When winning is not loosing. TVNZ Leaders Debate roundup

Last night I sat down to watch the TVNZ leaders debate on TV One expecting fireworks, unfortunately they didn't happen. Perhaps we have last weekends injuries at the All Blacks game to blame for that. I'm not sure, but whatever the reason why it was disappointing.

Key looked totally flat, and frankly bored to be there. He really looked like a man wanting to give up on it all.
And really can anyone blame him after the last few weeks in NZ politics, and the release of the Dirty Politics book by Nicky Hager. Which in my opinion is not worth the paper it's printed on, and designed purely as a means to cause maximum damage to National because the left can't win on policy or personality.
Muck raking can wear even the most energetic person down.
Key was further thrown it appeared by Winston Peters and his allegations that night of an approach from someone within Judith Collins office for the opportunity to work with National post election with her as leader. On this I think Winston is just making crap up, as Winston does (who remembers his claims earlier this year that Huka Lodge had been sold to the Chinese, when it hadn't been sold to anyone), and shouldn't have been reported on without requiring Winston to provide some proof.
But such is the standard of journalism in NZ at the moment.

I think it sowed a seed of doubt in Key's mind for most of the debate and it showed. He seemed to be distracted by it anyway.
And a final point on this rumour, if it's true, after all Judith Collins is under a lot of pressure at the moment, and may feel wronged by Key, then not only should she be sacked as a minister, but expelled completely from the National Party, regardless of the risks. National can't have a place for any renegade MP's regardless of who they are. Plus I personally don't like Collins and would love to see her gone. But that's an aside.

Key sounded like a politician, something he has in the past tried to avoid. It's his lack of sounding like a politician that is his main strength. Cunliffe sounds exactly like a politician and see where that has him in the preferred PM ratings.
Key was the breath of fresh air, and last night he went stale. Someone needs to tell him to be himself again and laugh. We don't like preachy or bossy leaders, and Key was both last night. His repeated use of statements like 'if you want growth then you need to follow Nationals plan' sounded more like something Helen Clark would have said, rather than the old jovial Key. It's a turn off for voters.
Key failed to also pull Cunliffe up on many of his factual and positional errors. Like when Cunliffe claimed the Greens requirement of Labour needing to have its budget independently audited was just a throw away line. When the Greens have been very clear that it's a bottom line. That line of attack alone could have shown Cunliffe as tricky and dodgy in the eyes of voters.
What does Labour have to hide in their budget if they're scared of having it audited? Do they know their own figures don't add up?
Also Key needed to attack Cunliffe over CGT and housing affordability. I mean does Labour honestly think no one will pass on the cost of their proposed capital gains tax by increasing the asking price for their house. Around the world CGT gets passed on by being added to the asking price of a house, adding to the housing unaffordability crisis.
Labour can't have their cake and eat it.

Cunliffe on the other hand didn't end up in the corner crying like a baby, like many including myself, thought or hoped for.
And apart from talking over Key all the time, didn't sound like an ass, and didn't make many mistakes.
Given everyone including the political pundits low expectations of him, this gave him a win this time.
But next time our expectations of him will be higher, at the level we expect of all who want to be PM.
I'm not sure next time Cunliffe will be so lucky.

Key will by his own high standards be disappointed in his own performance and won't let the same happen to him again.
But equally, Cunliffe will be buoyed by his own performance and will be eager to take Key on next time.
The only question is will he let his own natural self confidence add to this confidence and turn into arrogance and be the David Cunliffe no one likes next time?

Race to the sky is back!

My favourite NZ motorsport event looks like it's making a comeback thanks to the vision and generosity of Tony Quinn the owner of Highlands motorsport park in Cromwell.
It was announced in today's ODT that the event on the Snow Farm access road will be back next year from the 17th-19th of April. Resource consent pending of course, but most of the residents of the Cardrona valley sound in favour of it, so the consent should be mere formality.

With Pikes Peak now being entirely sealed, this race will be the challenge for hill climb racers and car manufacturers around the world. After all gravel is a much harder test than tarmac.
And if as the article states Monster Tajima is keen to come back and race, you can bet other top world competitors will come out for it too. Perhaps even Sebastian Loeb may be tempted to bring his Peugeot Pikes Peak racer out? Who knows, but I can't wait for it to be back again.
The race being open to cars, trucks, buggies, quads, and bikes means you get to see a lot of different machinery in a short space of time. The car class alone ranges from full on specialist hill climb vehicles to 1980's Toyota Starlet club racer's. Plus the odd person turns up every year with a car totally unsuited to the race such as sprint cars or old nascars. But sideways is spectacular, if slow. And we all after all want to be entertained first and foremost.
I have fond memories of watching Tajima, Rod Millen and our own Possum Bourne battling it out to claim the crown of king of the mountain. Tajima in various versions of his Suzuki Escudo, Rod Millen alternating between his trophy truck and his Pikes Peak winning Toyota Celica, with Possum always turning up in his ex WRC Impreza turned up to the max.
I hope that someone will bring that ex Bourne car to next year's event and race it in the way it was meant to be.
The course had a unique rally stage style start with a big jump at the bottom of the mountain, in a natural bowl with great viewing for spectators, before crossing a narrow one lane bridge and heading up the mountain road and its many corners and dangerous drops. Certainly a road where bravery counted for a lot.
As a spectator you weren't limited to being stuck at the bottom to watch either, there were many spectator areas,  many within easy walking distance as long as you didn't mind walking up the mountain on narrow goat tracks.

The only shame is Possum Bourne is no longer with us to compete any more, having been killed in a road vehicle crash on the mountain after a practice session. The crash wasn't his fault, as he was hit by another competitor coming up the mountain. Which caused a crash with fatal injuries to Possum. A statue of Possum was until recently sited near the site of his death. The statue now stands in Pukekohe town centre, his home town.

I know for certain I'll be booking my tickets and flights for next April as soon as they come on sale.