pn966. The Parties' Standings, National, Labour, ACT, Greens

Christopher Luxon must step up or step down  as National Party leader if National is to win the next election.  This seems to be the opinion of of both left- and right-leaning commentators reported by Bryce Edwards in today's Political Roundup. Opinion is that he should be replaced  by his high performing deputy Nicola Willis. But the problem could be more than Luxton. National needs to flesh out its policies. It is not sufficient to say what it thinks Labour is doing wrong.  It needs to spell out what it would do instead.

The recent NZ Taxpayers' Union Curia poll (2-9 February) showed both major parties on 34.3% (Labour up  +2.7%; National down -2.8%) with Greens on 7.8%, down -2.8%, and ACT on 11.7, up +0.9.  The Greens seem to be losing support to Labour and ACT gaining support from National.  With these results National-ACT would win just enough seats to form the next government.  

pn780. National Salute: Zero tolerance for disunity or are they joining the Communists or Black Power?

Salute: Unity, Communist or Black Power?

Judith Collins has spent the weekend pushing a message of unity at National’s annual conference, but division within the party was still evident.(See earlier posting pn777) 

Former long-serving National MP David Carter quit the party’s board in disgust following the re-election of party president Peter Goodfellow yesterday. Carter says he has “no confidence” in Goodfellow’s leadership. While Goodfellow is seen as an excellent fundraiser for the party, Carter says National will struggle to get the donations it needs while he remains president.  No new policy was announced at the AGM.

Communist salute

Black Power salute

pn777. New Zealand and Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Pacific Islands Forum Snippets

Punakaiki, West Coast

NEW ZEALAND. Three West Coast Conservation Board members have resigned citing conflicts of interest between conservation and Ngai Tahu interests, the privatisation of public assets and instances of racism when they tried to uphold conservation interests. 

What has brought the matter to a head is the proposed construction of a $26 million Punkaiki visitors' centre funded by the provincial growth fund. 

The accusations are denied by Board member Kara Edwards and Poutini Ngai Tahu.