Helen Clark and Michael Cullen were sometimes criticised for taking a bit of time to make big decisions. They sometimes resorted to seeking more advice, getting more reports, asking for further options.
Some people got frustrated with them – but most were ok because they knew that once either of them gave their word they would stick to it.
John Key may learn from the Tuhoe experience that you can’t just say yes to everybody.
Being the nice guy might work for a while but letting some grumpy national party delegates or a focus group turn you into a liar doesn’t do much for your integrity John.
What integrity? Smile and Wave has shown none that i can see.
Looks like Key is struggling with the workload, to me. Say what you like about Clark, but she worked like a trojan and was across everything, in great detail. Who was it that said ‘if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything’? Pity the MSM is as idle and flakey as Key is. No wonder they love him so.
“One sure way of only being a one-term government is by breaking your word, and I have no intention of breaking my word.”
John Key, campaign blog, 17 October 2008.
Smile and Wave is only struggling with keeping promises to his own Party.
Watch for a National groundswell at upcoming conferences on the ETS. I have more faith in grassroots National supoporters than to think they will take one in the chook over the ETS.
While on the topic of leaders – girls this David Miliband, UK Labour leader in waiting is a bit of alright isn’t he?
Bit of thread David Kate – spent a bit of time with him before he was an MP and then when in the Education Minister job – very bright. Good policy sense and smart on politics.
Hands off.
Hi Trev
Young and a bit of the Will Carling look about him
Laura Bush , Cactus aint. The leading pollies do best with partners who are apolitical.
I see the smile/wave routine is still on. Key is on Closeup ‘live’ . But its all about Cameron!!
Whats the bet Tuhoe will be ignored as Mark Sainsbury looks for colour and sound bites, helped by Keys minders standing behind the cameras who will raise merry hell if Key is cross
Well who better to talk about the new PM’s campaign than the man who ran the exact same campaign 18 months ago. Has Crosby Textor franchised it???
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Scroll down and the photo they have even looks like Key.
Well C/T have been behind the Conservatives campaign. Such as this in the Guardian..
“On Wednesday, before last night’s debate, the Telegraph reported on a Crosby/Textor poll carried out in 100 marginals – 80 held by Labour and 20 by the Liberal Democrats”
The style of the Tory campaign, pushing the diversity, environment and social justice credentials of the leader , and hoping in rubs off on the party is recycled from the Nats approach BEFORE the election . No doubt C/T laid it all out.
all I can say after all those years voting for labour I Never had any responses mailing serious concerns & issues to the party. I did the same to John Keyn and had psoitive constructive response from both Key and English.
from JDL (used to be Labour voter – Not anymore)
Close… I mean Candy Floss didnt surprise. It was all gush gush… you have Camerons cell phone number ?….
John apparently said something like ownership would be “complicated but possible” in speaking to the Tuhoe negotiator in March.
I think it is a classic case of John just saying what he thinks the other fellow wants to hear. But in this case Key was caught out because the issue was very important. He pulled out because to do as was supposed would be an insult to his supporters and it would be better to just sit out the embarrassment as a reneger on his word for a few days. MSM would drop it quickly.
this probably would have happened any, when a group like tuhoe is offered what is effectively a bank cheque they ask for too much , Mr Key had to do it.
Some people on here have been saying it is pandering to the masses…so what? what the masses want they will generally get, particularly when they are only two third into their premiership.
stephen
“when a group like tuhoe is offered what is effectively a bank cheque they ask for too much”
If what they were asking for was not money a b(l)ank or did you mean bank?) cheque would never satisfy their claim. The idea that money solves everything would appear to be getting one in the eye in this instance.
Interesting take on negotiating stephen? Forget principle and look at the money. In another thread you chastise an MP for using humour to denigrate the PM and the UK PM, but making a promise to consider something, then refusing to consider it is ok?
jdl, your key and english responses, were these received since being in Govt?
Is that right JDL?
My experience with contacting members of the National party was one was prompt and and clear (Lockwood Smith in his role as Speaker), one was tardy and dodged responsibility (John Key as Prime Minister), and the other just did not respond (Gerry Brownlee as Leader of the House).
In contrast, I have had genuine conversations with Labour MPs, despite not being a member, when I have approached them. And any question I have asked a MP on RedAlert has been answered within an hour or two.
I’m not a Labour party member.
@Tracey
I wasn’t actually referring to money- more the idea that the government was willing to listen to any reasonable offer and obviously this it can be argued that handing back the National Park was simply asking too much
Where can I find more information on this actual issue? I had hoped this blog would be somewhat enlightening…
Personally I belive that John Key realised that handing over a prime jewel in the National Park estate, to an unaccountable iwi elite, who will almost certainly restrict access (their assurances of public access are lies), would be, to paraprase a certain lady made of iron, one treaty settlement too far.
He is to be applauded for this. The fact is, that Te Urewera National park should remain with the Crown for all New Zealanders to enjoy, and not be handed over to Maori, no matter how legitamite their greivances may be.
Perhaps, if there is any hint, that Tuhoe will get the Urerewas, Labour should immediately pledge to reverse the deal if it gets into power.
There are legitamite issues here. One being that iwi want prime peices of our outdoor and conservation estate, and that if they get them, the kiwi tradition of a picnic in the outdoors will be destroyed.
See you’re back, Rebecca.
Smile and wave has done more than just wave an upright digit at Tuhoe, he has called them cannibals …
Absolutely appalling.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2010/05/13/124803f18757
@mickysavage
1. it was a joke.
2. it was in reference to current uruwera talk breakdowns
3. they did used to be cannibals, in fact arguably one of the last hold out areas…
Catcus said: “While on the topic of leaders – girls this David Miliband, UK Labour leader in waiting is a bit of alright isn’t he?”
Certainly is, he supports a TEQ individual carbon trading scheme… But that’s not what you meant, is it……?
m illsy – You should ask to get off m oderation. Both sweetd and monty got let off by Clare.
Come on m oderators
Let poor m illsy off too. 
Nice to know I am missed Spud! I have been here & having a nose, but haven’t really had the time or interest to comment as well, some of the posts seem fairly repetitive and with it being the start of the new financial year things get crazy!
This however, is a very interesting issue. I would like to know more. Is this the same Iwi that were charged with possession of all those firearms a couple of years ago?
The Iwi wasn’t charged with anything… Individuals however were…
stephenm
Who defines what a “reasonable” offer is, John Key, you or me? If one party isn’t prepared to accept an offer, then they might consider it unreasonable.
As for the humour, you are perhaps defending the indefensible, it was poorly timed and in poor taste for the TUHOE who were feeling let down by him. It’s a lack of judgment or a desire to make political gains (to his audience) at the expense of respect.
millsy
Do you actually KNOW what Tuhoe wanted and what they would or could do with it???
*I* could see the humour, but I am not Tuhoe.
This is a fabulous website, outlining NgatiTuhoe history and the claim process for those who want to find out more about what is being negotiated
http://tekotahiatuhoe.iwi.nz.win2.mydns.net.nz/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=IrIMJvA1Lfk%3d&tabid=64
Just as a reminder, the Maori Party exists because of Labour’s lack of integrity re: judicial process and the Foreshore and Seabed debate.
Simon said:
Thank goodness National is handling Maori land issues so much more respectfully, eh Simon?
Yea Simon, it’s not like National even wanted that Act, they didnt think it went FAR ENOUGH. Seems it’s ok for them to change THEIR minds, but not Labour from even 20 year old actions?
I suspect Turia also has something of a grudge. Women tend to hold onto grudges, for decades. Men seem able to thrash stuff out, face to face, and then move on. I know it’s a generalisation BUT it’s one I have observed during my life and my own experiences… It’s one of the differences between men and women I admire (that men can do this).
Tracey said:
Yeah I realised this one day, when when my partner at one time managed to drag up some (I thought) long forgotten event from two years ago in exquisite multi-colour, high definition painstaking detail and I’m like, gobsmacked like a typical male trying to remember.
And I reckon you two are a pair of old sexists. Lots of men hold onto grudges – my view is that revenge is a dish best served cold and unexpected.
How Klingon of you, dear Trevor :p
@Trev – gulp
@ Simon – if it wasant for the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004, you wouldnt be able to walk along the Maori owned beaches.
But Kiwi traditions mean little to people like you
@ Tracey.
I dont care why Tuhoe want the Ureweras, the fact is, they cant have it, it is a Nation Park owned by all New Zealanders.