Experts share what the crystal ball shows for politics in 2018. Photo / Getty Images
We asked them to name their winners and losers in politics 2017, and so they did. We asked them to describe the year in sentence. They did that, too.
The Spinoff asked what might be the issues 2018 hinges on, and again they did it, which was very decent of them. Finally, we implored: Give us a wild prediction for 2018 …
And here they are.
Graham Cameron
Shane Jones will be ejected from NZ First, lose his ministerial roles and become an independent MP by the end of 2018.
Graeme Edgeler
Leader of the opposition Judith Collins, plus that Chinese moon thing again.
Emma Espiner
Helen Clark turns down a position on the board of a charitable entity or NGO.
Joshua Hitchcock
Winston Peters, frustrated by the lack of progress on his key policies, will swap sides and reinstate a National-led government.
Leonie Hayden
Lance O'Sullivan founds the Handsome Doctor Party and becomes leader, deputy leader and president.
Stephen Jacobi
CPTPP will be concluded in March 2018 and signed later in the year.
Nicola Kean
President Pence – is that even that wild? I don't know any more.
Annabelle Lee
Gone By Lunchtime will become the world's most downloaded podcast, win several prestigious awards and be cited as facilitating lasting world peace.
Toby Manhire
The year will see new leaders for not one, not two, but three parties in parliament.
Wayne Mapp
Peace in the Middle East, with Israel and Palestine making real progress, and the Syrian civil war ending.
Tainui Stephens
Perhaps sooner than we think, we may follow the world, nay lead it, in terms of marijuana reform. When that glad day arrives I look forward to our prime minister going to Govt House to swear in a new government, and at the function having a cone with the GG along with the cocktails. Perhaps the only constitutional challenge could be if the GG has to pay GST on the royal stash.
Ben Thomas
Everything will probably be fine.
Andrea Vance
The Brexit negotiations will bring down Theresa May's government.
Guy Williams
Simon Bridges becomes leader of the National Party and goes out like an idiot. One of those Dirty Politics crackers goes full Charlie Sheen on live TV or radio.
Simon Wilson
Jacinda Ardern will set out a programme to rethink NZ society on the basis of kindness, hope, smart and original thinking and a bold commitment to inclusiveness and opportunity. It will be far reaching, in political, economic and cultural terms, and she will rally support for her vision throughout the nation. There is absolutely no reason I can think of why it could not happen.
-The Spinoff
Boxing Day shoppers in Rotorua and Tauranga are happy to be spending.