Interesting turn-of-phrase there, MVT, but I was hardly going to say that Labour squeaked in at the by-election. There wasn't a big turnout, but they certainly won the thing. Ms Whaitiri has plenty of political pedigree, and had been helping Parekura for many years. She's not a bunny.
My wife was sent a National party brochure yeterday in the post, full of half-truths, and I will deconstruct it a bit more when I get the chance. Suffice to say that this glossy 4-page publication paints a rosy picture of a strongly recovering NZ, yet in the Herald today (page A3) I see that over 38% of all respondents in the Digipoll thought they were worse off than two years ago, another 40% said they were the same.
While most costs have gone up, wage rises have been put on hold, and many have less takehome after changes to govt super policy etc. Those in jobs are mostly too worried to move. (The govt says unemployment is down, but of course the number of jobs has probably dropped, people are giving up on employment hopes). Another bleak indicator is that we are all buying 25% more takeaways than a few years ago. Why? because we're running around more, less time to cook at home, and the budget restraints (fuel costs are way up) mean cheaper will have to do, more often.
As an example of this, have a look next time you're in a queue at a service station. Depending on the location, many are putting a fraction of a tank in the car each time. Transport costs (and house rental costs) are clobbering leftover spending power.