Transtasman Political Letter – 15 March Digest

15th March 2007

PM Prepares for White House diplomacy...
Is John Key’s honeymoon as leader ending...
Govt finds itself on the rack over Corrections failures...
And its support for the anti-smacking Bill creates a paradox...
Foresters want carbon credits...
Mallard hails biotech trends...
Labour tries to take advantage of a ‘split in the ranks’ on National’s economic policy...
And Taito Phillip Field flexes his political muscles.

White House Meeting Still Vital To NZ’s Future

Helen Clark heads off to Washington next week, fending off critics who say there is little point in engaging with a President whose popularity has plummeted and who is on the way out. Clark says President Bush is in power for another two years and there are many issues both on the global and regional scale to be dealt with

Is Key’s Honeymoon Over...
Or Wishful Thinking By Labour?

Political parties will be watching the latest batch of opinion polls closely. Labour believes they will show the honeymoon period for the new National leader is ending, while National is convinced John Key is widening the gap with Labour.

Rise And Fall Of Economy At Heart Of Debate

Finance Minister Michael Cullen had some fun in Parliament this week at what he described as the contradictory statements on tax from National’s two top men.

Govt On Rack Over ‘Double Standards’ Paradox

The Govt found itself batting on a sticky wicket this week. Even some of its own, admittedly more conservative, supporters might have been disenchanted by Labour’s bloc vote in favour of anti-smacking.

CAPITAL TALK

The Treasury has always given the media the Crown accounts under embargo on Wednesdays, exactly half an hour ahead of public release - until this week when the document arrived on Tuesday with a Thursday embargo. A swift email followed to put the matter right. It should have been Wednesday and would the media please respect the embargo. What will they do with the budget, the media wondered...

Play Of The Week: Smack Of Firm Government

The issue before the House which will have the greatest effect on NZers right now is probably Green MP Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking Bill. The bid for a compromise this week, from National MP Chester Borrows, failed when the Maori Party decided to back the Bradford Bill.

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