What happened when my partner became prime minister?
November 7, 2017 12:13 PM Subscribe
I have to say that I love the fact that the new PM of New Zealand lived in a relatively small apartment, instead of a sprawling mansion. Hopefully that gives her some appreciation of what life is like to live modestly.
posted by Hactar at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Hactar at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
I’m back in NZ (in Wellington) at the moment for my best friend’s wedding. I was walking back to my Airbnb from Te Papa and we saw the PM ducking into a TAB to place her bet on the Melbourne Cup, tv camera in tow. Not sure which news report it ended up on. I forget how small NZ is sometimes.
posted by poxandplague at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by poxandplague at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
"we saw the PM ducking into a TAB to place her bet on the Melbourne Cup"
Is that one of those combination pub/betting shop places? I told people in England about those and they were amazed.
posted by w0mbat at 2:09 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is that one of those combination pub/betting shop places? I told people in England about those and they were amazed.
posted by w0mbat at 2:09 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sorry about the cat!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I forget how small NZ is sometimes.
That's New Zealand!!
posted by Start with Dessert at 2:32 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's New Zealand!!
posted by Start with Dessert at 2:32 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
One lunchtime I nearly accidentally bumped the Deputy PM off the foot-path and into a bus, but that kind of thing happens all the time in Wellington.
In London, not so much.
In Washington I'd have probably been shot by Secret Service snipers.
posted by happyinmotion at 2:54 PM on November 7, 2017
In London, not so much.
In Washington I'd have probably been shot by Secret Service snipers.
posted by happyinmotion at 2:54 PM on November 7, 2017
Wait, I just read the post again. No curry? I used to live above the dentist literally next door to Premier House (the PM's official residence in Wellington for non-NZ MeFi's). Can't she or Clarke just whip down to Indus Indian Takeout at the end of the block for a sneaky Chicken Korma?
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:56 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:56 PM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Reading this thread leads me to conclude that all nation.states should be broken up until they are approximately the population of NZ.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:29 PM on November 7, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 3:29 PM on November 7, 2017 [19 favorites]
.
Paddles is a very fine name for polydactyl
(Also stop being so charming NZ, I already want to move there)
posted by mrzarquon at 3:51 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Paddles is a very fine name for polydactyl
(Also stop being so charming NZ, I already want to move there)
posted by mrzarquon at 3:51 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have to say that I love the fact that the new PM of New Zealand lived in a relatively small apartment, instead of a sprawling mansion.
To be fair, the article mentioned a 'small home' in Point Chevalier (median house price $1.4 million, in Auckland) as well as a 'shoebox' Wellington flat. Still a charming article, though.
posted by lollusc at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2017
To be fair, the article mentioned a 'small home' in Point Chevalier (median house price $1.4 million, in Auckland) as well as a 'shoebox' Wellington flat. Still a charming article, though.
posted by lollusc at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2017
And Paddles’ death has become somewhat of a political issue........how soon after the death of a beloved pet is too soon to talk about the impact of cats on bird populations? Thoughts and prayers.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 5:58 PM on November 7, 2017
posted by inflatablekiwi at 5:58 PM on November 7, 2017
One lunchtime I nearly accidentally bumped the Deputy PM off the foot-path and into a bus, but that kind of thing happens all the time in Wellington.
In London, not so much.
In Washington I'd have probably been shot by Secret Service snipers.
I believe you are supposed to admit to bumping the PM and deny bumping the Deputy.
posted by srboisvert at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
In London, not so much.
In Washington I'd have probably been shot by Secret Service snipers.
I believe you are supposed to admit to bumping the PM and deny bumping the Deputy.
posted by srboisvert at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
One of our new Green MPs, an ex-refugee, human rights lawyer tweets:
"We’re the best country in the world right now: the Speaker of the House of Representatives casually holding an MP’s baby while House debates paid parental leave"
yes, yes we are (tears up a little)
posted by mbo at 11:14 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
"We’re the best country in the world right now: the Speaker of the House of Representatives casually holding an MP’s baby while House debates paid parental leave"
yes, yes we are (tears up a little)
posted by mbo at 11:14 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
People who would like to know more of the current flavour of NZ politics: here is the new Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, a vicious, curmudgeonly, old school debater and insult merchant, holding new MP Willow Jean Prime's baby, as the Paid Parental Leave bill is debated.
(Chloe Swarbrick is a new Green MP, one of the youngest MPs we've had).
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:42 PM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
(Chloe Swarbrick is a new Green MP, one of the youngest MPs we've had).
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:42 PM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
(Chloe Swarbrick is a new Green MP, one of the youngest MPs we've had).
Having heard her speak recently (I'm in the background of the lower photo) I reckon she'd make a pretty good job of being our youngest-ever PM, in let's say 2029, after 12 years or so of Ardern. Can't quite see her doing it for the Greens but I can live in hope.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:27 AM on November 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Having heard her speak recently (I'm in the background of the lower photo) I reckon she'd make a pretty good job of being our youngest-ever PM, in let's say 2029, after 12 years or so of Ardern. Can't quite see her doing it for the Greens but I can live in hope.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:27 AM on November 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Willow Jean Prime?
I really hope Willow Jean Earth-116 doesn't find out.
In other news, I really miss New Zealand. We lived there for a couple of years about a decade ago, and would love to go back, but my MS basically excludes me from emigrating. The cost of living increases in the last few years are a bit scary though.
posted by trif at 3:28 AM on November 8, 2017
I really hope Willow Jean Earth-116 doesn't find out.
In other news, I really miss New Zealand. We lived there for a couple of years about a decade ago, and would love to go back, but my MS basically excludes me from emigrating. The cost of living increases in the last few years are a bit scary though.
posted by trif at 3:28 AM on November 8, 2017
"We’re the best country in the world right now: the Speaker of the House of Representatives casually holding an MP’s baby while House debates paid parental leave"
yes, yes we are (tears up a little)
After following the US politics threads for over a year now, it's been a massive relief to follow politics where good things are happening on a daily basis. A little bit of hope tucked away down the bottom of the world.
posted by Start with Dessert at 3:42 AM on November 8, 2017
yes, yes we are (tears up a little)
After following the US politics threads for over a year now, it's been a massive relief to follow politics where good things are happening on a daily basis. A little bit of hope tucked away down the bottom of the world.
posted by Start with Dessert at 3:42 AM on November 8, 2017
It looks like our sweet PM is capable of attack mode.
"I would simply remind them, that in defending their record they must also defend record homelessness. They must also defend dirty rivers and lakes. They must also defend inequality and yes, child poverty. So by all means defend the record of the last nine years, while we get on with fixing it,"
The opposition have decided to be a bunch of dicks, and it's not going to wear well.
posted by arzakh at 3:47 AM on November 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
"I would simply remind them, that in defending their record they must also defend record homelessness. They must also defend dirty rivers and lakes. They must also defend inequality and yes, child poverty. So by all means defend the record of the last nine years, while we get on with fixing it,"
The opposition have decided to be a bunch of dicks, and it's not going to wear well.
posted by arzakh at 3:47 AM on November 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
a vicious, curmudgeonly, old school debater and insult merchant
How does he stack up against Our Paul?
posted by flabdablet at 7:44 AM on November 8, 2017
How does he stack up against Our Paul?
posted by flabdablet at 7:44 AM on November 8, 2017
Here's a little interview from The Listener of PM Jacinda Ardern talking about her first few weeks in office:
"You’ve also said you’d like this to be a kinder government. How kind will politics be to you, though? It can be brutalising. How do you propose to guard against that?
What I’m really firm on is that you can be empathetic and have steel. I think that’s probably the combination required for government."
posted by Start with Dessert at 1:09 AM on November 9, 2017
"You’ve also said you’d like this to be a kinder government. How kind will politics be to you, though? It can be brutalising. How do you propose to guard against that?
What I’m really firm on is that you can be empathetic and have steel. I think that’s probably the combination required for government."
posted by Start with Dessert at 1:09 AM on November 9, 2017
Poor Paddles! :(
Who is this Gareth Morgan asshole? He was being a real shit to someone who just lost their pet. Judging from the comments, most other people agreed.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:30 AM on November 9, 2017
Who is this Gareth Morgan asshole? He was being a real shit to someone who just lost their pet. Judging from the comments, most other people agreed.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:30 AM on November 9, 2017
Who is this Gareth Morgan asshole?
Economist and investment manager who was pretty successful then went off the charts successful when his son founded TradeMe (eBay for Kiwis, essentially; eBay has never taken off here).
Opinionated as hell, has an economics research foundation and decided to form a party that stood at this year's election. If mansplaining and engineer's disease were eligible for election, they would look a lot like his party.
In spite of only ever polling 2-3% he walked around like he was going to be part of the next government, even though his plan was to negotiate a coalition agreement then resign from Parliament (putting the next person on his party list into Parliament. Note that he could have just not put himself on the party list at all, and still been able to negotiate the agreement).
Spent his election night concession speech whining about the Greens and how they were too cowardly to go into coalition with National. [Reminder: the Greens got what they wanted, a place in a left-wing government]
Hates cats.
Appears to hate his own party members.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:25 AM on November 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Economist and investment manager who was pretty successful then went off the charts successful when his son founded TradeMe (eBay for Kiwis, essentially; eBay has never taken off here).
Opinionated as hell, has an economics research foundation and decided to form a party that stood at this year's election. If mansplaining and engineer's disease were eligible for election, they would look a lot like his party.
In spite of only ever polling 2-3% he walked around like he was going to be part of the next government, even though his plan was to negotiate a coalition agreement then resign from Parliament (putting the next person on his party list into Parliament. Note that he could have just not put himself on the party list at all, and still been able to negotiate the agreement).
Spent his election night concession speech whining about the Greens and how they were too cowardly to go into coalition with National. [Reminder: the Greens got what they wanted, a place in a left-wing government]
Hates cats.
Appears to hate his own party members.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:25 AM on November 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trevor Mallard doubling down on the baby stealing.
Also, a Supreme Court Judge in full parliament opening day regalia taking handshakes from schoolkids.
And finally, new Green MP's host a picnic in front of parliament - as in anyone can just mosey on up and speak to real live politicians chilling on the grass like regular folk.
NZ has a lot of problems but sometimes we can have nice things.
posted by phigmov at 3:48 PM on November 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, a Supreme Court Judge in full parliament opening day regalia taking handshakes from schoolkids.
And finally, new Green MP's host a picnic in front of parliament - as in anyone can just mosey on up and speak to real live politicians chilling on the grass like regular folk.
NZ has a lot of problems but sometimes we can have nice things.
posted by phigmov at 3:48 PM on November 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
« Older Breaching the limits of an instrument | Hola, Papi! Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 12:36 PM on November 7, 2017 [13 favorites]