As with the last election, National has not really done enough wrong for NZ to vote them out. That's what happened the first time. It wasn't we love key or we love national, or any of that. It was we dislike labour. As a swing voter i will vote for the party whose policy i like. I don't get buried in what a party stands for because that is potentially stupid. You start looking at the party and not the politics. I'm sure if labour and national swapped their agendas there would be some of you who would vote for national policy simply because it was under Labours name even though you have no belief in it.

And that's what is wrong with people who are "party" supporters rather than invoking a bit of brain power and voting based on policy.

Anyway, national didn't do enough wrong to be voted out. And i didn't vote for them because it felt like a waste of time, so i voted for greens to prevent national having an overriding voice in parliament. If my memory was like a seive i might have voted for nzf, but it's pretty good and winston is a clown.

Nanaia Mahuta is a very astute person...I am wondering if she is fully supporting Cunliife because he is the first Labour leader candidate I have seen to really be pro-Maori...unfortunately that may be there downfall...what she really needs is someone who is pro-NZ, who is charismatic and who can also understand the whole game of politics and for her to support that person with her Maori ideas and that would be a better mix for leadership of Labour and maybe one day the country...the fact that Phil Goff had no back up to Keys 'show me the money' line just shows that he didnt do enough work on his policies...also the greens policies were simple...jobs, rivers and kids....jobs, rivers and kids was all you heard...from labour it was No asset sales and increase in minimum wage....really is that how you thought you were gonna win the election???? it sounds like here that simple was more effective...

Jon, the policies that I spoke about are paid for by my taxes, if your business is that dire that a 2% increase in Annual Leave provisions sends you down the gurgler, get out now as you wont make it in the future, I am promoting taxing the wealthy, the ones that received the 40% of the tax cuts, the one's that grew there wealth by 7 billion $ in one year on the back of the tax cuts, the ones that proclaim there is a trickle down effect that in FACT has not eventuated, Where has the decency gone in this country where we use to care about each other, you try living on the dole or the minimun wage, ther are 250,000 children living in poverty in this country, oh but as long as it's not your children you dont give a damm,under you philosophy we should change our countries name to the Pacific Zimbarbwe

That's the best I've heard Phil Goff speak! Seems relaxed now. Shame it's all too late now.

Wayne, The Nat's are functionalists while the Labour is interventionist. I hope Labour looks into its senior members for the next Leader and Deputy. Senior members.

Thanks Phil about time really and no offence but you were never Leader material but in all respect a good MP just not a PM. I say give Shearer a go at it as out of all the Davids he has got the Leadership material the other two are wet blankets much like that of Goff. Someone that has fresh eyes, fresh ideas and not someone who has been an MP forever and will no doubt make the same mistakes.

@Jon #3 - You say "NZers have rejected the policies of envy and personal attack" immediately after calling Phil Goff a "bitter twisted loser" who would be "replaced by another." Your hypocrisy is a pathetic display of character. You can't even be graceful when the side you support has won. If you want to discuss the topics of personal attack, take a look at yourself first. Until then, perhaps you should try thinking before you speak.

Lets be honest, both Phil Goff and John Key work 60 plus hours a week for their party which effectively is ultimately for their love for the country. We have a left and right but really they are so centre left/right that there is little to choice between them other than which leader we like more? Times are tough, there is no doubt about it and any working person looks at anyone who does not pull their weight and votes National, when times are good, no one cares too much about what others are up to. Question is: Phil Goff has resigned as leader, has been there 30 years and wants to go to the back benches, what good will he do there other than reach 65 and retire. We don't need people wanting to go to the back benches, we want people from the back benches wanting to get up the front to make a difference.

I think we all need to remember that before we all judge, that both John Key and Phil Goff put basically all their waking hours into their respective parties. Neither is wrong in what they believe, in effect we have had a central government for a number of terms, but only slightly centre left or right. I will say that I have voted for National just so to be clear; confused thought as Phil Goff has resigned as leader, has moved to the back benches, has been in parliament for 30 years, does not want leadership role ............. why be there other than the fact that this is the only job he has known, what good is he to Labour?

Does anyone think it is fanatical to be a party member? I do. Partys change. People change. WTF. How is it not fanatical to be a supporter of a party? It is no different to be a member of a religon. Policys change so why are you a labur/national voter?