If National wins ...

[westerly]

LOL - didn't you conveniently forget to mention the reason for the increased debt levels? Not saying that they did a particular good job, but still propose you compare the NZ debt "blow out" with what happened in basically every other country in this world during that time. US; UK, Greece, Spain, Argentina, Russia, Ireland, Iceland, ... You might find that, relative to nearly everybody else, the NZ government of the day did a quite good job in confining their debts.

Hey Daytr - maybe you should consider giving these green / pink glasses back to EZ (or Belg ...) Hard to see the reality when wearing them.

Those countries were heavily indebted before the GFC NZ was not.

Maybe you should take off those neo right blinkers ?

westerly

[iceman]

Not so sure about that westerly but numbers can be easily manipulated to suit one's argument, like we so often see on here.

Here are some numbers that came up in quick search on PUBLIC DEBT for 2007 and 2012 as a percentage of GDP:
UK 44% 89%
US 36% 92%
Spain 36% 84%
Australia 15% 32%
NZ 21% 38%
Greece 90% 157%
Iceland 28% 132%
Ireland 25% 118%
Canada 64% 82%

Hard to find a country that has come better out of the GFC than NZ, based on these numbers. But of course there are many other metrics/numbers to take into account. I think NZ and New Zealanders have come out of it better than most though !

Those countries were heavily indebted before the GFC NZ was not.

Maybe you should take off those neo right blinkers ?

westerly

[westerly]

Not so sure about that westerly but numbers can be easily manipulated to suit one's argument, like we so often see on here.

Here are some numbers that came up in quick search on PUBLIC DEBT for 2007 and 2012 as a percentage of GDP:
UK 44% 89%
US 36% 92%
Spain 36% 84%
Australia 15% 32%
NZ 21% 38%
Greece 90% 157%
Iceland 28% 132%
Ireland 25% 118%
Canada 64% 82%

Hard to find a country that has come better out of the GFC than NZ, based on these numbers. But of course there are many other metrics/numbers to take into account. I think NZ and New Zealanders have come out of it better than most though !

I agree; on those figures NZ came through the gfc better than most. Some countries bailed out their banks which NZ did not have to do. As you say there are various interpretations of the different statistics available

westerly

[elZorro]

Iceman, the figures in this link are more like:

Australia 15%, 29%
NZ 26%, 51%

Australia also improved its position in gross debt % amongst the OECD, where NZ went higher up the table. Both countries are in the bottom quartile, sure.

https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/ec...percentage-gdp

A new article from Werewolf about Mr Fixit, Steven Joyce. Very interesting, I'll remember this next time he's in the news.

http://werewolf.co.nz/2015/03/the-myth-of-steven-joyce/

[elZorro]

A second poll reinforces the one earlier this week. National are going to lose up north.

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/3...ad-peters-poll

Here are the actual polling results.

http://www.colmarbrunton.co.nz/index...r-brunton-poll

Mathew Hooton, NBR today.

http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/sabin-c...ps-ticking-key

[Sgt Pepper]

A second poll reinforces the one earlier this week. National are going to lose up north.

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/3...ad-peters-poll

Here are the actual polling results.

http://www.colmarbrunton.co.nz/index...r-brunton-poll

Mathew Hooton, NBR today.

http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/sabin-c...ps-ticking-key

EZ

I can imagine the following email

To: Crosby Textor

From: John Key

Subject: Northland By (Buy!) election.I want a substantial refund.

[jonu]

If Winnie wins, do we still get our bridges Mr Bridges?

[artemis]

If Winnie wins, do we still get our bridges Mr Bridges?

Mr Key said yes. And that has to be so as 2017 is not that far away. But the projects might not be on the super fast track.

[elZorro]

EZ

I can imagine the following email

To: Crosby Textor

From: John Key

Subject: Northland By (Buy!) election.I want a substantial refund.

Yes, I guess that could be true. But maybe they didn't use Crosby-Textor until it was too late. I still think Winston saw the opportunity early on, was just pretending he was thinking about it, until he had all the gear and the slogans ready. A great flying start, integrity in communication, that worked, and so it gives hope to all the other parties for 2017, particularly Labour (if they can just get organised).

ipredict puts the boot in as well, today.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO150...aw-emerges.htm

[Daytr]

Black Peter, do you even believe the stuff you right? Blaming Labour for National's incurred debt after they have been in power 7 years! Give me break. Yes we had the GFC and yes the tax take was down but that doesn't explain $40Bln ! In fact it doesn't even explain $10Bln! Since then thanks to China we have had the biggest export boom this country has ever seen in dairy and debt is still growing and it has every year under National. Yes NZ as did Australia get through the GFC relatively unscathed but that had very little to with either country's government and far more to do with China than anything else. So all we are seeing is an explosion of government debt that there is no plan to start paying down. If we carry on borrowing like we have we are heading in the same place Japan, Europe & the US is with governments that have mass debt burdens with no way to pay off. We are long way from that yet, but that's the direction under National. I am not pro Labour, but they cannot be blamed for debt being incurred 7 years after they left office. Open the other eye!