The Greens are getting out their zero carbon organic wind instruments and tootling away in the hope that working as a duo with Labour will mean they get into the parliamentary orchestra. This will require some rearranging of the sheet music so that they are playing the same song.
National have lost their Key percussionist and are now marching to the beat of a different drum. The rhythm keeps slipping into a lazy waltz towards re-election. This could be a problem unless the conductor lifts the tempo.
In contrast, the Act Party, playing the solo triangle, is barely audible above the din being made by the Maori and Mana parties performing on traditional instruments creating tone but little actual music.
The Opportunities Party is dogged by cats and performing on the Tweet is not considered by others as a real musical instrument.
United Future are the banjo players of politics. But nobody wants to hear Deliverance over and over again and there are no orchestral parts for the banjo.
NZ First remains a one-man band with Winston banging away on an old tin drum, refusing to play any foreign instruments, and saying rights for Maori are divisive while he enjoys all the benefits and perks of being in the orchestra.
He has done nothing as MP for Northland to address issues for young people in the area other than complain about the banning of corporal punishment, as if its re-introduction would magically solve youth offending.
None of the political parties seem to have any ideas about housing apart from getting into the Houses of Parliament.
Housing for people on low incomes, as prices and rentals spiral higher, seems to be off the to-do list. All appear to be tone deaf to the ratcheting, clanking and grinding noises coming from the social cogs inside the market model machine as prices crunch into unrecognisable shapes.
This, and children being born into disadvantage, are the two main issues that will define the social and economic future of New Zealand but it seems to be a song that politicians are unwilling to sing, in case voters tune out.
I think they are wrong.
The various parties need to unpack their policy instruments because NZers are actually intensely interested in the effects of inequality and are looking for long-term cohesive responses from government.
A loud knee-jerk policy instrument is not always best and, in this election, we will be listening for both the ensemble and solo performances.
And listen we shall - Whanganui has again demonstrated the power of working in unison to ensure its citizens remained safe and secure as the threat of flooding came and then thankfully receded.
Footnote: Careful observation earlier this week noted that if the baristas of this great coffee city went on strike, then we would be in real trouble.
-Terry Sarten (aka Tel) is a musician, writer and coffee-drinking satirist - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz
