One big headache
New Zealand Listener|September 09-15 2023
All this talk of coalitions is giving too many politicians the chance to fl ex their alliterative muscles.
- Michele Hewitson
One big headache

What's the collective noun for a coalition? A concussion of coalitions? There are certainly enough dire predictions about possible coalitions to give an electorate a cracking headache. Fancy a coalition of fear? That would be an unholy alliance of National, Act and NZ First, according to the Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, who, while condemning the prospect of a fear-inducing coalition, was doing his utmost to whip up fear at the prospect. How about a coalition of chaos? That would be an equally unholy alliance of Labour and the Greens, according to the opposition.

Hipkins was spoilt for alliteratively named coalition choices. National and Act would also be the "coalition of cuts". They were pretenders - climate change? Let's pretend it ain't happening and meddlers tinkering with superannuation - and slashers - of spending on public services.

Labour know a thing or two about cutting their own wrists. In the cases of their long-anticipated wealth and capital gains taxes, they got in before themselves and cut them dead before they could even be announced. Choppity chop.

Act called a Labour/Greens prospect a coalition of chaos. A National and Act alliance would amount to a coalition of colonisers, said Te Pāti Māori.

How about a coalition of cockups? At least such a meeting of what might loosely be called minds would be a non-partisan pick'n'mix. So, take your pick. Act list MP and Northland farmer Mark Cameron has apologised to leader David Seymour for nonsense he'd posted on social media, including calling believers in global warming "nutjobs".

この蚘事は New Zealand Listener の September 09-15 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は New Zealand Listener の September 09-15 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

NEW ZEALAND LISTENERのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
First-world problem
New Zealand Listener

First-world problem

Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.

time-read
3 分  |
September 9, 2024
Applying intelligence to AI
New Zealand Listener

Applying intelligence to AI

I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.

time-read
2 分  |
September 9, 2024
Nazism rears its head
New Zealand Listener

Nazism rears its head

Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.

time-read
2 分  |
September 9, 2024
Staying ahead of the game
New Zealand Listener

Staying ahead of the game

Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?

time-read
4 分  |
September 9, 2024
Grasping the nettle
New Zealand Listener

Grasping the nettle

Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.

time-read
3 分  |
September 9, 2024
Hangry? Eat breakfast
New Zealand Listener

Hangry? Eat breakfast

People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.

time-read
3 分  |
September 9, 2024
Chemical reaction
New Zealand Listener

Chemical reaction

Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.

time-read
4 分  |
September 9, 2024
Me and my guitar
New Zealand Listener

Me and my guitar

Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.

time-read
2 分  |
September 9, 2024
Time is on my side
New Zealand Listener

Time is on my side

Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?

time-read
7 分  |
September 9, 2024
The kids are not alright
New Zealand Listener

The kids are not alright

Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.

time-read
4 分  |
September 9, 2024