If National wins ...

[winner69]

In the UK in the 4 decades from 1960 to 1999 estimated voter turnout from both homeowners and renters was about 75% (homeowners slightly higher rate but not by much)

Since then the turnout of homeowners has decline a fraction but renters turnout has declined from 70% to less than 50%

In the UK at least those who rent the voter turnout has declined from about 70% to less than 50%. This has also occured at the same time as the gap between the turnout of those >65 and the 21-35 age group is the widest it's ever been.

I would hazard a guess much the same in NZ (yes?)

Seems the young and those who rent aren't that keen on voting.

If the main parties in NZ it seems that Greens are the one who are doing the best job promoting themselves to the young and renters .....but as EZ said Nationals advantage is that their 'supporters' turn out at a greater rate and Labour et all lament the low turnout of other groups

What's changed that is going to make this year different

[Sgt Pepper]

John Keys Knighthood

Hmm
Shortly after National came to power in 2008 they made a most unexpected announcement, the reintroduction of Knighthoods. This was both unexpected and intriguing as it had never been raised prior to the election nor was it in its manifesto. Even more so because Key had disclosed that he was " a little bit republican" However being the flexible opportunist that he is he quickly shifted ground. Just like working for families went from being " communism by stealth" in 2005 to being retained and strengthened when he came to power.
So why was he in such a hurry to reintroduce knighthoods?
Now we know .

[fungus pudding]

John Keys Knighthood

Hmm
Shortly after National came to power in 2008 they made a most unexpected announcement, the reintroduction of Knighthoods. This was both unexpected and intriguing as it had never been raised prior to the election nor was it in its manifesto. Even more so because Key had disclosed that he was " a little bit republican" However being the flexible opportunist that he is he quickly shifted ground. Just like working for families went from being " communism by stealth" in 2005 to being retained and strengthened when he came to power.
So why was he in such a hurry to reintroduce knighthoods?
Now we know .

So tell us.

[elZorro]

Here are some leftie views on John Key's reign in politics, plenty of truth in these.

https://thestandard.org.nz/arise-sir-john/

[fungus pudding]

Here are some leftie views on John Key's reign in politics, plenty of truth in these.

https://thestandard.org.nz/arise-sir-john/

No need to worry eZ. John Key has gone. There's a Mr. English there now. You'll like him.

[Sgt Pepper]

No need to worry eZ. John Key has gone. There's a Mr. English there now. You'll like him.

and what's more he remembers where he lives now. I recall some years ago there was some confusion whether his place of residence was Dipton or Wellington.

[elZorro]

R&D spend still not where it should be, small uptick lauded..

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU170...ay+8+June+2017

A business colleague of mine looked at the lower end funding from Callaghan recently, and saw that even there, his business, which has 1-2 employees and is a cut-down version of a much bigger export business that thrived for many years, cannot meet the criteria. SMEs are just kept out by the rules. These are newer rules, so as I suspected, they are looking at the bigger end of town and not giving startups much of a look-in.

[elZorro]

That Colmar Brunton poll isn't too bad. National had the limelight and called the shots with the budget announcement, but if Labour, the Greens and NZ First formed a coalition, there would be a stalemate on those results, 59 seats to the left/centre, 59 seats to right/centre.

And Andrew Little is picking up as preferred PM, the incumbent looking not as preferred as National people would like, I'm sure. I wonder if Bomber Bradbury's 2016 prediction of some major anti-Nat news two months out from the election will change things further? I can think of a couple of areas that Sir John Key would be shaky on, but I guess the party have been able to cauterise any big damage there.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-...en-party-slips

[winner69]

All going for Tories in UK - outright majority likely

Just like for Nats in November

[fungus pudding]

That Colmar Brunton poll isn't too bad. National had the limelight and called the shots with the budget announcement, but if Labour, the Greens and NZ First formed a coalition, there would be a stalemate on those results, 59 seats to the left/centre, 59 seats to right/centre.

And Andrew Little is picking up as preferred PM,

Of course. Next poll will have him the most popular man in the entire planet.