Kerre Woodham: Let the lolly scramble begin this election year

Did you know the Bonfire of the Vanities was an actual thing? 

Not just a very good book written in the 1980s that was later turned into a film. The bonfire of the vanities was a religious command to destroy objects that might tempt one to sin, including vanity items such as mirrors, cosmetics, fine dresses, playing cards, and musical instruments.

Other targets included books manuscripts of secular songs, and artworks, including paintings and sculpture that were deemed immoral.  We saw our own bonfire of the vanities at Parliament last night. 

Vanity projects that millions of taxpayers’ dollars had been spent on up in smoke because they have been deemed unpopular in the eyes of the voter - sinful, in fact - and this government will get rid of them however painful it may be to the champions of these vainglorious policies.

They are doing it because they will get back into power and they're willing to sacrifice visionary policies, nuclear moments and transformational change to just become another political party desperate to stay in power for another three years. 

So, clean car upgrade gone. Social car leasing gone. Deferred work on the container return scheme. Delayed advice on alcohol sponsorship in sport to April next year.  As well as policies being scrapped - for now - there was an absolute lolly scramble for many kiwis. 

Nothing there for overweight, overpaid middle-aged talkback hosts, but hey. The day I depend on the government to get my jollies will be a very sad one indeed. 

However, plenty there for students, beneficiaries, including families with children, sole parents, and superannuitants. 

We've had a number of calls over the past few months asking what was to be done for those on the super - now you now.  A bit more than a hundy a fortnight for a couple, $66.86 for a person living alone. 

There will probably be something announced on taxes in the Budget and you can bet your bippy it will hit the high earners - so with these announcements Chris Hipkins has announced that having arrived in the PM's office, he finds it very much to his liking and he jolly well intends to stay there. 

And voters like him. The latest 1News Kantar poll shows Chris Hipkins is leading the way as preferred Prime Minister, while support for National leader Chris Luxon has tumbled. Hipkins rose four points to 27 per cent as the preferred, while Luxon dropped five to 17 per cent - his lowest since taking on the role at the end of 2021.  

Based on the results, Labour could form a government with the support of the Greens and Te Pāti Māori.  

The Green Party meanwhile was the big winner, rising four points and reversing a recent declining trend, while Te Pāti Māori also got a bump rising two points to three per cent.  The Greens now sit on 11 per cent, while Act was up one to also sit on 11 per cent. 

The results would give Labour and the Greens 60 seats - and National and Act 57. It is game on this election year - let the lolly scramble begin.  

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