1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: So we've got a date. It's the date the pundits 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: have been picking since late last year, November seventh, for 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: the election. This election, in my view, is Nationals to lose. 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: The only question really is how much influence ACT and 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: or New Zealand First will have on any future government. 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: Don't get me wrong, It's going to be a close race. 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: Here's some easy picks for you. National will get more 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: votes than Labour. New Zealand First will outperform ACT. New 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: Zealand First will steal from Labor and nip it their 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: heels to Party. Marty's reputation, as you know, is already 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: pretty much in the bin, so the Maori seats are 12 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: anyone's guests at this point. Winston Peters, as always, will 13 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: decide who actually wins the election. He's ruled out working 14 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: with Chippy, but not Labour. Here's the crucial point, though 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: Winston Peters cannot politically enter a deal propped up by 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: or supported by the Greens or to Party Mardy. It 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: would be political suicide. In pretty much every poll this 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: term has needed both of them to get close to 19 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: the magic sixty one seats. Now you could argue that 20 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: National might stumble and labor could surge. The chances of 21 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,279 Speaker 1: this happening, I would say are probably around twenty percent 22 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: at this point, very unlikely. The economic recovery is underway, 23 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: summer will be around the corner come November. But most importantly, 24 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: people won't switch horses mid stream when that recovery has 25 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: been so hard fought. The memory, particularly in Auckland, is 26 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: too short for voters to forget Labour's COVID mess and 27 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: unbridled spending on outrageous and expensive things. Remember the seven 28 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty million dollar bridge going across the White 29 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: Matar Harbor that wouldn't carry a single car, the bike bridge. 30 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: Come on, our memories aren't that short. Chris Hopkins today 31 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: has also announced a date his wedding. He says it'll 32 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: be held in twenty twenty seven, and I fear Tony 33 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: that means you are likely to ry an unemployed bloke 34 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: from the Hut. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, 35 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, 36 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio