The message from NZ Post is clear and it may not be posted!

NZ Post is trying to keep up with the growing trend for people to use 'othe'r methods to send post. Despite its 'social contract' NZ post is reducing the number of employees by 120, after it closes several mail processing centres. This is an inevitable process as more and more of us use the Nett and other providers to get the services we need. Provision must be made however for those who cannot access the 'modern way.' The corner post office has long gone, but the use of 'self-service' kiosks cannot replace that human touch that the non-computer litterate amongst us still need. As long as this latest exercise is not solely about 'cost saving,' then progress must happen. Once gone, such services are very difficult to bring back. Going ot the post office is clearly a thing of the past---a distant past.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Julia, oh Julia--- whatever made you do that!

One has to wonder at the reasoning behind Julia Gillard’s latest publicity attempt. Who the hell is advising her? Is she taking the piss out of the Australian electorate in a last ditch ‘up ya bum’ swipe before she is decimated in the upcoming elections. For Labor, even the Lazarus-like Rudd is unlikely to stop the Tsunami!

The very image of Julia knitting is so unlike the image we have come to love/hate. It is so wide of the mark for this remarkable and soon to be sadly missed politician. She is tough and apart from the odd tear or two is most definitely not your run-of-the-mill nanny, settling down with the grandkids. What came over her? She looks terrible uncomfortable. I take it she can knit!

Forgotten will be her real contribution to Australia. Down the tubes will be her changes that were starting to make a real difference. The Australian voter is unforgiving of perceived mistakes and in the cold light of day they will put the ticks for a candidate who will bring nothing but industrial strife and tension, both within Australia and with its near neighbour, Indonesia.

Go well, Julia. Perhaps it is those outside of Australia who see between the barbs and other ‘nasties’ of Australian political life.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Labour stumbling its way towards another defeat. Time for change?

The fact that David Shearer is unable to stop the slip in his approval ratings and that his party seems to be stuck in the low 30’s is surely a message that he is simply not going to make it at next year’s elections. Yes, we all know that Helen Clark didn’t manage to do much better in her ratings before she won, but the Labour Party most definitely polled better. Time is running out and Labour needs to take stock, let the ‘blood flow’ and go with a new leader.

Perhaps the obvious choice is in the deputy leader Grant Robertson. This tough nugget can match John Key any time and his determination is clear when we watch him in parliament. I do not know what sort of numbers he can pull together, but now is the time to find out or Labour will languish even further in the polls and find itself in a position very much like ‘Labor’ is facing in Australia.

New Zealand needs a strong opposition and at the moment that is looking to be coming from the Greens. How many times lastly have we seen Norman making the statements, before there is a short add-on from Shearer? When Shearer does speak he is rarely coming across as ‘strong’ or confident. Some say that ‘this is just the way he is---he takes time to make his point.’ In the craziness of today’s politics, such mannerisms simply don’t cut. It is all about perception and the public have the final say. Their perception of David Shearer and the Labour Party is driven by what they see and it ain’t pretty. It won’t be long before we hear the ‘rugby-like’ clarion call of ‘bring back Phil!’

If the Labour Party can unite, take a good hard (but not too long) look at itself and mange not to fractionate, then maybe we will see a possible credible ‘government in waiting,’ not the stumbling replica we see now.

www.authorneilcoleman.com