NZ POLITICS DAILY: Rena starts to look dangerous for John Key and National

Just when you thought…. that the Act Party dramas and dysfunctional internal dynamics couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend has provided more bad news for the fledgling chaotic party. There’s an opinion poll of Epsom voters that shows that the party’s lifeline to staying Parliament is in trouble – see: David Fisher’s Epsom poll has Banks sidelined. See also Brian Rudman’s Epsom voters' poll give Act that sinking feeling. Then there’s ongoing report of leadership questions – see: Dan Parker’s Questions surround Brash's ACT leadership. Act’s chaos is nicely summed up in Ian Llewellyn’s ACT’s Grim Weekend Continue. Other negative media items include Claire Trevett’s Banks has no veto on what I say, says Brash, and the NBR’s Brash bows out of television Waitangi debate.

And just when you thought…. that the government wouldn’t let any further disasters look mishandled, the Rena maritime potential catastrophe starts to look dangerous for John Key and National. The disasters on the West Coast and in Canterbury mostly lent the governing National Party an air of authoritative management, but inevitably both disasters also led to questions being asked of National’s relatively hands-off tendencies. In terms of the developing crisis near Tauranga, the politics of it all is slowly emerging – see: Matthew Theunissen and Amelia Romanos’ Anger at slow action over oil spill and RNZ’s Government should take control of spill – Greens.

And just when you thought…. that the media would try to keep itself out of the headlines during the election campaign, it seems that Radio New Zealand has sidelined maverick lefty Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury from National Radio. Bradbury’s version of what’s happened can be read here: Banned from Radio NZ for criticizing the Government. Other must-read items on the strange episode are by Gordon Campbell (On RNZ’s banning of Bomber Bradbury) and Russell Brown (Dropping the Bomber).

Amongst the rest of the embarrassment of riches in today’s NZPD, the following is worth reading: Chris Trotter’s Mana - Not A Serious Option, Tim Watkins’ The battle for the north – Hone's close call, Marika Hill’s Battle looms in Northland, Tapu Misa’s Eyebrows raised as DJ Key gets matey with the media, Dave Armstrong’s Why shouldn't John Key say 'pricktuss'?, Audrey Young’s S&P contradicts downgrade claim by Key, and Danya Levy and Kate Chapman’s Labour complains over Key rating comments.

Also, Adam Bennett has reported on Catherine Delahunty’s declaration to me about a National-Green coalition – see: MP will quit if Greens join Nats in Govt. This is also reported by John Hartevelt (Green MP 'disturbed' by National polls) and discussed by David Farrar (Delahunty threatens to quit if Greens becomes Ministers with National). A YouTube Clip of Delahunty’s promise can now be viewed here.

Bryce Edwards, NZPD Editor (bryce.edwards@otago.ac.nz)

Today’s content

Rena maritime disaster

Matthew Theunissen and Amelia Romanos (NZH): Anger at slow action over oil spill

RNZ: Government should take control of spill – Greens

Gareth Hughes (Frogblog): Government slow to act on Rena highlights oil drilling risks

Felix Marwick and Alexia Russell (Newstalk ZB): Sharp response to Greens' criticism of oil spill

RNZ: Lack of communication over oil lamented by MP

TVNZ: Claim Rena had 'multiple deficiencies'

Herald parliamentary ban

Matthew Theunissen (NZH): Herald ban outcry 'over the top' – Speaker

NZN: Political journalists hand in cards after ban