Matthew Henry John Bartlett

Poneke on Wellington bus reliability

I admit it, TVNZ7 makes me want to watch TV. I am watching the Kingmaker debate at the moment. It’s got a stupid structure — following the results of some bullshit poll or other — but I still feel like I’m getting a good feeling for what the minor parties stand for. Rodney Hyde is more thoughtful than I expected, but in the end doesn’t really have much of interest to say. Peter Dunne is trim milk. Pita Sharples makes me interested in the Maori party’s consultation process. Mr Anderton is completely worth keeping in parliament. Jeanette Fitzsimons is really thoroughly great.

I’m so glad we’ve got MMP. It’s good for politics (in the sense of public deliberation about public goods).