trailing National by 4 points, is now fully switched on to the
fight-back. This week it dumped a bucket of money into the lap of Wellington ostensibly to fix its transport woes.
CAPITAL TALK
Under estimate at your risk the political power inherent in Kiwi appreciation of sausage sizzles. The prospect street
side sizzles could be banned in the interest of food hygiene requirements has gone down like a lead balloon among
voters.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
It's Official They All Want To Lose
A few weeks back we jokingly suggested Labour was trying to "throw" the election, and 2005 is 1996 revisited a good
election to lose. It also seemed the only way to explain Labour's behaviour since the "chewing gum Budget."
Transtasman is a subscriber newsletter published weekly and read widely in New Zealand and abroad. The above is a
summary of this week's edition. To subscribe and read the full newsletter see.. http://Transtasman.co.nz