Hard News by Russell Brown

Chloe Swarbrick is a shining star. Watch this space.

would I want her involved in steering Auckland? Oh, hell yes.

Same. So impressed.

Once again this IRL format is the winner on the day. Picking the less obvious "suspects" for the debate was an inspired choice.

Based on what I have seen in the video Chloe needs to be part of the new council. Her idea that the Mayor needs to be a visionary makes a great deal of sense.

At least one of the other candidates seems to think they are running for the CEO role and it looks to me like that is an insincere attempt at profile raising for national politics.

I enjoyed Ralston's input too. I hope you get loads of viewers because this is what media is made for.

a place for greying white men.

Is that shorthand for something?
The colour of their hair and sex isnt the issue, its the philosophies and policies they back which need not questioning but ditching IMHO. Is that the case? I dont have a dog in this race I've abandoned Auckland, hope i dont have to return.

It's FPP though. You have a choice between Phil Goff and whoever is the front-running righty. If you vote for Chloe, it's a vote for said righty, sadly.

It’s FPP though. You have a choice between Phil Goff and whoever is the front-running righty. If you vote for Chloe, it’s a vote for said righty, sadly.

Theres a bit more leeway this time. Goff is so far ahead. Chloe could yet come second.

a place for greying white men.

Is that shorthand for something?

I thought it was quite a clever form of words and that I was being playful with the concept of diversity. But never mind.

Chloe Swarbrick continued her roll last night: keen to take every question, confident, articulate and informed when she did so

She really was fantastic. I have to admit the water balloon above our heads kept me on the edge of my seat. But also the content and panellists were really engaging.

Election services will be keeping a tally on the % of votes received daily so you can track if engagement was any higher this year than usual. Reposted from Cathy Casey "At first count, 2.16 per cent of votes have been returned in the six days since voting opened, up from the 1.2 per cent for the same period in 2013." So it's looking good so far.

Chloe grabbed her 80 best seconds from last night –– comparing and differentiating herself from Goff – and posted it on Facebook.

Ralston wouldn’t be terrible if he was elected and had to own decisions rather than idly mock them.

Perhaps, but the first thing which sprang to mind following your comment was Tony Abbott.

A great debate. Obviously I have no say in what should happen in Auckland but there is a ripple effect in what happens there. I wonder, for instance, at the wisdom behind the billions being spent on the Waikato Expressway, which will really only enable us to encounter the Auckland congestion five minutes earlier. We need daily rail services between Hamilton and Auckland Central but our two do-nothing local Nat MPs have steadfastly opposed any talk of it.

We need daily rail services between Hamilton and Auckland Central but our two do-nothing local Nat MPs have steadfastly opposed any talk of it.

Seriously? That's daft. A more functional rail service to and from Auckland could only be good, surely?

What would the real housewives vote? Surely the must have a vision. Our real commentators.

Seriously? That's daft. A more functional rail service to and from Auckland could only be good, surely?

They don't necessarily oppose rail, they just oppose talking about it because the word has gone out from Steven Joyce that National only supports roads (that said, I have no idea who Geoff's MPs are but they can't be worse than mine - Nuthin' Guy)

David Bennett (Ham East) and Tim Mcindoe (Ham West). You probably have never heard of them.

We need daily rail services between Hamilton and Auckland Central but our two do-nothing local Nat MPs have steadfastly opposed any talk of it.

Seriously? That’s daft. A more functional rail service to and from Auckland could only be good, surely?

I wonder whether the problem is that if you allow a passenger rail service from Hamilton to Auckland, with a stop in Huntly, then folks will use it ... A LOT.

That will create pressure to improve the service - make it faster, smoother, better carriages etc. And I'm not sure the actual rail infrastructure can be improved substantially without a complete overhaul which would be a huge investment in the future.

A really really good investment but as we know this government is does not care about the future beyond the next election.

Cripes, I heard that Michelle Boag sock puppet Vic Crone on Natrad this morning. Dreadful woman.