BP, I think you're just baiting me for the fun of it. First, the free trade deal with China didn't sound near as onerous as the TPPA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Ze...rade_Agreement
As FPA predicted, it did open up our country to cheap washing machines. Now you can buy a washing machine for NZ$500, and FPA is owned by the Chinese firm Haier mostly. That was quick. Less manufacturing in Auckland in that area now, but they do have a big R&D team. Let's hope it lasts. I'm surprised about the agreed movement of people from China to NZ for work experience and training, but not the other way around. I see in the paper that since 2008, 110,000 European or American-trained PhD graduates have returned to China.. "Scientists are better paid in China than in the US or Europe, and its many modern research facilities are showered by almost limitless government funding".
Do I think Labour is full of hypocrites or left-wing political fundamentalists, no, but I did read two books critical of Labour's last term over the holidays, and they didn't always do what their speeches and policies implied.
I can say exactly what I think, but it will always be tempered by the need to show unity for Labour/Green amongst the likes of readers on this thread. Labour/Green, as a coalition, has the best chance of beating National in 2017, and this country has suffered long enough at the hand of lame self-serving politicians.