A New Government

NZ election means a big jump to right

John Key, leader of the National party, the boy trader of Wall St, was last night tasked with trading New Zealand out of its direst economic crisis for many years.

He is preparing to build a Government of all colours, as he reaches across the political divide to work with not just Act and United Future, but also the Maori Party and the Greens.

New Zealand voted for a change of direction, and a change of generation.

Key faces a weighty responsibility: he will take the premiership as the country enters what could be its worst recession in decades.

Helen Clark, acknowledged by friends and foes alike as one of the country's strongest-ever leaders, last night announced her resignation as leader of the Labour Party.

After nine years as Prime Minister and 15 years as leader of her party, her defeat had seemed inevitable in the final days.

Headlines in todays paper. yesterday we voted, today we have a new Government. Labour,led by Helen Clarke had been in for nine years but the country has voted very clearly for a change in direction. So we now have a National Govt.led by John Key.

I don't tend to get very excited about politics, or Politicians, but there is certainly the need for some new direction.

Quake shakes Bay of Plenty

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale shook the Bay of Plenty early this morning.

The quake at 12.57am was centred 20km west of Rotorua, at a depth of 200km, GNS Science reported.

The quake was widely felt in the North Island.

And the second headline! Yes another earthquake, no damage though. I didn't feel it.