Transtasman Political Letter – 27 September Digest

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Parliament marks Dominion Day centenary, but is NZ ready to become a republic?...
Professional diplomat to be next Hicom in London (we name him)...
Govt gets a boost from climate change programme, but industries wonder how they’ll be “capped”...
Clumsy sale of SOEs and Health policy releases raise the question - does Key want to be PM?...
Cunliffe separates Telecom, but will gains match $1bn wiped off Telecom’s value.

No Rush To Be A Republican

NZ’s capital marked the centenary of the proclamation of Dominion status for NZ (though the rest of the country hardly noticed) with a symposium in Parliament, and a good deal of breast-beating by Wellington’s newspaper, one half of which was first published 100 years ago on September 20.


London High Commission Not To Be Political Perk

A professional diplomat, rather than an ex-politician, will be named as High Commissioner to the UK in succession to Jonathan Hunt whose term in London comes to an end early next year.

Carbon Trade - Will The Cap Fit?

The new climate change programme, launched last week, achieved a broader consensus across the political and business spectrum than even the Govt might have expected.

Economic Debate – Wider Implications For Asset Sales

The current account deficit nudged up to $2.9bn in the June quarter and on 30 June the country’s net international liability was $148.6bn, up $5.5bn from 31 March.

CAPITAL TALK

Jim Anderton will be acting PM from Saturday through to Thursday while Helen Clark and deputy Michael Cullen are overseas.

Play Of The Week: Butter Fingers

Whoops. The looks in the eyes of the National MPs standing behind party Health Spokesman Tony Ryall at Wednesday’s press conference said it all. Oh ****.

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