New Zealand Listener Issue 26 2018

For any coalition government to succeed, let alone our finely balanced three-party administration, there has to be goodwill – and there has to be seen to be goodwill. goodwill. Once again, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has gone out of his way to be seen to be withholding his. Not once, but twice. Just as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern readied herself to give birth, Peters lobbed two gratuitous grenades at the Government that he props up. The New Zealand First leader’s tactics are always so strategic that the timing of his antics cannot be brushed off as coincidental. First, he pulled the rug from under the Justice Minister’s proposed penal reform – not when Andrew Little first canvassed it earlier this year, but only after ensuring it accrued maximum media…

The meeting of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made for mesmerising television. The concept design, planning, rehearsal and timing resulted dramatically in two unreality TV “stars” walking in perfect sync to meet in the middle as the world watched on. Coronation Street, Dancing with the Stars, Country Calendar, All Blacks tests … no contest from any of them. Christopher Bourn (Nelson) As a child, I went to see Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, a horror film that scared the wits out of me. It’s come back to haunt me, remade as The Dotard meets Little Rocket Man. Tony Goodwin (Pt Chevalier, Auckland) TRIBALISM’S SHALLOWNESS Tribalists, by which is meant partisans, use reductive bathos to champion their side (“Both sides, now”, June 16). This example is from Newstalk ZB: “If Trump…

For any coalition government to succeed, let alone our finely balanced three-party administration, there has to be goodwill – and there has to be seen to be goodwill. goodwill. Once again, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has gone out of his way to be seen to be withholding his. Not once, but twice. Just as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern readied herself to give birth, Peters lobbed two gratuitous grenades at the Government that he props up. The New Zealand First leader’s tactics are always so strategic that the timing of his antics cannot be brushed off as coincidental. First, he pulled the rug from under the Justice Minister’s proposed penal reform – not when Andrew Little first canvassed it earlier this year, but only after ensuring it accrued maximum media momentum, bringing…

The meeting of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made for mesmerising television. The concept design, planning, rehearsal and timing resulted dramatically in two unreality TV “stars” walking in perfect sync to meet in the middle as the world watched on. Coronation Street, Dancing with the Stars, Country Calendar, All Blacks tests … no contest from any of them. Christopher Bourn (Nelson) As a child, I went to see Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, a horror film that scared the wits out of me. It’s come back to haunt me, remade as The Dotard meets Little Rocket Man. Tony Goodwin (Pt Chevalier, Auckland) TRIBALISM’S SHALLOWNESS Tribalists, by which is meant partisans, use reductive bathos to champion their side (“Both sides, now”, June 16). This example is from Newstalk ZB: “If Trump pulls off agreement in Singapore, the…

Ronnie, I think that Little Red Rooster was undercooked. WINNING CAPTION A Neale, Nelson FINALISTS Mick Jagger: “My gawd, we must’ve left the real Ronnie back at Madame Tussauds.” – Warren Shaw, Marton Jagger: “It’s gas, gas, gas.” – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Jagger: “You’re the spitting image of that Eastenders bird Dot Cotton!” – Jeffrey Archway, Dunedin Jagger: “Wood, you get offa my cloud!” – Elaine McGlinchey, Kawerau Jagger: “Ronnie, you’re under my thumb.” – Edith Macklin, Hastings Jagger: “Quick Ronnie, I’ve had a senior moment – I can’t get no what?” – Ted Cornell, Waikanae Jagger: “Here it comes, my 90th birthday breakdown.” – Rex McGregor, Auckland Jagger: “Mate, you’ll gather moss if you don’t move.” – Janey Grant, Napier Jagger: “Keef, is that you?” – Hone Hurihuri, Gisborne Jagger: “Who are you,…

Ronnie, I think that Little Red Rooster was undercooked. WINNING CAPTION A Neale, Nelson FINALISTS Mick Jagger: “My gawd, we must’ve left the real Ronnie back at Madame Tussauds.” – Warren Shaw, Marton Jagger: “It’s gas, gas, gas.” – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Jagger: “You’re the spitting image of that Eastenders bird Dot Cotton!” – Jeffrey Archway, Dunedin Jagger: “Wood, you get offa my cloud!” – Elaine McGlinchey, Kawerau Jagger: “Ronnie, you’re under my thumb.” – Edith Macklin, Hastings Jagger: “Quick Ronnie, I’ve had a senior moment – I can’t get no what?” – Ted Cornell, Waikanae Jagger: “Here it comes, my 90th birthday breakdown.” – Rex McGregor, Auckland Jagger: “Mate, you’ll gather moss if you don’t move.” – Janey Grant, Napier Jagger: “Keef, is that you?” – Hone Hurihuri, Gisborne Jagger: “Who are you, who, who, who, who?” – Dennis Styles, Auckland…