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".
Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin September 09-15 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin September 09-15 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.