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At Large
A Little Light in the South Pacific
New Zealand has kicked out its socialist/left-liberal government.
In these trying times for conservatives it is worth noting a small gleam of light in the South Pacific. New Zealand’s far-left Labour government, led by the boot-faced anti-American ex-student radical Helen Clark, has been kicked out of office after nine destructive years.
With its national security taken care of by the U.S. and Australia, New Zealand under successive Labour administrations has felt itself free to abolish the combat arm of its Air Force, reduce its Navy (despite being a uniquely isolated island state in the middle of a vast ocean) to bathtub size, ban U.S. naval ship visits on the grounds that the U.S. Navy won’t say whether its ships have nuclear weapons or not, and generally wallow in political correctness. The political disasters of left-liberalism which have been seen elsewhere, and which will almost certainly be seen a great deal more in the U.S. now, were acted out in New Zealand with painstaking faithfulness.
In 2004 a completely unnecessary quarrel was picked with, of all countries, Israel, the government apparently believing that Israeli spies were operating there (they were in fact probably taking part in an anti-terrorist surveillance operation, which New Zealand might well have been grateful for and in any event would have done well to have turned a blind eye to).
After various intemperate denunciations of Israel by Clark and bans on travel to New Zealand by Israeli officials, there was an outbreak of anti-Jewish incidents and Jewish graves in Wellington were vandalized. David Zwartz, a leader in the Jewish community in New Zealand and Israeli Honorary Consul, said: “There is a direct connection between the very strong expressions against Israel and people here feeling they can take it out on Jews. It seems to me Israel-bashing one day, Jew-bashing the next day.”
Again repeating a pattern familiar with the Gramscian left in other parts of the world, multiples of millions of dollars were paid to Maori tribal bureaucracies, much of which was used for political indoctrination while little if any reached mainstream Maoris.
Naturally, despite defense spending having been cut to the point of nonviability, there was a high-tax regime and, for the size of the economy, a huge deficit. The tough-minded (some say too tough-minded) economic reformer Roger Douglas was sidelined early on. Economic populism without even a fig leaf of responsibility included raising the minimum wage six times in six years. In an attempt to sew up the student vote, interest on student loans was abolished, first for those currently studying, then for all borrowers living in New Zealand and for education in general. Apparently the Clark government learned nothing at all (or possibly learned all too much) from the example of the Whitlam Labor government in Australia, which had attempted similar pseudo-Peronist populism between 1972 and 1973 and had succeeded in bringing the economy to its knees.
Despite all the ideological socialism, hospitals in New Zealand were so inadequate their corridors were filled with beds that could not be fitted into wards, some patients had to be sent to Australia, and people died while on the waiting lists for operations.
The school curriculum was taken over in the interests of
propaganda. Among other classic Nanny State legislation, parents
were prohibited from smacking children. According to an
unofficial estimate, there was a poverty level of 20%. A series
of petty scandals suggested certain members of the government
considered themselves above the law. In short, New Zealand was
reduced to a classic and exemplary authoritarian
socialist/left-liberal mess.
ANYWAY, in last Saturday’s elections, the New Zealand Labour Party managed just 34% of the vote. Not only Labour but the smaller left-wing parties including Labour’s ally, the eco-nut/Marxist Greens, were savaged at the polling booths.
New Zealand has a complicated and obscure voting system (for example, four parliamentary seats are reserved for Maoris, despite the fact few pure-blood Maoris still exist). It is difficult or impossible for any party to govern in its own right, but this time the result was decisive. Labour was reduced to its hard core of seats and what Clarkism stood for was rejected.
Whether the incoming National Government will have the will or courage to make the radical political and social changes needed, and for which it has been given a clear mandate, is another matter, especially since the Nationals have lost their tough-minded former leader Don Brash.
The incoming prime minister, John Key, does not look as if he stands for anything in particular. His 2002 statement that “some form of orientation towards privatization in health, education and superannuation makes sense” falls a good deal short of being a ringing endorsement of free enterprise, though he and the Nationals do seem a good deal more pro-American. With 59 seats out of 122 they too will have to govern in coalition and the shape of this has not yet been settled, although they can already count on the five seats of the allied ACT Party.
Al Jazeera, which has taken some interest in the election, quotes Clark’s Labour Party as accusing Key’s Nationals of both stealing its policies and of having a hidden right-wing agenda. One can only hope that the latter charge at least is true. From a geopolitical perspective, one of the most hopeful probabilities is that defense co-operation and integration with Australia will now increase and New Zealand will pay more of its way, strengthening the Anglosphere’s defense anchor in the South Pacific.
About the Author
Hal G.P. Colebatch’s “Immram,” Counterstrike, is being published by Australian publisher Imaginites.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (49) | Leave a comment
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Joe | 11.13.08 @ 9:24AM
Riddled with inaccuracies. Not worthy of further comment.
Bryan| 11.13.08 @ 10:10AM
Joe:
Show us what a big-brained prog you are and spend just a little time pointing out the "inaccuracies" off the above article.
Me!| 11.13.08 @ 12:01PM
Obviously it's all true, since a lying leftard just proved himself incapable of finding a single inaccuracy in it.
Daniel| 11.13.08 @ 3:52PM
So Joe, since you are riddled with superiority, would you care to document, precisely, the inaccuracies in this piece? Or are you just another run-of-the-mill libtard that curls up in the fetal position and sucks your thumb everytime facts get in the way of your dogma? Are you man enough to back up your assertions, or are you another mouth that roared? Come on Joe...let's see your best shot. Get that thumb out of your pie-hole, your head out of your arse, and show us how smart you are.
Obama Rules| 11.13.08 @ 4:02PM
Gosh! This piece is just riddled with inaccuracies. Not worthy of further comment.
Giovanni| 11.13.08 @ 5:47PM
Inaccuracies, let's see... Just from page one, because I don't have all day:
Among other classic Nanny State legislation, parents were prohibited from smacking children.
The whole parliament voted for it, you drongo, including conservatives.
The school curriculum was taken over in the interests of propaganda.
The new New Zealand curriculum is the envy of many countries, including your beloved Australia, and National has no intention to repeal it.
New Zealand has a complicated and obscure voting system (for example, four parliamentary seats are reserved for Maoris, despite the fact few pure-blood Maoris still exist)
This is hilarious, your complete lack of understanding of the historical and cultural issues is staggering. And it's not four seats, it's seven.
But then of course the biggest inaccuracy of all is the idea that the Labour ideology was voted out of office... that's worth a laugh or three. The conservatives adopted all of the major Labour policies introduced in the last nine years, and rode a convenient wave of change for change's sake. But if you could mention a single Labour policy that National is planning to overturn (including the country's anti-nuclear stance) I'll be happy to hear it.
James Rogers| 11.13.08 @ 5:47PM
Well try:
* The ban on nuclear armed (not just American) warships was made not by the Clark government, but back in the 1980s and supported by subsequent 'riight-wing' governments
* the individuals with links to the Israeli government were not "anti-terrorist surveillance" they were stealing identities in order to illegally obtain NZ passports
* The government decried anti-Jewish incidents and any desicration of graves in the strongest terms
* Dollars were not paid to Maori tribal bureaucracies. Compensation (supported by law and the courts) was paid for historic theft of land and resources
* "high-tax regime" New Zealand has one of the lower tax rates in the OECD
* The vote for the Green party was not "savaged"... it went up
*"obscure voting system" yes, the same as Germany
So an error in almost every paragraph then
Kyle| 11.13.08 @ 5:52PM
The sentence "The incoming prime minister, John Key, does not look as if he stands for anything in particular." is pretty correct. The rest, not so much.
Stephen| 11.13.08 @ 5:54PM
En-Zeders unite! Yeah this guy doesn't know jack, and even makes classic-not-unusual foreigner mistake of calling a certain party 'the Nationals', when that is not actually their name.
"John Key, does not look as if he stands for anything in particular."
Well, at least he got THAT right.
Hemi | 11.13.08 @ 5:55PM
"Riddled with inaccuracies."
"...would you care to document, precisely, the inaccuracies in this piece..."
I can list a few...
"...there was a high-tax regime..."
NZ ranks below the US, most Western European nations and neighbour Australia for the amount of tax paid by workers: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/tax_tot_tax_wed_sin_wor-total-tax-wedge-single-worker
"Not only Labour but the smaller left-wing parties including Labour's ally, the eco-nut/Marxist Greens, were savaged at the polling booths."
The Greens got more seats and more votes than at the last election.
New Zealand has a complicated and obscure voting system..."
MMP is hardly 'obscure' - it's used in Italy, Germany and the UK...
"...(for example, four parliamentary seats are reserved for Maoris, despite the fact few pure-blood Maoris still exist)..."
There are 7 Maori seats.
Stephen| 11.13.08 @ 5:57PM
Nice one Kyle :-D
Hemi| 11.13.08 @ 5:57PM
Man, gotta be quick with James and Giovanni on the case. ;-)
James Rogers| 11.13.08 @ 6:11PM
Is this an example of the standard of accuracy of research that Notre Dame and Edith Cowan universities seek from their 'academic' staff?
Giovanni| 11.13.08 @ 6:14PM
Look, everyone, this guy has actually been to New Zealand:
http://www.spectator.org/archives/2008/07/14/god-save-new-zealand-from-the
That he could be so factually wrong about so many things becomes even more impressive. Kudos, Mr. Colebatch!
Paul Litterick | 11.13.08 @ 7:21PM
And in what sense has the Navy been reduced? I keep seeing new ships, but then I am biased I suppose.
Michael | 11.13.08 @ 7:26PM
I thought this was a joke, but it was blind ignorance(?)
The conservative National Party has more Maori MPs in it than the Labour Party, the Maori Party, and the Greens. Even the right wing ACT Party had a notable Maori MP.
It would be worth noting "Blood Quotions" are considered to be akin to Nazi ideology down here.
John Key is the Third PM with Jewish Hereitage. Vogel is the best known and open immigration to non-UK European immigrants, Bell , a Judge, set many of the structures of our Parlimentary structures in Place, and now Key, the son of an Austrian Jewish Mother.
The Spy thing was a joke and so clumsy Israel should fear for its security.
We do have a few skin heads & they're a bunch of cowards. The thing is if they put their heads up they get the bash from either any other gang, like BlackPower which is strongly Maori (see the movie Once were Warriors ) or even the Anachists kick their asses (should be something on UTube).
Giovanni| 11.13.08 @ 7:42PM
Also, allow me to dim the light for you, since you clearly bit way more than you could chew. It hasn't always been the case, but in American terms New Zealand is a very liberal country. National and Labour are really two different shades of the US Democratic party - John Key specifically likened himself to Obama during the campaign. That leaves the Maori Party and NZ First, which have no clear equivalents in the US, the Greens who must be... the Greens I guess, although with way more supporters, and really the only party that could stand for the GOP is the Act Party. How many votes did they get? 3.2 per cent. I'm feeling generous so I'll throw in the Kiwi party (no idea what they stand for) and some religious nuttery in the form of Family First. That brings the total to 4% of the vote. Let that be the light you see from the South Pacific, and thanks for playing.
Stephen| 11.13.08 @ 8:00PM
This has been repeated all over NZ, but for the writer's benefit: it was a victory for National, but not a victory for 'right wing ideology', per the preceding comments about keeping most of Labour's major policies. The direction of policy will of course change, but barely...Are we the new Sweden?!
David Govett| 11.13.08 @ 9:18PM
Let's just have Civil War II and get it over with.
Anna Gram| 11.13.08 @ 9:45PM
The author's name is an anagram of "Gotcha, pal! (belch)." Not to mention "Help! ACT cog. Blah."
Coincidence? You decide...
Giovanni| 11.13.08 @ 9:52PM
Plus, excuse me, "boot-faced"?
That's the thing: with so many colossal factual errors it's almost difficult to spot the vile innuendo.
Almost.
Robert Muldoon| 11.13.08 @ 9:58PM
I see that you sir, are Australian.
I feel then I must remind you that Kiwis migrating to Australia has raised the average IQ in both countries
Sean| 11.13.08 @ 10:31PM
A quick explanation of MMP, in less than 300Words.
The MMP system is a political system is a political system that combines proportional representation with direct electorate representation.
The process of participating in this system for the individual voter is extremely simple. A voter ticks his or her voting form twice, once for the representative they want for their local electorate, and once for the party vote. It all takes seconds.
From everyone’s votes parties are selected for parliament, and are there is two ways for political parties to be placed by the electorate into New Zealand’s parliament.
Firstly, the party can gain five percent, or more, of the total party vote.
Secondly, a member of a party can gain one, or more, electoral seats. In this case, the party’s electoral Members gain a seat in parliament, and the additional members are added to bring the total up to the party’s representation in parliament up to the proportion of its vote, even if the party did not cross the five percent threshold. The number of seats in parliament is 120, plus one or two so that proportionality can be maintained.
To govern, a grouping of parties representing over half of parliament has to be organised. It appears that the incoming National Party government will muster support in parliament that will equate to the backing of 52.3% of the voting public.
To put this into context: under the previous system of First Past the Post, the 1993 National Party held onto government with 35.05% of the vote, which isn’t far off the 33.7% of the vote that the Labour Party collected this election to be defeated. Clearly, under MMP, more people have a say in government with less wasted votes.
----------------------------------------------------
Oh, as for the phrase “strengthening the Anglosphere's defense anchor in the South Pacific.” Am I the first to tell you the British Empire has gone? Sounds like racist nonsense being spouted.
Simon| 11.13.08 @ 10:39PM
And the idea that either Australia or the US have been handed responsibility for NZ's defence is just twaddle. Perhaps the writer can provide an example of when either nation have had to rush to NZ's defence?
I'm guessing that the piece was written as part of an academic competition as to who could construct the most ill informed, ignorant essay on a nation. Perhaps publishing it here was first prize but surely the publication could've added a byline to that effect.
Roy| 11.14.08 @ 1:55AM
Being as I live here in New Zealand I will comment thus: this article is relatively correct; I found it pleasing to go to an American paper to read such a good honest piece; the minor inaccuracies are not worth mentioning. Personally I hate the anti-Americanism and much of NZ's anti-nuclear stance in regard to American ship visits, we then try to be the big mate when trade is on the agenda. I also dislike the Labour left which we have just kicked out of office, and had to painfully see you people take it on! John Key has had to keep well to the centre of the road to do so well in the elections (The same trick Tony Blair did to destroy the Conservatives in Britain). I was an admirer of the previous leader of the National Party Don Brash, who lost the leadership for being too honest and too straight talking for the rank and file of today’s politically correct leftist leaning crowd.
Amy| 11.14.08 @ 3:27AM
As a New Zealander who's now read Hal Colebatch's informative and accurate argument with pleasure, I'd like to say that all the supposed inaccuracies (such as the waiting list for elective surgery here being only about 2 months - totally untrue - tell that to the relatives of those who've died after 2 years or so waiting in vain ) are from letter writers whose spite is palpable - and depressing.What is wrong with this age that sheer viciousness (particularly from the Left) has so widely now replaced reasoned argument? The truth of an issue is the important thing. Those who hate the truth are highly problematic individuals...
Muscleguy| 11.14.08 @ 3:21PM
That supposedly obscure voting method is also used here in Scotland for Scottish Parliamentary elections and I understand it is also used by the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies.
It was brought in by national referendum and was voted for by a large margin. I regard doing so as one of the best executions of my civic duty I have ever done. It was brought in after a succession of governments, of both political stripes had enacted highly unpopular monetrist policies by governments with as little as 35% of the vote. Much like UK governments in fact. Perhaps you do not agree with the idea that governments should be elected by a majority of the population?
steve| 11.14.08 @ 3:59PM
I'd like to say that all the supposed inaccuracies are from letter writers whose spite is palpable - and depressing.What is wrong with this age that sheer viciousness (particularly from the Left) has so widely now replaced reasoned argument? The truth of an issue is the important thing.
Heh... Yes, you meanies, stop pointing out the glaring errors of fact in the article! It's the truth that counts!
Stephen Colbert is wasted on you guys.
Sean| 11.14.08 @ 4:20PM
Roy and Amy
As a New Zealander myself, I have to say this article’s inaccuracies are legion. It is not actually vile to prove that: it is correcting false information.
MMP is not hard to understand as suggested.
The Greens were not crushed at the ballot box, their parliamentary numbers increased. And there are now more Green MPs, than ACT MPs, which is normal.
The “few full-blooded Maori exist”, is a phrase used to marginalise the 10% of New Zealand voters who identify with being Maori and the Maori electorates. If that level of voters identify with the electorates, how can the electorates be removed without the agreement of those voters.
The government did not introduce what the writer describes as “Among other classic Nanny State legislation, parents were prohibited from smacking children”. Rather it was a Green MP’s private members bill, and was supported by the entire National Party caucus (see the vote at the bottom of the third reading of the bill from the online Hansard).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/0/8/8/48HansD_20070516_00001041-Crimes-Substituted-Section-59-Amendment.htm
“The school curriculum was taken over in the interests of propaganda.” Where is his evidence for this statement?
“In short, New Zealand was reduced to a classic and exemplary authoritarian socialist/left-liberal mess.” Does the author not know that under the last administration New Zealand was put into the best financial position it has ever been in?
To quote
“Labour's real achievements -- net government debt reduced from 20 billion to two billion before the current crisis; unemployment down to levels many people didn't think possible; a huge drop in the number of welfare beneficiaries, especially per capita; real wage growth; GDP growth that outstripped the OECD for years; a historic turnaround of trends in poverty; the repair of a public sector that was in dire straits by the end of the 90s; a serious attempt to address our savings problem via KiwiSaver and the Superannuation Fund; and a degree of stability that we now all take for granted -- outweigh any counterfactual.” Russell Brown ‘Public Address’ 7 Nov 2008 http://www.publicaddress.net/default,5486.sm#post5486
You might not agree with the above paragraph, or with Russell Brown’s political views, but can you prove it is incorrect in any way, and support your opinion with facts?
The article is wildly inaccurate, and none of its critics hate the truth.
iowavette| 11.14.08 @ 4:57PM
Hmmm. A Kiwi socialist state. Good for you. Won't be visiting anytime soon, kids.
Muscleguy| 11.14.08 @ 5:33PM
Of course the vast majority of Americans would regard the NZ National party and its policies as irredeemably Socialist. Which is why the crowing amongst the wingnut sphere in the US is so very funny. That you got so many facts so very wrong is just the icing on the cake.
Sean| 11.14.08 @ 5:37PM
Iowavette
You are entirely free not to visit New Zealand. But it is not a socialist state.
New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy.
The head of state is: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006).
The Legislative branch is a unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament, elected serve three-year terms. It is in this body all practical government is embodied. The role of the Governor General is to support the decisions of the elected representatives of the people.
The judiciary are the Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the Governor-General.
If you feel you need this information from an source in the United States, it is available from the CIA World Fact Book, online at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html
The CIA have not updated the site to reflect the results of the recent election, as until John Key of the National Party finalises his coalition arrangements, the previous administration remains in place. Just as President Bush remains in his office until President Obama replaces him. The only difference is John Key will be taking over the treasury benches this early this coming week, where as President Bush remain in his office until January.
Giovanni| 11.14.08 @ 5:40PM
Yes, Muscleguy, but on the down side Iowavette is not going to visit, and that's a cruel blow. We should have just let Hal "no research" Colebatch get away with it.
Amy Brooke| 11.14.08 @ 6:48PM
I see the forked-tongued lot are baying in a pack here. You can twist statistics as much as you like, deconstruct facts to your gleeful, pathetic satisfaction. Bad luck - Hal has got it right. Moreover, the Clark government, out of control with its bribing the electorate, apparently deliberately booby-trapped the economy in the hope the incoming National government (admittedly looking also very much like a pack of yes-men) - lasts one turn only.
The Labour coalition, however managed, through either sheer incompetence or this same, only-too-familiar leftist spite, to quickly turn a recent approximate six billion dollar tax credit into a now reputedly eight to nine billion dollar deficit, which bears little relation at this stage to the current world-wide economic collapse.
Helen Clark/Michael Cullen's legacy, apart from virtually destroying our defence capacity, waging war on the family, and changing the social fabric of the country, to the point where where violence and restlessness have greatly increased, has been to thoroughly run this country into ground so that NZer's are leaving for Australian in unprecedently record numbers.
These are facts, facts, facts - not the unsubstantiated fantasies of the Fairies in Leftoland. But then, when, sadly were these lost souls ever worth arguing with..? Amy
Giovanni| 11.14.08 @ 7:21PM
These are facts, facts, facts
I like how you didn't even try to defend any of Colebatch's "facts" (since you can't), and chose instead to introduce more spurious data of your own. With oh so predictable results:
NZer's are leaving for Australian in unprecedently record numbers.
You neglect to state that Australians are also moving to New Zealand in record numbers: here's an article from that notorious liberal rag, the New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10537087
For decades the immigration tide across the Tasman fell in Australia's favour but now New Zealand is the top destination for people leaving the wide brown land permanently.
Australia experienced its biggest annual exodus on record with 76,923 people leaving the country permanently in 2007-08, a 6.7 percent increase on the previous year.
You also write:
Moreover, the Clark government, out of control with its bribing the electorate, apparently deliberately booby-trapped the economy
Priceless. Yes, after presiding over nine years of economic prosperity, Helen Clark phoned her bolshevik friend GW and together they engineered the demise of the worldwide banking system. "We'd do anything to ensure John Key doesn't spend more than one term in office," said Bush to the white house press.
"waging war on the family"
Yes: paid parental leave, tax rebates, 20 hour free childcare, free GP visits for kids. Among other things, Clark's anti-family government have presided over a steep increase in the number of births.
changing the social fabric of the country, to the point where where violence and restlessness have greatly increased
Maybe your restlessness has increased, but by any measurable standard violent crime hasn't. In 2007 the murder rate was the lowest in a decade. Recorded family violence against women has increased, but that's likely the result - as it is in other countries - of the fact that women are more encouraged to report it (see the "it's not OK" campaign).
And I presume that by "changing the social fabric" of the country you mean the civil union and anti-child beating legislation? I'd remind you there that both measures were passed by the whole parliament, including conservatives.
But keep trying, by all means.
Ben M| 11.14.08 @ 8:46PM
Amy, what coloured glasses do you wear? Speaking as someone living in New Zealand I don't recognise the one either you or the original writer describe.
I wouldn't bring up deficits if I were you though. The original writer made the same mistake. Yes New Zealand did have a deficit that was much too high. That was because of 20 years of right wing economic policy which simply didn't and doesn't work. You may decry tax and spend and nationalised industries but the indisputable fact that the last 30 years has taught us is that essential services cannot be trusted to corporations who are required to put their shareholders first and their customers second. This is why governments the world over are using tax payers money to prop up infrastructure in privatised industries. Ironically one of National's main pledges is to spend $1.5B of tax payers money giving a privatised industry fibre based broadband. This simply goes to prove that privatisation of things like Telecoms, Water, Power, Rail, Banking etc. did not work as advertised. And so every year tax payers money gets gifted to these companies with no return on the investment. This is just plain insanity and the lie that privatisation was a good thing must end. Privatisation has given these industries nothing more than slick PR departments and nice new logos.
sam| 11.14.08 @ 10:55PM
The funniest part of this hilarious piece is the desperate attempt to smear Clark's Labour government as anti-Semitic, by quoting David Zwartz, a well-respected spokesman for the Jewish community (and prominent anti-racist), who was ... a local Labour candidate during Clark's time in office.
Roy| 11.15.08 @ 4:09AM
The first paragraph of Colebatch's article lets repeat it: ". . . New Zealand's far-left Labour government, led by the boot-faced anti-American ex-student radical Helen Clark, has been kicked out of office after nine destructive years." This says it all. This could not have been printed in an up-market paper in New Zealand. This is the beauty of the real truth being said in the good old US of A. Although most and more would be said in private, everybody with a morsel of memory will remember the good lady’s early political career. A mass of anti-establishment pro-totalitarianism, a miasma of nauseating paternalistic attitudes screeching forth from the freshly university indoctrinated young terrier. Once in power a fortification of welfare is put in place along with an immigration policy that makes sure the votes will be there for the next election. And the next.
Ben Wilson| 11.15.08 @ 10:04PM
LOL, what utter crap. It's all been said by the various commentators who noticed the glaring factual errors, and some of the more subtle ones too.
Only thing I have to add is that if the US of A thinks NZ is going to step up it's contribution to regional defense (to defend ourselves from what, exactly? Australia? Fiji?) then they really know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about how NZers think. We pay lip service to American military demands for the sole purpose of desperately trying to get a free trade agreement with the USA. And we have never got it and we never will because American farmers will never allow it, however much they believe that they stand for capitalism. So we keep our forces trained relatively cheaply by engaging on the periphery of the stupid military endeavors that Americans constantly think will save them rather than bankrupt them, as such expenditure did to the Soviet Union.
As for Labour 'sidelining Roger Douglas', I seem to remember that happening in the late 80s courtesy of PM David Lange, nothing to do with the Clark government. Douglas has only just managed to get back into parliament as founding member of the far right party ACT. His cadaverous mumblings about how things were going to change in NZ based on the 5 seats his party holds out of 120-odd, seemed almost as disconnected from reality as this article does, the dreams of an idealogue who once sold almost everything NZ owned for a song.
Mausie| 11.15.08 @ 10:40PM
LOL Maoris.
Angus| 11.16.08 @ 10:04AM
Let me just clear one other thing up for you Colebatch... this "unnecessary quarrel" you speak of was in fact started when Israeli spies were busted stealing the personal details of a young man with cerebal palsy with the intention of using these details to gain a New Zealand passport. A truely despicable act. You can only imagine what the reaction would be in America of such an act, especially if it was committed by a middle-eastern country other than Israel... probably all out war. Under the circumstances, I think Clark and the Labour Government dealt with the situation diplomatically, and the Israeli secret service should be ashamed with themselves for stooping so low. But good to see you did your research there, once again a Batch of Shite from the pen of Colebatch himself... it's frightening that you might actually have some influence on the opinions of others
Seth Wagoner | 11.16.08 @ 8:35PM
Wow. If this is a typical article from the "Spectator" I'm concerned for the people who take this magazine seriously. Their version of reality may be quite skewed from the norm. As prior Kiwi commenters have pointed out, it's riddled with factual errors and spin, and it also completely ignores the very successful economic track record of the outgoing government.
Allow me to contrast the records of Bush/GOP vs Clark/Labour:
The Bush/GOP kleptocracy robbed the US blind over the last 8 years, adding over 5 trillion to the national debt and probably another 10 trillion in long term unfunded liabilities (medicare, social security, etc), while padding their pockets and those of their friends and lobbyists, ignoring the financial forces at work that led to the most impressive financial meltdown since the Great Depression, failed to find Bin Laden *or* any Iraqi WMD, and generally made an unbelievable mess while their friends made a killing.
Meanwhile, under 3 successive Labour-led governments under Helen Clark, NZ has:
a) Been lauded as the most business friendly nation on Earth by the IMF and the World Bank
b) Run successive budget surpluses, paying down the national debt while creating a highly successful new national pension fund (as opposed to the routinely plundered and utterly bankrupt social security fund run by the USA), and even, finally, reducing taxes.
c) Consistently performed above the OECD average for GDP growth.
d) Had the lowest unemployment rate in the OECD
e) Raised the standard of living for more or less everyone, repaired the mess left for them by the last center-right government, and are now handing over the reigns of a much improved nation in a polite and orderly democratic transition.
Frankly, I know who I'd rather have in charge.
Michael| 11.18.08 @ 6:40AM
Iowavette said "Hmmm. A Kiwi socialist state. Good for you. Won't be visiting anytime soon, kids. "
I believe all good GOPs never leave home, which we love and thank you for ;)
Barry Key| 11.18.08 @ 8:20AM
There is a little light in the South Pacific, it's New Zealand burning to the ground.
The fire sale begins.
Arieh Lebowitz| 11.19.08 @ 11:42PM
New Zealand new PM credits his success to his Jewish mother
European Jewish Press, Belgium - 11 hours ago
The new 47-year-old Prime Minister, who was sworn in during a ceremony in the capital, Wellington, has credited his success to his Jewish mother, ...
http://www.ejpress.org/article/32095
PEOPLE: New Zealand's new prime minister is poor boy made good,
Monsters and Critics.com - Nov 8, 2008
He credits his success to his Jewish mother, an Austrian who fled Vienna in 1939 and worked as a cleaner to get him through university, after rejecting ...
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1441804.php/PEOPLE_New_Zealands_new_prime_minister_is_poor_boy_made_good_
Political novice to be NZ Prime Minister guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8000082
75 Squadron| 11.22.08 @ 1:13AM
Terrific article - so many normal heterosexuals are extremely glad to see the end of Helengrad. Labour were a party overly subscribed by gays and lesbians whose liberal agenda did more damage than necessary as they pushed to pass laws that benefitted their particular agenda, ably led by a childless woman who resented being married and wept on her wedding day, and her lesbian number two who pulled her strings.
Perhaps now she and rainbow Labour are gone, America will now let the American firm who tendered for our scrapped Skyhawks, buy them. The deal depends upon the State Dept. approving the sale and while Helen Clark was in power, that was never going to happen. Fingers crossed.
No , the nuclear ban was not Clark's govt. but was Lange's Labour lot in the early eighties. Whilst Lange and the Americans were agreeable to the non nuclear armed ships visiting NZ ports, Helen Clark - then a high flyer in their Lange Govt. -pushed for (and got) a ban on nuclear powered ships as well. Lange was not happy about it, but let it go. The Americans did not.
This finished any amicable relations with the U.S. and has left NZ out in the cold ever since however much Helen liked to tell our nation that our countries were good friends.
Then Clark scrapped the Skyhawks so goodbye ANZUS. Hopefully Key can restore the good faith that we had with the US before the socialists so vengefully destroyed it under the hands of an anti-American feminist.
Michael| 11.23.08 @ 4:49PM
75 Squadron, please can you tell me when, if ever the Skyhawks or any strike force has even been used by NZ?
As such, stop bellyaching about something never used and therefore never missed. It is far better resources are put to actual use rather than being toys.
Correct on Lange & Clarks respective Anti-Nuke positions, now it would be worth noting this is now the position of all major parties and part of the NZ mindset. Only ACT 3.?% of the vote are pro-nuke.