An interesting week

I've been away from the blog focused on other matters in the past few weeks, so that explains the silence. I also didn't really feel like writing much.

What my time has been focused on has been meeting and talking with Labour Party members as the party in Auckland runs up towards its list conference, where 200 delegates from around the region will meet to rank local nominees for the Auckland list.

I've also been selected as the Labour Party candidate for the general electorate seat of Hunua, in southern Auckland.

And I've been considering in all of that what Labour needs to do to win the election and form a government after it, in partnership with other centre-left parties.

It seems to me there's a simple choice for people to make: they will be able to carry on with a team that has done pretty well, and that has governed in a way that they like.

Or, they will be able to choose an unknown team with an unknown agenda, whose principles and values are at odds with those of most New Zealanders.

You've seen some examples of Labour listening in the past few weeks. Helen Clark's opening statement to Parliament dealt well with the fact that an advanced economy needs the skills in the workplace to develop a higher income economy, and proposed solid improvements to training and education for young people to deliver. The priority of Kiwi ownership of Kiwi assets has been re-asserted. Discussions are under way about the purchase of the railways again, as they are an uneconomic proposition for their owner and would probably best be operated in the public interest (but in an efficient manner).

Today's announcement about major new investment in the agricultural sector's science base is another example of what Labour is going to do this year: we are rolling out the policies that meet New Zealand's future challenges. They're policies that are broadly supported by the public because they do deal with the problems that need fixing, and they add up to an important point about this Labour government.

That is, that its work is under way but nowhere near finished. Because New Zealand isn't where it needs to be yet.

On an economic front, many indicators have gotten better in the past few years, but more needs to be done: in productivity, in export growth and promotion, in a more skilled labour force, in the research base to allow it all to happen.

On an environmental front, because our clean green reputation sometimes isn't the reality and it needs to be. Aiming to be the first carbon neutral economy is an amazing and brilliant goal, and the policy to deliver it is starting to appear. It needs to be followed through, and the huge and historic task of working out how to do that is one that Labour's up for.

On a social front, there is a major improvement in the numbers in jobs, major declines of the numbers on benefits, a new security in retirement income and in the diversity and plurality of our nation. But there are still to many people living in poverty, too many people who cannot afford their own home.

Acknowledging there is more to do and listening to how to do it is what I'm doing this year in politics. No government is perfect and no rational person should expect it to be: governments are made up of people like us. No party that seeks to build a fairer and more prosperous society can ever be content with things as they are, because there's always further to go.

The febrile state of the polls for Labour I think reflects a lack of confidence in some parts of the community that Labour has anything left to offer, and a bit of boredom and tiredness on the electorate's part with the familiar faces and ways of working the government has to offer. It also reflects real pressure on household budgets (I almost died at the price of a kg of tasty cheese last night!) that are being stoked by some mischeivous promises of magic wands being waved by our opponents.

I just come back to this: the challenges New Zealand faces demand a response. There is a party ready to respond with policies that are in line with Kiwi values, that will work, and it is a party which has proven it has the strength to deliver change in the public interest.

That party is Labour, and I am proud to be one of the candidates taking that message out to the public: that New Zealand is changing, needs to change further, and that Labour is the only party with the only leader strong enough to deliver the changes the country wants and needs to deal with the future.

Comments

[Gooner]

Well done Jordan. First time candidate?

[Socrates]

So when are you shifting to live in the electorate?

[Stephen]

think he grew up there or something

[Ray]

Congratulations Jordon, well done.
I just wonder what makes you think you cn even guess at what" principles and values are at odds with those of most New Zealanders."
How long have you lived here and who do you base these values on.

[Insolent Prick]

Oh, this is fun.

Well done, Jordon. Congratulations on your selection in the Hunua seat. I think your selection for Labour in Hunua very ably and demonstrably typifies how much Labour is in touch with local voters. I think you're very courageous to stand for Labour in what will be National's largest majority this time. Not very bright, but I salute your courage.

But let's have a look at what you've written.

It seems to me there's a simple choice for people to make: they will be able to carry on with a team that has done pretty well, and that has governed in a way that they like.

Or, they will be able to choose an unknown team with an unknown agenda, whose principles and values are at odds with those of most New Zealanders.

With all due respect to you, Jordon, the polls suggest voters understand the choice. They're tired of Labour. They don't believe that Labour has done well. They do understand what National stands for, and believe National can do a much better job of it. But we expected that rhetorical flourish from you. You're just parroting ninth floor spin. Given that Hunua will have National's largest majority in the house after the election, you will have to do better than that to minimise total humiliation for yourself.

You've seen some examples of Labour listening in the past few weeks. Helen Clark's opening statement to Parliament dealt well with the fact that an advanced economy needs the skills in the workplace to develop a higher income economy, and proposed solid improvements to training and education for young people to deliver.

Sorry, Jordon, but Labour's had eight and a half years to listen, and have failed dismally. This is not the time, as your party goes into meltdown, to "propose solid improvements to training and education". Why haven't you come up with the strategies already? Why haven't you implemented them?

The priority of Kiwi ownership of Kiwi assets has been re-asserted. Discussions are under way about the purchase of the railways again, as they are an uneconomic proposition for their owner and would probably best be operated in the public interest (but in an efficient manner).

No, the priority hasn't been re-asserted, Jordon. Auckland Airport has simply been restricted from access to much-needed capital for development of infrastructure, for purely populist politics. Ownership of kiwi assets are not reasserted when the Cullen Fund bails out of Auckland Airport shares. The purchase of the railways is a bloody stupid idea. Is Air New Zealand operated in the public interest now, or for purely commercial interests? The hiring of Shanghai-based flight attendants at Chinese market rates, contrary to Labour Party and Union policy suggest that New Zealand employment issues are not being served by Air New Zealand. The Government should do the decent thing and transfer Air New Zealand shares to the Super Fund, and allow the Super Fund guardians to decide whether the ownership of airline shares is in New Zealand's economic interests.

On an economic front, many indicators have gotten better in the past few years, but more needs to be done: in productivity, in export growth and promotion, in a more skilled labour force, in the research base to allow it all to happen.

Inflation is at a historical high. Interest rates are at a level that make housing much less affordable. Housing prices are on the brink of collapse. The New Zealand dollar is at an unsustainable level. New Zealand has made no major advancements in productivity. New Zealand wages still lag behind Australia. New Zealand's going backwards in the OECD. Given the eight year economic summer that New Zealand's experienced, Labour has tragically missed the opportunity to capitalise on it. That's nothing to be proud of, Jordon. Eight and a half years of Labour has been eight and a half years of ruined opportunity. Labour's failed so far. Why should you expect voters to believe you will suddenly start performing?

On an environmental front, because our clean green reputation sometimes isn't the reality and it needs to be. Aiming to be the first carbon neutral economy is an amazing and brilliant goal, and the policy to deliver it is starting to appear.

It's a hollow goal, Jordon. Eight and a half years and New Zealand's environmental record has declined faster than the very international demons that Labour points its finger at. Labour's mindless spin around carbon neutrality isn't consistent with its record over the last eight and a half years.

Good on you for trying, Jordon. But the fact is your party has failed dismally over eight and a half years in all of the goals you have set for yourselves. It is too late to say you will start delivering. Nobody believes you.