I'd like to personally thank Gaurav Sharma for sparking a by-election in Hamilton West. Until now, political analysts have been spending much of their time peering at opinion polls and ruminating over the deeper meaning of the recent local body elections to try to work out which party is likely to win the general election next year.
Because Hamilton West is known as a bellwether seat tending to reflect the overall swing of votes in the country - Sharma's act of self-immolation gives us a preview of what might happen in 2023.
The prevailing opinion of commentators seems to be that the mood of the country is swinging to the centre-right, and they have cited co-governance, Three Waters, crime, rising mortgage interest rates and the cost of living as drivers of that shift.
Those arguments are certainly contributors to discontent, but there is an even more rational reason a sizeable chunk of voters are going off Labour: they are grumpy at still being told what to do.
Denne historien er fra November 05, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra November 05, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
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.
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?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.