Transtasman Political Letter – 13 July Digest

13th July 2006

Do political polls enlighten - or confuse? The latest batch seem all over the place: and we still have TVOne’s to come
... Jim Sutton leads the way in the old song “Rejuvenation”
... What’s happening with our Foreign Minister
... Cullen reckons the economy’s in a “delicate” state
... The telecom commissioner is going, can the electricity commissioner be far behind
... And SOE Transpower gets another whack.

Polls Point To Conflicting Trends

Recent results from political polling left poll-watchers confused: a Roy Morgan research sampling showed National on 45%, eight points ahead of Labour, and a TV3 News TNS Poll put Labour on 46%, seven points ahead of National.

Parker’s Message To Transpower: Pull Up Your Socks

State-owned enterprise Transpower has been told to pull up its socks on maintenance as a result of an independent report into the June 12 power blackout in Auckland.

Economy At “Delicate” Stage

Finance Minister Michael Cullen conceded this week the economy is at a “delicate” stage, but he believes NZers should have great confidence in the capacity of the economy not only to survive the current downturn but also to return stronger than before.

New Entrants Into Oil Exploration

One of NZ’s most successful investors Hugh Green is entering the high-risk energy exploration business, with Hugh Green Energy Ltd acquiring two exploration blocks, one offshore from Wanganui and the other in the onshore Wanganui basin adjacent to its offshore permit.

CAPITAL TALK

When the Minister of Overseas Trade is as enthusiastic a traveller as Phil Goff, what’s the point of having a roving Trade Ambassador in the form of Jim Sutton?

Play Of The Week: Sutton Sacrificed For Greater Good

With Parliament off, Labour celebrated its 90th birthday - and the retirement of Jim Sutton, probably the last of the Rogernomes (albeit a reconstructed one).

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