Transtasman Political Letter – 1 March Digest

Thursday, 1 March 2007

Clark’s White House mission confirmed....
and there’s more to it than just George Dubya, with few friends left, wanting to be chummy....
John Key shows his skills at wedge politics....
Are Winston Peters and Phil Goff just good friends?....
Sharemarkets rock, but don’t panic!....
Govt has Auckland headaches....
And there’s plenty of dosh in the Govt’s back-pocket, Cullen says it will stay there.

White House Rolls Out Welcome Mat For Clark

A beleaguered President George Bush will be rolling out the welcome mat for NZ’s Helen Clark later this month at the White House for a meeting which will mark a transformation in the NZ-US relationship.
Maori Frustration On Landcorp Policy

What started off as an apparently straightforward decision by state-owned Landcorp to sell off an 1,100ha block on the Coromandel has turned into a wide-ranging political issue.

No Rift On Foreign Policy, Say Clark & Peters

Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters were at pains this week to deny there is any rift between them on foreign policy, after Peters had put forward his “personal opinion” warning the withdrawal of troops from Iraq at this time would cause “total chaos.”

Key Practises Art Of Wedge Politics

Opposition leader John Key who has gained national attention with his focus on NZ’s growing underclass unveiled a policy this week to remove the tax cap on charitable donations.
CAPITAL TALK

Alexander Downer is a true diplomat. The Aust Foreign Minister turned up for a meeting with Helen Clark on Monday with a bunch of flowers because it was her 57th birthday....
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Play Of The Week: The Odd Boathook Could Come In Handy

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