National's problems and some helpful suggestions for the way forward by Andrea Vance (pn703)

Andrea Vance is a senior journalist at Stuff, with more than 20 years’ experience in reporting, ten of them in New Zealand.

Born in Northern Ireland, she was an investigative reporter for the News of the World, was night news editor for The Scotsman, and worked in New Zealand’s parliamentary Press Gallery for nearly a decade. She was a Jefferson Fellow at the East West Center in Hawaii, and has been recognised with major accolades at the annual media awards.

The  National Party. "The foundation of our Party is built on the values of ambition and success; with lower taxes, reward for hard work, and equal opportunity for all at its core." Click here. 

This is the most objective and helpful article I've read on the plight and prospects of the National Party, with some helpful suggestions on how it could appeal to more New Zealanders.  If only more of our journalists were as objective as Andrea.  Click here for her report. -- ACW

pn621. Not a good start. On the dispute between Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard and the Maori Party co-leaders

The Speaker at the "Beehive"

In a highly unusual move, the Speaker has released correspondence between himself, the Clerk's office and Māori Party MPs over the row that blew up in Parliament.  The following article presents the issue as I see it. --- ACW

Parliamentary procedures prevented the Maori Party MPs from speaking in the Address in Reply debate on Thursday  because, with less than six MPs they could only participate if there was time before 5pm —after the other four parties had each 30 minutes to speak. Maori Party co-leader  Rawiri Waititi asked for 15 minutes, half of the time allocated to the other parties, adding: "These (other Pakeha-led party's) get 30 minutes speaking time, Māori get nothing."