The people behind the scenes as Act and NZ First meet
Winston Peters and David Seymour are yet to meet but the chiefs of staff for both parties got together yesterday and the slow waltz to power continues
Mōrena, and welcome to The Bulletin for Thursday, November 9, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: diminished influence for New Zealand at Pacific Islands Forum; what’s at stake as Wellington’s mayor presents her budget today; why rain may derail the Black Caps shot at the Cricket World Cup; but first, NZ First and ACT meet for the first time since the election
First contact made
A couple of movie titles sprang to mind as news came through last night that the chiefs of staff for Act and NZ First had met. One stars Jodie Foster, and the other Amy Adams. We make our own fun as we approach the “one month since election day” mark. For the sake of context, discussions between NZ First, National and Labour took two months to complete in 1996. In 2017, the election was held on September 23. Negotiations concluded on October 12 and NZ First announced it would go with Labour on October 19. As RNZ’s Jane Patterson explains, Chris Hipkins and all existing ministers who were elected as MPs at the election may have to be sworn in again as a temporary measure this weekend. Warrants for the caretaker ministers from the last Parliament expire this weekend.
The chiefs of staff at the heart of the negotiations
As Audrey Young writes (paywalled) for the Herald this morning, first contact between the two parties was made via the critical behind-the-scenes players for the two parties, Andrew Ketels (Act) and Darroch Ball (NZ First). Patterson introduces us to them and Luxon’s chief of staff, Cameron Burrows. The Herald’s Claire Trevett reports the meeting between Ketels and Ball went well. National leader Christopher Luxon and NZ First leader Winston Peters are holding their talks in Wellington this week. Trevett suggests talks are likely to carry on into the weekend and possibly next week. David Seymour and Peters are yet to meet.
Winston Peters as foreign minister?
Yesterday, Toby Manhire outlined what Act and NZ First may seek as part of their deals. Manhire noted that Peters may be satisfied with a return to the role of foreign minister, and while he has recently demonstrated behaviour that has raised questions about that suitability, “he has generally made a decent foreign minister in the past.” Two senior journalists at The Post, Andrea Vance and Luke Malpass, present opposing arguments on that front. Vance writes that “the world is a raging, belching bin fire. The last thing it needs is Winston Peters throwing a fag end on the flames, and grabbing the torch of New Zealand’s foreign policy.” Malpass argues that “Peters is the best person in the New Zealand system to be foreign minister. He is possessed of massive amounts of experience, has mana and relationships in the region.”
Treaty and taxes
While secret, silent and Luxon’s “doing things differently” have become common ways of describing these coalition talks, Act and NZ First have made comments about a couple of positions that will prove tricky, to say the least. NZ First’s Shane Jones spoke to Waatea Radio on Tuesday and, as the Herald’s Thomas Coughlan writes, cast doubt on National’s ability to get its foreign buyers’ tax across the line in coalition talks. The Herald’s Jenée Tibshraeny has also reported (paywalled) on lobbying efforts to stop the incoming government’s proposal to tax commercial and industrial building owners half a billion dollars more a year. As Tibshraeny explains, “National expected the change to generate $2.1b over four years — enough to pay for the tax cut it proposed to give residential property investors by once again allowing them to write off interest as an expense when paying tax.” David Seymour continues to talk about a referendum on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Yesterday, former prime minister Jim Bolger poured cold water on that happening saying “it won’t” and “it shouldn't happen”.
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Diminished influence for New Zealand at Pacific Islands Forum
Carmel Sepuloni and Gerry Brownlee have arrived in Rarotonga for the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif). Seuploni has given the duo the nickname “Caramel Brownie”, which is perhaps an attempt to convey a sense of unity without straying too near the closeness denoted in the more technical portmanteaus bestowed upon couples or duos (Bennifer, Gracinda, Bishola). As Newsroom’s Marc Daalder reports, Sepuloni has conceded that she has less power to make commitments than she would otherwise. Brownlee can not technically speak as a representative of our government. As we know, our incoming prime minister, Christopher Luxon, is occupied by coalition negotiations. The prime ministers of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are also not attending. Australia’s Anthony Albanese will be there, fresh from his trip to Beijing, the first by an Australian prime minister in seven years. The influence of China in the region and the climate crisis are on the agenda. The Israel-Hamas war may also come up with the majority of Pacific Island countries voting against a UN resolution for a ceasefire last month, aligning their vote with the US and UK. RNZ’s Lydia Lewis has a good rundown on what to expect at the Pif this year.
What’s at stake as Wellington’s mayor presents her budget today
Wellington’s mayor Tory Whanau will present her first budget to the council today. As our Wellington editor Joel MacManus explains, today’s presentation of the proposed 10-year budget for Wellington is the first big meeting to decide Wellington’s Long Term Plan and Whanau’s most significant opportunity to put her stamp on the city. MacManus notes that while Whanau isn’t keen on the budget being described as an “austerity” budget, it certainly looks like one. Plenty of potential cuts loom for cycleways, footpaths, pothole repairs, libraries, pools, sports fields and skateparks. MacManus has further details in his piece linked above and is undertaking the noble task of liveblogging the meeting today on The Spinoff. Wellingtonians, stay tuned for updates throughout the day.
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Click and Collect
Chris Hipkins given a rap over the knuckles over the way he responded to an Official Information Act (OIA) request relating to communications between Dame Jacinda Ardern and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Leaked email from Labour MP Helen White’s volunteers cites Chris Hipkins as one of the reasons White lost so much ground in Mt Albert
Daughter and sister of three people killed during the Christchurch mosque attacks able to visit their graves for first time
Apparently, we’ve been spelling the “Josef” in Franz Josef Glacier wrong and the New Zealand Geographic Board wants to change that
Rachel Judkins attends “Activist Camp”, where young people learn to put their principles into action. Sophie Barclay asks why a school that promises its students “the courage and confidence to positively shape the future” is intent on silencing their voices. Charlotte Muru-Lanning examines New Zealand’s fractured response to the Israel-Hamas war. Gabi Lardies explains why an “amazing” but “dying breed” of teachers was on strike yesterday. Marcia Welch introduces us to some of the most endangered birds in the running for Bird of the Century.
Sporting snippets
Why rain may derail the Black Caps shot at the Cricket World Cup
How a new Saudi Arabia tennis tournament could impact the ASB Classic
New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox lost a bet and now has to wear a Springboks jersey for a pro-am golf round this week
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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Chris Luxon before final election results announced: "This is taking too long, it's not fair. If I was in charge I would tell them to do it quicker. New Zealanders deserve to have a government."
Chris Luxon after final election results announced: "We're going to call for several recounts. Also I'll take as long as I feel like to form a government, and I won't tell New Zealanders about how it's going because that's none of their business."
"A couple of movie titles sprang to mind...." I love such creative bullshit inserted into a news item