The global credit crunch has caused many in heartland New
Zealand to reassess their own finances in a way that talk
from politicians has been unable to do.
When famous All Black B.G. Williams, hailing
from the Ponsonby Rugby Club, was terrorising the best rugby
defences in the world, the suburb bearing the same name was a
very different place from today.
It was easy to get distracted on the journey through the vast
Taranaki-King Country electorate yesterday in the pursuit of
the heartbeat of the 2011 election campaign.
On a sizzling hot day in
New Plymouth an army of young Labour supporters are
enthusiastically waving "Vote Little - Labour" placards and
handing out stickers and pamphlets.
Troubled All Black Zac Guildford and Christmas
shopping made keeping the election campaign top of mind more
difficult than usual in Palmerston North yesterday.
It must be an election campaign when you walk into a crowded
dining room at the Canterbury Jockey Club on Saturday and New
Zealand First leader Winston Peters catches your eye with a
hearty wave.
