It was a mixture of business and pleasure as Prime Minister John Key and Leader of the Opposition David Cunliffe joined their (National and Labour) caucus colleagues and other guests at Pullman Hotel in Auckland City on April 1 and April 2 for cocktails and dinner.
The two leaders launched Electionlink (6 and 7 in this issue), which highlight the challenges that they would face in leading their respective parties to Election 2014.
Two Camps
Mr Key was confident that he would lead National into third term, sighting ‘the achievements’ of his Government since 2008.
“The economy is stronger than ever, we have more people on jobs, less on benefit, we have invested substantially in health, education, law and order and other core sectors. People do not want a change,” he told the gathering.
But Mr Cunliffe voiced a different tone.
“People want a change. The Labour Government has great plans for improving the economy, creating more jobs and make New Zealand a better place,” he said.
The two divergent views, made wider and louder by other political players in the fortnights to come, would make up our Electionlink pages from here to the general election on September 20, 2014, when the verdict at the polls would determine who occupies the Beehive and the Treasury benches in Parliament.
Until then, we would do our job of reporting, analysing and commenting on the evolution of policies and programmes from both sides of the political spectrum.
And for the record, the assembly of the political icons on the two nights would easily be one of the most interesting and useful in the social calendar of all participants.
Among the guests on April 1 were Mr Key, Ministers Steven Joyce, Judith Collins, Maurice Williamson, Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, National Party President Peter Goodfellow, Members of Parliament, Party officials and other guests.
Those present on April 2 were Mr Cunliffe, fellow Members of Parliament including Phil Goff and Dr Rajen Prasad, Labour Party Vice-President Robert Gallagher and other guests.
-Venkat Raman
Photographs for Indian Newslink by Narendra Bedekar
Steven Joyce on the challenges
Judith Collins extols the Indian community
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi expresses gratitude
Peter Goodfellow on Indian businesses
Robert Khan outlines Electionlink
John Key with Anil Thapliyal
John Key with Jacob Mannothra
John Key with Ravin Lal, Robert Khan and others
David Cunliffe highly confident
Phil Goff speaks about Indian Newslink
Dr Rajen Prasad outlines work to do
Dr Rajen Prasad with Sunny Kaushal and Anil Thapliyal
Ravin Lal, Ansuya Naidoo, Stan Balar and Jacob Mannothra
Su’a William Sio, Carmel Sepuloni, Jerome Mika, Jenny Salesa and Carol Beaumont
