National Highlights Key, Labour Attacks And Greens Go For Fresh
By Ian Llewellyn
Wellington – The opening political broadcast statements from the three largest parties all sent predictable message –
National ``Trust John Key’’ Labour - ``You can’t trust National’’ and the Greens - ``Trust us – we are nice’’.
National’s focussed on Key and they showed one thing that is obvious to anyone who has followed him closely – He is not
very good at speeches, but very good when he just talks to people.
The National advert started with lots of shots of trains, roads and John Key. Key meeting Obama, Key meeting people, Key
and more Key.
It then cut to a recreation of Key in a small public meeting.
Just like in real life, his speech bordered on the awful with stilted delivery banging the message that New Zealand was
doing well despite the difficulties and National had a plan.
But when the programme changed to the question and answer format, it showed why Key goes down well at public meetings.
When he speaks to people and instead of talking at them Key comes across better, more natural and seemingly across a
wide range of subjects.
The only thing missing was Key’s usual self-deprecating joke about his family life.
The message to voters was a vote for Key was a vote for a nice guy who was on top of his game.
He mentioned Labour just once.
center> National Party Opening Address
Labour Party Opening Address
Green Party Opening Address
Labour’s piece was half history lesson – half attack advert on National
It said Labour oldest political party was built on helping out hard done by workers with much about the legacy past
leaders.
The first mention of National was the waterfront dispute in the 1950s – message you can’t trust National they smash
unions.
National also dismantled Kirk’s Super fund, cheated to win an election and sold state assets.
Phil Goff made his way into the broadcast about a quarter of way through it and he talked about the history of Labour
and how it helped his struggling family.
Then Damien O’Connnor and David Cunliffe, Jacinda Arden, Grant Robertson and others also talked about their families’
connections with Labour’s history and social justice issues
Then came the attacks on the current National Government – thick and fast
O’Connor said National believed that the trickle-down theory was ``the rich pissing on the poor’’
Labour had learnt from its history and its mistakes.
National on the other hand believed in asset sales, ACC privatisation and inequality that will lead to riots and
poverty.
The message was you can’t trust National and you can trust Labour.
The Greens were, well just the Greens – nice music, pretty shots of happy kids and an emphasis on social justice and a
greener place for a ``richer’’ NZ
Metiria Turei told her history as a solo mum who got herself a law degree and Russel Norman as an Aussie who saw the
light and moved here.
The emphasis was on:
*creating ``sustainable’’ jobs and businesses;
*Every kiwi kids ``birth right’’ to swim in clean rivers and lakes; and
*Reducing child poverty through training allowances, a $15 minimum wage, extending Working for Families and minimum
standards for rental property.
The underlying message was Green was fresh and its MPs could work with anyone – including National, though they did not
mention Labour or National once.
ends