11 “game-changers” which weren’t for the 2014 New Zealand election
1. Advance voting
Gareth Hughes at The Daily Blog, 2 September 2014
I believe advance voting will be a game-changer this Election. Young Kiwis in particular are notorious for voting in low numbers but this Election it doesn’t matter what the weather is like on September 20, how big the lines are, or if there’s something else on – everyone can vote from tomorrow or any day over the next seventeen days. Elections always take place on a Saturday to minimise disruption to the working week. But for young Kiwis, many of whom work part-time jobs on a Saturday (or may just be recovering from the night before), getting to the polling booth on Election Day can be a little harder. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why 42% of 18-24 year olds didn’t vote at the last election. Students are notorious for leaving things until the last minute, but unlike a university essay they won’t let you hand in your vote in late. This Election, students, young workers and everyone can vote from tomorrow in advance of Election Day.
2. A radio interview with John Key
Mary_A at The Daily Blog, 18 August 2014
The Espiner interview this morning was a game changer for FJK and for the country I think.
FJK can’t continue with his head up his backside like this for the next month until the election, expecting to cruise into a third term of office.
3. “Technology”
Labour press release republished by The Daily Blog, 14 July 2014
Among several new initiatives David Cunliffe announced today are plans to establish 1200 digital apprenticeships and support first-time entrepreneurs with ‘Garage Grants’.
“Technology is a game changer. We can become a prosperous nation supported by a vibrant IT industry…”
4. A former rugby league player as Mana “Youth Ambassador”
Mana press release republished by The Daily Blog, 13 July 2014
Ex New Zealand Warrior hard man and Maori television media personality Wairangi Koopu has joined the MANA strategy team as the new MANA Youth Ambassador in another game changer move for the MANA party.
5. The announcement of Laila Harré as Internet Party leader
Chris Trotter at The Daily Blog, 29 May 2014
BREAKING: Game-Changer: Laila Harré accepts the Internet Party leadership…
The appointment of Harré as Internet Party Leader changes the electoral equation significantly. No matter how hard they try to characterise it as such, IMP is no longer a “dotty” addition to the electoral mix – not with Harré in charge. John Key and his advisers must now recalibrate their predictions to accommodate a left-wing challenger that could take as much as 4-6 percent of the Party Vote.
In a fight which Key himself has acknowledged to be very close, that 4-6 percent will not only be a game-changer, it will be a government changer. Whether he is still here in New Zealand, or languishing in a US prison cell, the taste of revenge on Kim Dotcom’s tongue will be very, very sweet.
Selwyn Manning at The Daily Blog, 29 May 2014
Positioned at number 2 on the new party’s list, and backed by a caucus of Annette Sykes and John Minto, and a movement of activists outside Parliament who demand equality in New Zealand, Laila Harre will lead a new political force.
This is a circuit-breaker for the left-bloc of parties.
It is certainly a game-changer that will have the National Party strategists busy forging new deals with support parties ACT United Future and the Maori Party to ensure they are there to assist its push for the Treasury Benches post the September 20 General Election.
Martyn Bradbury at The Daily Blog, 28 May 2014
Boom, it’s been leaked by the NBR, so the secret is out. Laila Harre will be the new leader of the Internet Party? So if this works the way we hope it will, Hone Harawira, Laila Harre, Annette Sykes and John Minto will be in Parliament.
Where’s all that left wing angst and screams of sell out now?
You wanted a game change? Here’s your game changer!
Now let’s go beat John Key.
Game on.
Martyn Bradbury at The Daily Blog, 30 May 2014
I think as the enormity of what has just occurred is slowly starting to sink in, the oxygen for “sell out” by some on the Left has been sucked from the lungs by Laila’s appointment.
You know how spooked the Right are by facing a political party with as much resource as them by the shrill screams of outrage by David Farrar and the continued shanking John Key feels he has to keep providing in the media.
The dripping spite from the Press Gallery is another sure sign that the alliance has annoyed the Wellington gate keepers….
This will become a game changer if Internet MANA pull the don’t knows to their flag.
6. A “Green Investment Bank”
Gareth Hughes at The Daily Blog, 15 May 2014
Yesterday Dr. Russel Norman launched the Green Party’s Green Investment Bank proposal designed to accelerate investment in the green economy.
In a nutshell the Green Investment Bank will be a government-owned, for-profit bank. It will partner with the private sector to fund new projects ranging from renewable energy and biofuel production to new clean technologies. You can read the policy here.
I think this could be a game changer for the New Zealand economy.
7. Labour’s monetary policy announcement
Stuart Nash at The Daily Blog, 7 May 2014
How Labour make the monetary announcement a game changer…
If smart, Labour can take advantage of the opportunity it now has to own the narrative about having a plan for the future where lower interest rates, saving for our retirement, limiting the profit of the big Australian banks and looking after good hard working Kiwis are important themes. But it needs to get the messaging right.
Dominion-Post editorial, 30 April 2014
Kiwisaver policy a game-changer?
Unlike its recent pronouncements on trucks in highway fast lanes, or the flagging national demand for wood, Labour’s ambitious new monetary policy has real heft.
8. The Internet Mana alliance
Miriam Pierard on Facebook, April 2014
Whatever you think of Mana or the Internet Party, this move could be a game changer for the people who need change the most – Maori, workers, the poor. I’m personally not completely convinced by the proposal, but no one should be – we should always question so that we can ensure our vision isn’t sidelined or twisted.
9. The appointment of Matt McCarten as David Cunliffe’s chief of staff
Greg Presland at The Standard, 26 February 2014
Overall this decision is one that will cause considerable debate. And use of the words “game changer” seem very appropriate.
Martyn Bradbury at The Daily Blog, 26 February 2014
The only sadness about the appointment of Matt McCarten as David Cunliffe’s Chief-of-staff is that I didn’t get to see John Key’s or Cameron Slater’s or Jane Clifton’s or Trevor Mallard’s or Matthew Hooton’s or David Farrar’s faces when they heard the news.
Game on National. If you honestly thought the forces for political change in NZ would just allow you to decide the result of the election in February via flaky landline opinion polls in the mainstream media, you have another thing coming.
Matt’s appointment is a game changer.
Game on.
10. An opinion poll
Greg Presland writing about a new TV3 poll at The Standard, 2 February 2014
This is a poll that Paddy Gower described as being a “Gamechanger”.
Labour is up 1.3% to 33.5%
National is down 1.8% to 44.5%.
The Greens are up 2% to 12.4%.
NZ First is at 5.7%. Winston will be pleased. No wonder Key is cuddling up to him.
And the Conservatives are down to 2.1% and ACT and UF are both on 0.0%, yes you read this right.
Of course this is only one poll and the only one that counts is held on election day but this is going to be a very keenly fought election.
11. The Labour-Green “NZ Power” policy
Dave Brown at The Daily Blog, 24 April 2013
Against a background of global warming and rising public sentiment against fossil fuels, NZPower is a potential game changer.
The Daily Blog Watch, 23 April 2013
The political blogosphere is still mesmerised by the boldness of the Labour-Green joint policy on NZ Power. And well it should be. Despite becoming a somewhat cliched term, this is the game-changer. The Right is, well, rightly running around like the proverbial.
