Monday 18 February 2019
1) New Zealand continues to suffer from Chinese blowback
The facts:
New Zealand-Chinese relations continue to deteriorate with reports of a significant drop in students from China enrolling in NZ schools. A large number of last-minute cancellations by Chinese foreign students have been noted, and overall Chinese student numbers are down by over 1000. This comes after a reported drop in Chinese tourist numbers.
The drop in both student and tourist numbers coincides with the NZ Government’s ban on Chinese company Huawei from rolling out a 5G network in this country. However, the Labour-led Government has effectively dismissed the link between a drop in student numbers from China, and the Chinese government blowback against New Zealand. Education Minister Chris Hipkins put the decline in Chinese student numbers down to "competition from other destinations, China improving its own education system and the growth of international schools in China".
Analysis:
The NZ Government is clearly being disingenuous with its claims that a sudden drop in Chinese student numbers is all down to a competitive international education market. And the Government’s general dismissal of any concerns over Chinese-New Zealand relations points to a desperate attempt by Government Ministers to publicly manage a very serious crisis.
The New Zealand economy is already beginning to feel the pain from the Chinese blowback over the Huawei 5G debacle. The NZ Government is now paying for its decision to side with its traditional ally the United States, and agree to the Trump administration’s call for a ban of Huawei’s 5G technology.
So, will the public in New Zealand come to see that there is a clear link between a downturn in economic activity between China and New Zealand, and the Huawei debacle? If it does, then this government might also receive blowback from the New Zealand electorate.
2) National’s sexist ad on KiwiBuild
The facts:
National has released an attack ad, pointing out the deficits with the government’s KiwiBuild scheme. The ad has been accused of being deeply sexist. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has labelled the ad as being straight from the "1970s era".
The advertisement shows a man explaining to a young woman, in a patronizing tone, how Labour's KiwiBuild scheme has missed targets. The interaction between the supposedly naive young woman and the man has been cited by various critics as an example of "mansplaining".
Analysis:
What the hell is National up to with putting out an attack ad steeped in old fashioned gender stereotypes? Can we put this down to the Nats being a male chauvinist party? Not really, as the National party is in fact no longer the party of old white rich men. And the Nats generally project themselves as socially liberal these days.
Maybe what is going on here is an example of trolling by the National Party. That is, the party has consciously commissioned an ad that portrays archaic gender stereotypes, and is indeed patronising to women. With this trolling, the Nats have aimed to tap into so-called outrage culture and to get a bite from liberals and leftists. Then the leaders of National can cynically sit back, and decry the alleged hysteria that has been whipped up over this advertisement.
Sounds like a conspiracy, right? Perhaps. But National is not adverse from whipping up a cultural war to distract from their own lack of alternative policies and lack of big ideas.
3) And finally, its ten years since the DCC voted to have a mega stadium built in Dunedin
The facts:
The Forsyth Barr Stadium has been hailed as a huge success by many, with the stadium attracting international pop stars as well as top level sporting events. But the actual costs and benefits to the city continue to be in dispute
Analysis:
Certainly, the stadium is a great asset for people in Dunedin and the South Island as a whole. But the political process of the decision to build the stadium was deeply undemocratic. Ten years ago, the Dunedin City Council voted 10-5 for the stadium. This was despite an overwhelming majority of city residents being opposed to the stadium being built. A sad day for democracy.
___________
This political roundup by John Moore is an extension on the five-minute breakfast political roundup that John gives on Radio One Dunedin, Monday to Thursday at 9am.
Check out the Radio One Breakfast political roundup streamed live each morning at 9am here.
Also check out the Radio One Week in politics on Friday from 8.30-9.00am
Both the Daily political roundup and the Week in politics can be accessed as podcasts:
On Radio One Podcasts
On iTunes
