Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Democracy Night

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  • Kumara Republic,

    Voted at the Chaffers Dock atrium this morning, right before opening up for work. If I'm not much mistaken, it's the main booth for blue-leaning Oriental Bay.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to Sacha,

    Thanks for the heads-up on the Listener live blog.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to TracyMac,

    Welcome. Toby has done outstanding work there all campaign, from dawn til dusk.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    One of the most important results. Looks like MMP wins with 95% counted.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Currently streaming TV3 (I was overruled) over the net. It's 3am here and one of the friends who came over is asleep, so it's all a bit weird. We posted in our votes a couple of weeks ago - easy enough, but not nearly the same solemnity. All in all it feels a bit disconnected. I guess that's what you get being overseas for an election.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    All in all it feels a bit disconnected. I guess that's what you get being overseas for an election.

    I'm not feeling disconnected here in Pittsburgh. Slightly delirious, but very much invested. I also felt a kind of pride sending my fax off in the Pitt history department in Tuesday, although that might only have been pride in getting the machine to work.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I’m finding this the best single-page chart of results/predictions.

    Think I may need a stiff drink soon if National’s lead doesn’t start dropping. God help us if they get to govern alone.

    Delighted to see the Greens doing so well though.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite, in reply to Sacha,

    Looks like MMP wins

    In the relatively long term (in political terms), that's the vote that matters, and I'm glad that it's turned out that way. Had it lost, it's likely that former MMP supporters would have overwhelmed FPP with votes for STV or whatever anyway. That's the positive outcome for me.

    Considering the Greens' usual strong polling before an election and the collapse on the day, the showing of 10+% today is good, despite the optimistic predictions of up to 15%.

    Winston First's showing doesn't surprise me.

    Labour, I hope, won't just learn but apply its lessons.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • johnno,

    Voted in Petone, which was wonderful. Best moment was when an entire bridal party came in to vote. What was a lovely vibe in the school hall became even more special when the bride (lovely dress BTW) and groom came in. Nice to share a little of someone's special day.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 111 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    Is that advance votes only, though?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kimberley Verburg,

    I faxed mine through on Thursday. It was a bit worrying because first it wouldn't connect and then it failed after the first page so they had to try again. Not my best voting experience, especially when Post Office dude casually turned over a page to have a nosey at it. Then he asked if I was from Spain. 

    Also spotted @CampbellDire grumbling about the single fax line for overseas votes. He said it took him an hour from Kathmandu. Were we just unlucky or is something up?

    Leiden • Since Jun 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    MMP is safe, but I'm rather disturbed at the whacking great percentage of votes to FPP as the second choice. Thank fuck MMP has an outright majority.

    Really, really disappointed at how this election has panned out. The Greens will have no power, and the parties that Key will be able to drag together to form a government all support asset sales. And looking at the results, this really is Labour's 2002. At this point, Australia is somewhat appealing. Shame Europe's so financially fucked, because I could totally live in Austria or Germany.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Word of big turnouts in South Auckland, I 'm told. 20% up on last time, apparently.

    Currently at Listener Live HQ. Two guys working really hard and everyone else chillaxing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    Is that advance votes only, though?

    Yes. Oops. Back to the passive consumption of results for me.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    MMP is not out of woods yet. Those are advance votes only. Polling was showing it pretty safe though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to BenWilson,

    MMP is not out of woods yet. Those are advance votes only

    Bugger, they are too. However, if what's been said about advance votes favouring National is true, it's encouraging for the outcome of the votes cast today.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • HenryB, in reply to BenWilson,

    I think Sacha's 94% is from the advance votes. The votes from the rest have yet to counted.... but, if I remember rightly, the party votes from the advance votes had National much further ahead then they seem to have ended up. I would expect the pro MMP to improve.

    Palmerston North • Since Sep 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • Karen White,

    Voted at the local church hall, very pleasant & picked up some tasty white chocolate & apricot oat cookies at the fair they had going on. Am quite surprised at Winston Peters NZ First comeback. Very pleased for the Greens turnout

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    My bad. How Ray Miller would have told me off for that one.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Word of big turnouts in South Auckland

    Wonder if that's helping NZ First this time? Could be a contributor to Conservative vote too I guess. Tentatively.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Also, my reading of those figures wasn't as catastrophic as yours - I assumed the vast majority of the informal votes for the "which would you prefer" option were those who voted to retain MMP, because it seems likely the majority of those wouldn't bother filling in the second part. The numbers could stack up that way as well.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I can't stop checking Waitakere. Go Carmel! Go Westies!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Grevers,

    Anyone figured how much National has to drop to in order to not be able to govern alone?

    New Plymouth • Since Jul 2011 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    I voted by fax last week from London, which is always fun!

    I am really glad to see that MMP is winning, but am rather surprised at the size of the informal vote for the second vote.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite, in reply to Sacha,

    Wonder if that’s helping NZ First this time? Could be a contributor to Conservative vote too I guess. Tentatively.

    Good point. While I’m of the liberal-green persuasion, I can’t discount the conservative element that has not liked the neoliberalism of modern National (+Act), and the “Waitakere Man” that would vote Labour if it were not so overrun by gaggles of gays – another reason for my disdain for the one-dimensional left/right dichotomy.

    National, it has to be said, has shown admirable party discipline over the last three years, and traditionally, unity has been respected by the NZ electorate.

    In the longer run though, will the tensions of the “right” between neoliberal and reactionary lead to an irrevocable split, will something analogous happen to the “left” (as it seems to have done already)?

    I think – and hope – that Kathryn Ryan’s traditional “From the Right and from the Left…” opening on Nine to Noon will be as irrelevant as “From the Guelph and from the Ghibelline…” – but when will they realise that and what will be their replacement?

    In short, I don't think that there will be something so simple as a resurgent Labour Party toppling the dictatorship of Key in 2014. It'll be a coalition of disparate forces, perhaps facing a party that has itself begun to fracture - or if it it has not, one that has itself become disconnected from its supposedly unified body of constituents.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

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