liberation: NZ Politics Daily: 13 January

David Shearer

With the Maritime union expecting to be locked out soon there are increasing calls for Labour to take a stand at the Ports of Auckland. The most passionate being from Chris Trotter, who compares the situation to the major 1913 and 1951 waterside disputes. He says the defeat of the Maritime Union would enable a sustained attack on unions and workers across the country and that the left must rally to defend the port workers, even preparing to occupy the wharves: ‘Makes more sense than sitting in a pup-tent in Auckland’s Aotea Square’ – see: Chris Trotter: The Auckland Ports Dispute: An Injury To All.

Another must-read item on the issue comes from David Farrar see: The great port stand-off. In this Herald column Farrar says ‘The stakes are high for both sides. The losing side will be humiliated and powerless’. He also hints that when David Shearer does take a stand on the issue, it may not be one the unions will like. Farrar also strongly advises David Shearer to stay out of the ports dispute and his blog post, Don’t do it David, although, given Farrar’s relationship with National, this will be seen by many on the left as a sign that Shearer should jump in boots and all. As far as Cameron Slater is concerned, Labour and the Maritime Union are already far too close. Slater sets off in his usual style to prove this in The cozy relationship between Labour and MUNZ.

It’s clear things are going to get worse before they get better at the Ports of Auckland. As Bernard Orsman reports (see 'Miles apart' after port talks collapse) yesterday’s mediation failed to bring the dispute any closer to resolution.

1 munz union ports of auckland john key NZ Politics Daily - Bryce Edwards Otago University liberation blog - www.liberation.org.nz

A draft report from the Productivity Commission advocating privatisation and further restrictions on transport unions is being cited as evidence to support the ports company’s claim that change is needed (although Auckland is rated ahead of other local body owned ports such as Wellington) – see: Tim Hunter’s Partly float air and sea ports, says commission.

The Paganis have taken a stereoscopic approach to advising Labour, with former Labour candidate Josie Pagani saying the policy she had to push at the election was ‘miserable’ and not aspirational enough. She particularly targets the extension of the Working for Families tax credit to beneficiaries as undermining Labour’s appeal to ‘working’ voters - see: Workers lose faith in party with glum message.

Both Danyl Mclauchlan and Chris Trotter respond to the Paganis. Trotter says that John Pagani has taken the wrong lessons from Maggie Thatcher and that her political success came from her willingness to engage and take up a fight, rather than indulging in ‘compromising ideological u-turns’ – see: Facing Fearful Odds: A Reply To John Pagani. Danyl Mclauchlan at The Dim-Post focuses on the ‘growing the pie’ cliche used by both Josie Pagani and David Shearer, saying it is Act Party rhetoric and that over the past 30 years the extra pie has been consumed by ‘a small number of high net worth individuals’ – see: Mmmmm. Pie.

Labour party leadership NZ Politics Daily - Bryce Edwards Otago University liberation blog - www.liberation.org.nz

Brian Gould responds to a recent Martin Robinson column that argued inequality is inevitable and necessary. Gould, who as a leadership contender for the British Labour Party in 1992, is a keen observer of ‘Third Way’ politics and makes the case that even the wealthy end up worse off in a divided and unequal society - see: Blind faith in market robs nation of its full potential.

In other articles, Denis Welch may have coined a new term in Quakewash, calling for the Government to come clean on the future of the Christchurch CBD. Tim Watkin has a very reasoned and balanced article on Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Town plans (see: Brian Tamaki goes to Destiny Town. Wanna come?) - an issue which will grow given Pita Sharples’ very accommodating stance towards public funding for the project (see - Laura McQuillan’s Major govt funding could go to Destiny).

Finally, there are some worthwhile recent articles that are not available online. The January-February edition of Metro magazine contains three very good political pieces. Simon Wilson’s editorial Nice guys finish first explains that the key ingredient to political leadership at the moment is ‘niceness’, and he predicts that the crunch issue in New Zealand politics in 2012 will be child poverty. Sean Plunket’s column, The other secret tape, humorously outlines the coalition negotiation conversation that might have taken place between John Key and John Banks. And David Slack’s has a very funny and clever satirical Captain’s log - David Shearer, new leader of the Labour Party, in which the new Labour leader takes the caucus on a futile teambuilding exercise to an aid camp in Somalia. But the best political item from the last week probably comes from Anthony Hubbard, who writes in the Sunday Star Times on the shallowness of democracy in New Zealand politics (Door closed on open democracy). Hubbard argues for more genuine participation amongst citizens – not only in the way the country is run, but also in our workplaces. [Continue reading below for a full list of the highlights of NZ Politics Daily]

Below are the internet links to all the NZ politics material from the last 24 hours that are either informative, insightful, interesting or influential. This list and the links are taken from a fuller document, NZ Politics Daily, which is emailed out, Monday to Friday, to various researchers, academics, journalists, MPs and so forth. The document is purely for research purposes only, and if you would like to be on the subscription list, please email: bryce.edwards@otago.ac.nz