bourbon-biscuit

Exit stage left for us!

southerner

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!@!

(I hope my anguish is clear)

Yotty

Could you be less specific Southerner?

Genesis

I voted for Aunty, but it was kind under duress..better the devil you know. I do think we need a change if only for Lab. to regroup. I have always had socialist leanings BUT its getting a bit daft now in the nanny states scheme of things. And I truly believe the welfare system gives away too much to too many. Its a bit like in the UK where the pay outs make it sense to sprog off more kids that are poorly bought up and turn into disasters by parents who had a fiscal incentive to have them.

Mind you is there any real difference in political hew betwixt the Nat and Lab these days??

I wish we had someone like Obama who I could get all passionate about. He's bloody great aye???

luvwelly

Ahh Genesis thanks...they held Palmie North as well. I think Helen deserves a well-earned rest - thank goodness Key didn't gloat too much (I had to laugh at his electronic gates around his house though - anyone else got those?).

It's much much easier not getting your preferred government under a PR system....although it's sort of worrying Key will have to rely on right wing ACT for an absolute majority - ironically this could be worse than him having 61 seats himself assuming he does honour the pledge of governing from the centre.....I'm hopeful (for those less well off than me - we will probably have been posted on again by next Election) that he will remember he grew up in a 'state' house - yes on the actual policies a lot of his are like New Labour.....I don't mind the state paying for treatment for people in private hospitals if that's the easiest way to keep waiting times down...free at point of use is what matters....I understand National was a social disaster last time..let's hope the lessons have been learned and that we are not in for a selfish 1980s rollercoaster.
He is very inexperienced though - only been an MP since 2002.

luvwelly

Southerner what's wrong - thought you were a bit of a rightwinger?

Does anyone remember 'I didn't vote Tory' badges in 1979 - a possible business opportunity Genesis!

I take it all the National Supporters on British Expats (I think the majority) are still sleeping off their celebratory alcoholic excess from the night before?

JasonSouthYorks

WHY?

What difference will it make?

Not knowing anything about New Zealand politics, what are the differences between the 2 main parties, and will things get better or worse. Not necessarily for expats, but for the country as a whole.

We move over next month and until now had not even thought about the political arena until now.

Things can't be any worse that putting up with this shower of s%$! in Britain for the last 11 years.

janek

That made me laugh; I don't have electronic gates myself!, but I know someone who does and the video entry phone system at the front door, but they are socialists! Live in western Europe though...I've been to visit them, had to put up with a weeks worth of hard left diatribe, while using electronic gates to get on and off the property, fabulous experience but never to be repeated!

NakiMan

Personally, I think the whole situation with ACT stinks

The electorate of Epsom elect Rodney Hyde and as a result that triggers ACT to get their share of the Party vote. So they've effectivly elected 5 MPs, all of which will finish up voting with National.

Whereas NZ First, who got a higher percentage of the Party vote, finish up with nothing !

So the result in one constituancy finishes up making a HUGE difference to the overall result.

That strikes me as neither fair nor proportional.

NakiMan

Isn't that about the same time that Barack Obhama has been a US Senator?

southerner

Nah - more a first five or fullback.

lapsed kiwi

A great big right-wing hurrah from me. Nice to see the recycled commies - sorry Greens - kicked firmly into touch too.

Genesis

[- sorry Greens - kicked firmly into touch too.[/QUOTE]

Not surprising really after the smacking bill aye?? One easy lesson in how to totally alienate a population methinks.

luvwelly

Well they've got 8 seats and they only had 6 before but you are right....if Labour had formed the new Government, they would probably have had a couple of cabinet seats.

chocolate cake

I'm certainly no NZ First fan, but it does seem rather perverse that they had a disastrous election with over 4% of the Party Vote and get no seats yet ACT with less have 5 seats.
The List system is odd too, you can have MPs not answerable to an constituency. Does these MPs get paid any less? because if they are opposition MPs too, they're bound to have less to do.


Ought to add the UK system's is hardly ideal, massive majorities can be had on just over 40% of the vote. Also Labour actually had less %of vote in England than the Tories last time.

Likewise with the American system, where the actually election process virtually lasts a year, and the new incumbent has to wait 2 months to take power. Also even though a state may be won by a small % that winner takes the full seats for that state. So you can get the situation with Goerge W Bush taking power in his first term having won less national % vote than Gore.