This is the final Goff Report for 2009. It will return towards the end of January as the new political year gets underway.
Labour came through its first year after the 2008 election much better than might have been expected. There was a smooth change in leadership
We left office proud of what the fifth Labour government had achieved while acknowledging and learning from the reasons why after three terms we were not re-elected.
By June, in the only real poll since election day, Labour trounced National in the Mt Albert by-election by 63% to 17%. The party conference in Rotorua saw a big turnout, a lot of young people and a positive and constructive approach towards the future.
But with Labour polling about where we were at the last election and the government enjoying an extended honeymoon, we have a big fight-back ahead of us.
This year I have travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand where I have talked to Kiwis and listened to what was on their minds.
There is real anger building out among those who have seen the slashing of New Zealand’s proud tradition of adult and community education, large increases in ACC levies and cutting of services as National prepares for privatisation, and of course the appalling changes to the ETS which represent a setback for the environment and a huge burden for the future – not on polluters but on Kiwi taxpayers.
As Christmas approaches, we think of the 150,000 New Zealanders who have lost their jobs and even more Kiwis struggling to make ends meet with low or zero wage increases while the cost of living goes up.
National has attempted to place the blame on Labour. But most people realise that National inherited from Labour the lowest level of unemployment and government debt in the developed world, New Zealand’s highest credit ratings in 25 years and public assets that have risen in value under Labour from $12.5 billion to $105 billion. Not a bad legacy!
At the end of this year, National’s image was starting to tarnish, with Bill English calling for restraint by everyone but himself, Rodney Hide and Hone Harawira showing appalling hypocrisy and big divisions appearing within both of National’s support parties.
In 2010, Labour will be fighting for a better and fairer New Zealand, with all Kiwis sharing in the international economic recovery that New Zealand will benefit from.
Thank you for your support – and best wishes from Mary and me for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
I’m going to be doing the pile of jobs around home that have been mounting up all year, waiting for me to get some time off. Then Christmas Day with the kids – Kris, Sara and Keiran.
A bit later it’s off on a motorbike trip around East Cape, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo and the Coromandel. With a bit of luck it won’t rain too much and I’ll enjoy the beach and a beer or two, with thousands of other Kiwi families doing the same.
All the best and see you in the New Year.
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