A weekis a long time in politics, so I guess readers are thinking 2014 will pass like a millennium as it is election year - which means candidates banging on until the votes are cast.
As always, there'll be those hoping for change and those hoping for more of the same.
Elections tend to be won and lost on four main issues - economy, education, health and law and order - and then issues that arise from time to time such as earthquake remediation as well as quirky influences such as personalities, alliances, cups of tea and such.
When National came into office in 2008 inflation was running at 5.1 per cent and now it is 1.4 per cent, while mortgage rates were at 10.9 per cent and are now at 5.9 per cent. After tax wages had risen 1 per cent over the previous five years under Labour and have gone up 13 per cent in five years under National. Fifty-three thousand more people are employed than a year ago and New Zealand is now the fifth-ranked country in terms of economic growth in the OECD.
In education we have seen good results across the sector. Ninety-eight per cent of children are in early childhood education and, this year, we have put a further $172.5 million into this area of learning, getting wee ones off to a good start. We're on our way to having 85 per cent of 18-year-olds achieving NCEA level 2 in 2017. Last year, a further $155 million went into building new schools and enhanced learning environments so our kids have the best schools and equipment to learn in. A further $211 million will go into the IT network for schools so all the whizz-bang technology will be put to best use.
