A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Opinion
Chris Hipkins’ ban on working with Winston Peters and NZ First post-election may produce some public bravado in the Labour Party rank and file, yet the absolute tone of that proclamation could be sending shivers of fear up the spines of some Labour candidates who actually want to be partof the next government, either with or without Peters.
Two areas where I believe middle-NZ will be doubtful of any government which does not contain a strong influence from NZ First are health and housing.
If steps taken by government in trying to restore and improve our health and hospital systems do not bear fruit in the near future, there will likely be an environment of public protest that could never be controlled by simply not recognising the protesters.
Failure to tightly regulate overseas interests buying up our farms and dwellings will further damage the desperate plight of Kiwis.
Peters attended the mandates protest and talked to protesters. He has unequivocally said “no” to the selling of NZ farms and urban properties to overseas buyers.
No matter what lines in the sand some party leaders are drawing against NZ First, if that party gets above the 5 percent line in the election, elected members of all parties are likely to direct their leaders to obliterate those lines in the sand.
It would not surprise me if many ostensibly loyal party members of the major parties will see the need to involve NZ First in our next government and secretly give NZ First their party vote.
That action would not give us chaos — chaos is what we have now.
