But one of the worrying statistics that emerged for National in the past week was the Talbot Mills poll showing that while Opportunity was flirting with the 5% threshold, 23% of its supporters had voted National last election, compared to 18% who had backed Labour.<\/p>\n
The Opportunity decision had echoes of National\u2019s announcement at the weekend about extending paid parental leave<\/a> and making it more flexible. It sounded like a policy position that had already been decided, but was brought forward to capitalise on the furore over Stuart Nash\u2019s comments about MP Katie Nimon\u2019s parental leave.<\/p>\n That is not a criticism. Parties need to be nimble in a campaign.<\/p>\n It was unfortunate, however, that Willis initially sought to blame Act workplace minister Brooke van Velden for not making parental leave a priority in her work programme this term. Willis labelled it \u201ca shame\u201d when speaking at the press conference on Sunday, until Act leader David Seymour pointed out that while National had campaigned on the issue last election, it had not even raised it in its coalition negotiations. <\/p>\n Willis changed her tune after that and accepted that it was National that had different priorities at the time.<\/p>\n \u2018A cause for deep national shame\u2019<\/p>\n New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters made some disgraceful comments in the general debate at Parliament yesterday. He was in full flight over the commission of inquiry into Covid when he received an interjection by Chinese-born Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan: Are you vaccinated?<\/p>\n Peters responded with a personal tirade: \u201cI\u2019m not making it up, sunshine. I noticed you came here five minutes ago. Go back to your own country \u2013 that\u2019s where they lie like a flatfish, but they don\u2019t lie like that here, all right? This is called a democracy … unlike what you\u2019re used to. Go back to where you\u2019ve come from, you loudmouth, and maybe you\u2019ll learn something about the political system of New Zealand in time before you go streaming out of here in three months\u2019 time.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments went unchallenged by any MP or the Speaker, possibly to avoid amplifying them. But the incident has not been ignored. New Zealand\u2019s former ambassador to China, Carl Worker, said on X yesterday: \u201cHaving an openly and offensively racist foreign minister is a terrible message from New Zealand not only to China but to the whole world. A cause for deep national shame.\u201d<\/p>\n Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong said on X today: \u201cWe have absolutely no interest in being dragged into the domestic politics of other countries. Suffice it to say, sometimes a statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n By the way<\/p>\n The Prime Minister delivered a fine tribute last week at the funeral of Sir William Birch, noting that only one of the present National caucus was in Parliament at the same time as Birch \u2013 Speaker Gerry Brownlee. That was true (they intersected from 1996 to 1999), except that Luxon referred to him as \u201cthe great Sir Gerry Brownlee\u201d. It is, of course, usual for Speakers who have served at least a term to be knighted, but usually after they have left office.Count Binface, the satirical candidate in the UK\u2019s Clacton byelection forced by the resignation of Nigel Farage so he could stand again, has published his 20-point manifesto. Among the policies are these gems: arcade grabber games to be made fairer so players actually have a chance to win; a referendum on whether Pluto should regain its planet status; and the hand-dryer in the gents\u2019 toilets at the Great Himalayas restaurant, Southport, to be moved to a more sensible position.The TikTok app may be banned from parliamentary devices on security grounds, but that didn\u2019t stop the company from hosting an event at Parliament to highlight a report on its contribution to the NZ economy. Attendees were entertained with a performance by The Music of Charles, which could be heard several floors away, and Act leader David Seymour spoke about the changing media environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Quote unquote<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a dog with fleas and it is dying before our eyes\u201d \u2013 Act leader David Seymour on a proposal by National to ban social media for under-16s<\/a>.<\/p>\n Micro quiz<\/p>\n What is the name of the chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) who appeared before the Privileges Committee this week, and who chairs the committee? (Answers at the bottom of this article.)<\/p>\n Brickbat<\/p>\n Goes to Greens co-leader Chl\u00f6e Swarbrick for accusing Treasury of being politicised after the Herald\u2019s Thomas Coughlan showed the party had misinterpreted a Treasury paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bouquet<\/p>\n Goes to MPs on the Privileges Committee for their robust interrogation of MBIE officials<\/a> to determine whether they had deliberately misled a select committee in March about an IT project within the Immigration Service that had been cancelled.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s top stories<\/p>\n IT scandal: Erica Stanford reveals $6m more wasted on immigration IT project, ministry unsure of total cost<\/a> <\/p>\n Pandemic response: Government sets new transparency rules after Covid inquiry<\/a><\/p>\n Opinion \u2013 PM\u2019s record: Christopher Luxon\u2019s awkward transition from CEO to Prime Minister \u2013 Audrey Young<\/a><\/p>\n Benefits: Government says sick 18- and 19-year-olds should be supported by parents, not benefit<\/a> <\/p>\n Social media ban: National unsure if Act, NZ First will support bill; David Seymour compares it to \u2018dog with fleas\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Wealth tax: Greens say Treasury is \u2018out of step\u2019 and politicised after wealth tax analysis<\/a><\/p>\n Pharmac funding: Medicines to get larger share of health funding under Act policy<\/a><\/p>\n Parental leave: National promises to extend paid parental leave as Katie Nimon says Stuart Nash apologised for comments<\/a><\/p>\n Data centres: Green Party pushes for pause on consenting AI data centres<\/a><\/p>\n Coalition deals: National rules out working with Opportunity Party<\/a><\/p>\n Opinion \u2013 Nats v Opportunity: National\u2019s chance to send clear message on Opportunity undercut by Luxon\u2019s comms \u2013 Jamie Ensor<\/a><\/p>\n Health deficits: Simeon Brown lets Health NZ run deficits for longer<\/a><\/p>\n Poll of Polls: Opportunity Party will get into Parliament, latest Poll of Polls forecasts<\/a><\/p>\nNZ First leader Winston Peters, left, and Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. Photo \/ RNZ<\/p>\n
Green Party co-leader Chl\u00f6e Swarbrick. Photo \/ Sylvie Whinray <\/p>\n