December 06, 2016
Political calculus behind Key shift
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says John Key has been the Teflon man of New Zealand politics, who has been able to smile his way through when things went wrong.
Mr Key announced yesterday he was stepping down as prime minister for family reasons, giving his successor time to prepare for next year’s election.
Mr Peters says as prime minister he did nothing to slow the 30 year decline in the economic and social circumstances if Maori, especially in fundamentals like housing, schools, hospitals and first world wages and jobs.
It’s been clear to him for some time Mr Key would not seek a fourth term.
"He was falling way below the 50 percent mark in terms of personal popularity and there was a flaky side or a soft side to National Party support, all of which he would have been aware of. Let's face it, it's not anything other than the political reality and I think he made up his mind and said 'Do I want to stick around and risk everything, reputation-wise, or do I want to go,' and I think he made that decision," Mr Peters says.
He can’t see anyone in National’s team with the skills and abilty to replace John Key.
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