Our glittering garland of experts assess the performance of the political parties, the economy, the media and more – and attempt to sum up 2016 in a single sentence
We asked: for each of the below, would you say they ended the year stronger, weaker, or the same as they started it? And how would you describe the world in 2016, in one sentence?
See also: Our wise owls select the champs and the flops of the political year. Tomorrow: What to expect in 2017.
Shamubeel Eaqub
The National Party
Weaker. Without the charismatic and nimble leader in Key, they will struggle to maintain heady popularity levels.
The Labour Party
Weaker. Still not making progress with the public with new leader Little.
The Green Party
Stronger. James Shaw and others have given the party a more modern and business friendly face.
NZ First
Much stronger. Mostly to do with soaring net migration.
Māori Party
The same. They are pragmatic to be in government, but I don’t know how that will play out with next year’s coalition arrangements if they do a pre-election deal with Mana.
ACT Party
Weaker. Struggling for relevance and exist for the mercy of the National Party in the Epsom electorate. Seymour is making a good job of his leadership and presence in parliament, but his party is struggling to get traction with the general public.
United Future Party
Who?
The Mana Party
Stronger with a Māori party deal.
Auckland
Much stronger. Economy is booming. New mayor is keen to unblock infrastructure and housing. Unaffordable housing a big risk, but a short-term one, rather than existential.
NZ economy
Stronger. Good growth, that is gradually broadening to parts outside of Auckland.
NZ media
Stronger. Old media is still in decline, but have invested in excellent investigative journalism (eg some great pieces by Matt Nippert at the Herald, the Stuff Circuit team). Some great new channels like The Spinoff and launch of the free weekly Paperboy by Bauer in Auckland.
World peace
Worse. Just look at Syria. Look at the refugee crisis in Europe. Look at the election result in the US. World peace is decidedly, and depressingly, at a low ebb.
2016 in one sentence… the year the age of rationality and reason ended in politics.
Shamubeel Eaqub is a bullshit-eviscerating economist
Graeme Edgeler
The National Party
Who really knows? The polls are pretty good in New Zealand, and they haven’t changed a great deal over the last year. Doing well at renewing the cabinet and the caucus.
The Labour Party
Who really knows? I’ve always liked Andrew Little, but whether he has the team on MPs he needs to do well is up in there air. David Shearer is a loss, and it would be good to follow him up with a few others.
The Green Party
With a bunch of new talent lining up trying to take the Greens forward – women like Chlöe Swarbrick, Hayley Holt and Susanne Ruthven – there remain a couple of questions: can the Greens manage a transition to a new generation, and is the new generation actually up to it?
NZ First
If Winston personally extricates the dead from the Pike River Mine, he could become prime minister.
Māori Party
The option for National voters to support to try to avoid a government wholly reliant on Winston? Probably not.
ACT Party
Lucky to have Seymour and not Whyte to lead.
United Future Party
Peter Dunne receives more personal support in his electorate, that United Future received in party votes over the whole country.
The Mana Party
The idea that I would have any insight into how Kelvin Davis and Hone Harawira are viewed by Māori-roll enrolled voters in the North is ridiculous, and I probably shouldn’t have been asked, but how they are seen by them will be key to Mana’s chances.
Auckland
Auckland has never really felt like one city. Next year won’t fix that.
NZ economy
There will be haves and haves less, which way people feel they and their communities are going will be important. Or not.
NZ media
The first rough draft of history has always been a very rough draft. Little things they do will continue to bug me, but it’s not going anywhere. Not next year, anyway.
World peace
Hillary Clinton promised a war with Russia by unilaterally imposing a no-fly zone in Syria (in the areas where Russian planes are flying). That she won’t might suck for people in Syria, but for the world, things could be worse than avoiding a hot war with Russia. Clinton was probably lying when she made the promise, and what Trump means is anyone’s guess. I’m not stupid enough to predict where Trump will take the world, but there’s probably going to be a war over water somewhere at some point in the future.
2016 in one sentence… worse in some respects, but not nearly as crazy as people make out.
Graeme Edgeler is a lawyer, blogger and check on the executive
Emma Espiner
The National Party
Weaker. No more Team Key. But the eerily smooth transition to Bill English arrested the descent into chaos. It will be interesting to see how the unity holds together under the pressure of an election campaign.
The Labour Party
Stronger. No more Team Key. An exciting hint at regeneration with the selection of a quality candidate like Kiritapu Allen @KiriAllan for 2017. A Māori lawyer with a business background? Yes please. Give me some more of that.
The Green Party
A bit stronger. New Zealand’s flight to safety following Trump’s election was in the Greens’ direction. Their subsequent tiptoe into anti-immigration sentiment (they say it was misinterpreted but the effect was the same) reversed this gain among some party members who publicly expressed their disappointment and disillusionment.
NZ First
I can’t bear to even look at NZ First. Its a shallow pool and I doubt 2016 has given it any depth. Undoubtedly (and depressingly) Winston will be buoyed by the rise of a demagogue like Trump.
Māori Party
About the same. The Māori Party will have been relieved to see Bill English appointed prime minister over Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman. But the Labour Party is still resolutely hostile leaving them with few options should National lose in 2017.
ACT Party
About the same. David Seymour has a talent for inserting himself into debates and having his views amplified at a magnitude unearned by his proportion of the popular vote. He does have the ability to surprise on the upside, for instance in distancing himself from Don Brash and his “Hobson’s Pledge” lot.
United Future Party
I like Peter Dunne, I really do. But I can’t bring myself to care about the state of United Future. For his sake I hope he’s got his 500 members signed up this time.
The Mana Party
Stronger. It appears Hone Harawira has been forgiven for harnessing the Mana Movement horse to the Dotcom carriage. He’ll provide a real contest for Kelvin Davis in Te Tai Tokerau and could win the seat back.
Auckland
About the same. Awesome developments like bike paths, recreational facilities’ upgrades, increased public transport capacity and hordes of new immigrants boosting the economy and adding to our city’s diversity are offset by undersupply of housing and inadequate infrastructure.
NZ economy
Stronger. As a result it’s time to loosen the purse springs and spend some money on a) children in poverty b) homeless families c) public transport infrastructure d) tax cuts.
NZ media
Stronger. Reports of its death were exaggerated. The crisis in traditional media has brought more diverse voices and innovation. We are on the cusp of being saved from clickbait and comments sections. Hallelujah.
World peace
Weaker. I’ve started an apocalypse preparation Facebook group. Which I had to join bloody Facebook to do. FML. The apocalypse truly is nigh.
2016 in one sentence…. Is it 2017 yet?
Emma Espiner is a medical student, mother and social commentator
Tau Henare
National
A teenee wee bit less than last year.
Labour
Better.
Greens
The same.
NZ First
Weaker but, hey, it’s not yet election year and they only wake up every three years.
Māori Party
A wee bit better, the party itself is better by far (an election meme if there ever was one).
ACT
Who?
Mana
Same as above.
Auckland
Still growing, without it we are doomed (Dad’s Army doomed).
Economy
Great, imagine no earthquakes. Fuckin’ awesome.
Media
Crap.
World peace
No such thing.
2016 in one sentence… The world feels like it’s buggered. NZ on the other hand is the shining light.
Tau Henare is a former National and NZ First MP and minister of Twitter
Bernard Hickey
The National Party
Weaker.
The Labour Party
Stronger.
The Green Party
About the same.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
Weaker.
ACT Party
Same.
United Future Party
Weaker.
The Mana Party
Weaker.
Auckland
Stronger (or at least more expensive and crowded).
NZ economy
Stronger (in gross terms, but not in output per hour worked).
NZ media
Weaker (with a lot more job cuts to come regardless of the NZME/Fairfax merger outcome).
World peace
Weaker because of Trump and Brexit and China.
2016 in one sentence… 30 years of globalisation ground to a halt because the half of the developed world that missed out on the benefits of 30 years of economic growth decided it wasn’t working for them.
Bernard Hickey is the editor of Hive News
Laila Harré
The National Party
Weaker, but very aware of that.
The Labour Party
Stronger by far. Green MOU, local elections, Mt Roskill, sorting out key staff, and the confidence-boosting abdication of John Key and chance to show off Jacinda in Mt Albert.
The Green Party
Stronger as a result of MOU, but quieter.
NZ First
Plus ça change, plus la même chose.
Māori Party
Stronger, Tuku Morgan is a match for Te Ururoa Flavell. Prepared to do more than just hang on. The talks with Mana could be decisive next year.
ACT Party
The same.
United Future Party
The blancmange is melting.
The Mana Party
Stronger potential – see Māori Party above.
Auckland
More organised and in better shape to demand Government action.
NZ economy
Total failure by National to transform the economy, we are still at the mercy of milk fat and nowhere near closing wage gap with Australia. Wealth even more concentrated, productivity stagnant, 90k kids live in severe hardship and no improvement to child poverty overall, the school and hospital economies are stretched, Havelock North exposed fragile regional infrastructure, not to mention the huge infrastructure need in Auckland.
NZ media
Appreciating the effort at reflection among political journalists.
World peace
A minute’s silence. I mean that.
Laila Harré is a former Alliance MP turned restaurateur who has just signed up to the Labour Party
Bronwyn Hayward
The National Party
A little weaker.
The Labour Party
A little stronger.
The Green Party
A little stronger.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
About the same (a little weaker due to loss of significant allies from National but stronger if there is another byelection).
ACT Party
A little weaker but it’s always largely irrelevant until needed for the votes in its electorate seat.
United Future Party
As above.
The Mana Party
Weaker, it will take a long time to recover trust after the Kim Dotcom fiasco.
Auckland
Weaker, mainly due to the unstable and unaffordable housing market.
NZ economy
Fundamentally weaker due to long term structural problems: eg too much reliance on resource extraction, mining, milk and too many long term inequalities.
NZ media
Weaker, but still a few key, independent voices who can make a significant difference.
World peace
Very fragile.
2016 in one sentence… A fragile, wounded and tense place, but still capable of great humanity, hope and beauty despite all the post-truth politics and anger.
Bronwyn Hayward is associate professor in political science at the University of Canterbury
Joshua Hitchcock
The National Party
The same. Reeling from the resignation of John Key, but still riding high in the polls.
The Labour Party
Slightly stronger. John Key’s resignation was an early Christmas present but it will only take a few stagnant polls in early 2017 to highlight the scale of the challenge that still awaits the party.
The Green Party
Weaker. Not through any fault of their own, but the political winds are not blowing their way and the resignation of Kevin Hague is a big blow.
NZ First
Stronger. Winston is on course to be deputy prime minister. Again.
Māori Party
The same. Under attack from the left, could be left out in the cold under the next National-NZ First Government, but the building alliance with the Mana party will shore up their place in parliament.
ACT Party
The same. Correctly predicted the outcome of the US election. Probably the only thing they got right this year.
United Future Party
Stronger; 2017 is election year and, should he run, Peter Dunne is going to get a lot of attention again.
The Mana Party
Stronger. Hone has found another wagon to jump on and should ride this all the way back into parliament.
Auckland
Stronger. The CRL is on its way and in Phil Goff the city might finally have a mayor capable to moving the bloated bureaucracy in a unified direction.
NZ economy
Stronger. Many here in the UK are looking enviously at New Zealand’s economy and contemplating the move over.
NZ media
Weaker. Not that I am paying much attention but the descent of the major outlets into UK-style tabloids appears well under way.
World peace
Stronger. With the UK and USA both focused on destroying themselves from the inside the rest of us have little to worry about.
Joshua Hitchcock is a writer and Head of Finance and Operations at Hubbub.net
Stephen Jacobi
The National Party
Stronger.
The Labour Party
Weaker.
The Green Party
Stronger (James Shaw now the youth candidate for PM).
NZ First
Who?
Māori Party
Same.
ACT Party
Same.
United Future Party
Stronger (gotta love Peter).
The Mana Party
Um?
Auckland
Stronger – but in rush hour, weaker.
NZ economy
Stronger (for longer).
NZ media
Stronger, definitely, yeah, I mean who could argue …
World peace
Weaker and getting worse as each day passes.
Confused.
Stephen Jacobi is a former diplomat, policy adviser, and trade advocate
Nicola Kean
The National Party
Weaker: they’ve lost their key asset (not sorry).
The Labour Party
Stronger: by default.
The Green Party
Weaker: sure they’ve got an MOU and Hayley Holt, but moving towards the centre is creating tension (cf immigration policy).
NZ First
Stronger: Winston’s not done yet.
Māori Party
Stronger: scored a few policy wins and have some interesting candidates for 2017.
ACT Party
Same.
United Future Party
Same.
The Mana Party
Stronger: Hone’s back.
Auckland
Stronger: Marginally. The Unitary Plan’s passed, there’s a new mayor, the City Rail Link’s getting rolling, it feels like stuff is happening here (especially compared to Wellington). All good things that are undermined by housing.
NZ economy
Growth is good compared to other countries, but it seems to be based on immigration and house price inflation – and between Treasury and the Reserve Bank there have been a lot of warnings this year about the track we’re on.
NZ media
Say what you like about certain home pages, a lot of people are working really hard to tell stories that matter. Organisations are investing in proper investigative work and there are some interesting new players.
World peace
Weaker: Trump, need I say more?
2016 in one sentence… What the fuck happened.
Nicola Kean is producer on TV3’s The Nation
Annabelle Lee
The National Party
Weaker, coz John Key.
The Labour Party
Stronger, coz John Key.
The Green Party
Same.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
Stronger.
ACT Party
Weaker – if that’s even possible.
United Future Party
I’m sorry, who?
The Mana Party
Stronger.
Auckland
Weaker but more expensive
NZ economy
I don’t know how to maths but the whole poverty thing hasn’t gone away has it?
NZ media
With the likes of Māori journalists such as Maiki Sherman and Mihi Forbes on mainstream I would like to think we are stronger.
World peace
Que?
2016 in one sentence… Unpredictable.
Annabelle Lee is executive producer on The Hui and the cleverest person on the Spinoff’s political podcast
Laura O’Connell Rapira
The National Party
Weaker without Key.
The Labour Party
Same.
The Green Party
Stronger with new blood.
NZ First
Stronger with growing anti-establishment mood.
Māori Party
Stronger if the Mana alliance works out.
ACT Party
Same, pretty sure the Humans of Remuera won’t change their ways anytime soon.
United Future Party
Weaker with the Laboureen MOU.
The Mana Party
As above.
Auckland
Same, but heading in a better direction.
NZ economy
Same, property developers still cashing in, and people still living in cars.
NZ media
Better with The Spinoff here.
World peace
Same, sadly :(
Laura O’Connell is director of campaigns at ActionStation
Claire Robinson
The National Party
Stronger.
The Labour Party
Weaker.
The Green Party
Stronger.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
Same.
ACT Party
Stronger.
United Future Party
Weaker.
The Mana Party
Weaker.
Auckland
Same.
NZ economy
Same.
NZ media
Weaker.
World peace
Same.
2016 in one sentence… In a word, seismic.
Claire Robinson is pro vice-chancellor, Toi Rauwharangi College of Creative Art, Massey University
David Slack
The National Party
Weaker.
The Labour Party
Stronger.
The Green Party
Stronger.
NZ First
DoublePlus Stronger.
Māori Party
Weaker.
ACT Party
Weaker.
United Future Party
Weaker.
The Mana Party
Stronger.
Auckland
Weaker.
NZ economy
Weaker.
NZ media
Weaker.
World peace
Weaker.
2016 in one sentence… Pitchforked.
David Slack is a writer and broadcaster
Tainui Stephens
The National Party
Weaker.
The Labour Party
Weaker.
The Green Party
Same.
NZ First
Same.
Māori Party
Slightly stronger.
ACT Party
Who?
United Future Party
Meh!
The Mana Party
Promising. I like Hone Harawira.
Auckland
Munted.
NZ economy
OK but unsustainable.
NZ media
Fucked.
World peace
Dire.
2016 in one sentence… At the edge of an abyss of our own design and construction.
Tainui Stephens is a film and TV producer and presenter
Ben Thomas
The National Party
Same, with a downgrade warning. Riding high in government with new prime minister and what’s likely to be a rejuvenated cabinet and 2017 campaign line up, but uncertainty with the departure of Key.
The Labour Party
Weaker. The caucus is united, Andrew Little is showing touches of humanity, the government has adopted watered down evrsions of some of its policies in key areas of immigration and housing. Yet the party continued to tank in the polls. Cause for hope with the resignation of Key, who had assumed unkillable movie monster proportions to Labour.
The Green Party
Same. Neck and neck with New Zealand First in rolling out zeitgeist friendly – and foreigner hostile – policy on immigration and trade, some of which has polarized membership. Clearing deadwood, in a sustainable manner, to make room for media-friendly young women candidates.
NZ First
Stronger. As politics in the western world becomes more insular, xenophobic and fearful, all eyes turn to Winston. Most polls show him holding the balance of power next year.
Māori Party
Stronger. Showed the kind of backbone its supporters have wanted for years over the Kermadecs, made gains in the RMA reform for iwi, and new President Tuku Morgan’s machinations could give the party more seats next year by reducing friction with Mana.
ACT Party
Same. Strong year in 2015, the best leader since 2004, but a tough time to be selling free market liberalism.
United Future Party
Same.
The Mana Party
Stronger. Hone has gone from restful slumber to a genuine chance at re-taking Te Tai Tokaerau through an uneasy truce with the Māori Party.
Auckland
Same. Auckland is a vibrant, diverse international city that is by far the best centre in New Zealand so long as you don’t have to live anywhere or get any place. Lucky it has the country’s best cafes to just sit in.
NZ economy
Stronger, but lots of uncertainty.
NZ media
Same. There is terrific stuff being produced by superb journalists, but hard to tell if it’s a roar or a death rattle?
World peace
Curiously continues to spiral down the sinkhole, despite John Key’s speech to the United Nations.
2016 in one sentence… A great reminder that progress isn’t and hasn’t ever been inevitable.
Ben Thomas is a journalist turned political adviser turned PR hack at Exceltium and the cleverest person on the Spinoff’s political podcast
Andrea Vance
The National Party
Weaker without Brand Key.
The Labour Party
The same.
The Green Party
Weaker.
NZ First
The same.
Māori Party
Looking stronger (as opposed to having performed with strength).
ACT Party
The same.
United Future Party
Weaker.
The Mana Party
Incredibly a bit stronger.
Auckland
Weaker.
NZ economy
Better.
NZ media
Weaker.
World peace
WE’RE DOOMED.
Andrea Vance is a political reporter for TVNZ news
Tim Watkin
The National Party
Weaker.
The Labour Party
Same.
The Green Party
Weaker.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
Stronger.
ACT Party
Stronger.
United Future Party
Same. (Now and forever more. Amen.)
The Mana Party
Who?
Auckland
Stronger.
NZ economy
Same.
NZ media
Weaker.
World peace
#$%*!
2016 in one sentence…
A year which we took seriously but wish we didn’t have to take literally; and homelessness.
Overseas, fear trumped fate. Trump and Farage beat all the odds and sent years of political consensus down the drain. My question is, if fake news helped Trump win, can we pretend he’s a fake president?
[This is an unconventional sentence – ed]
Tim Watkin is executive producer of podcasts and series and bloglord at Pundit
Jamie Whyte
The National Party
Weaker.
The Labour Party
Stronger.
The Green Party
Weaker.
NZ First
Same.
Māori Party
Stronger.
Act Party
Stronger.
United Future
Same.
The Mana Party
Weaker.
Auckland
Stronger (because Of Unitary Plan, not Phil Goff).
NZ Economy
Stronger.
NZ media
Weaker (loss of credibility, blocked merger).
World peace
Trump makes it too uncertain to say.
Jamie Whyte is a writer and former ACT Party leader
Guy Williams
The National Party
Weaker. It’s like John Key was Kobe Bryant and the flag referendum was his last game where he jacked up 60 points. They seem to have no long term fall back plan except for “we can probably still eke out one more term” because the opposition is the Utah Jazz.
The Labour Party
The same. Which is amazing considering recent changes. I just wish they would make a splash, do something… anything! My strategy of cyberbullying them into life doesn’t seem to be working. I have a cynical theory that they know they’re going to loose and everyone is just jockeying for position when they change leadership after the election.
The Green Party
The same. I would like to say they have improved but they’ve decided to tie themselves to Labour so now they look like the National row boat parody of them in the 2014 election ads. Man advertising is effective, and National has all the money and resources to do it!
NZ First
Stronger. Jesus Christ. National weirdly can’t defend or explain their own immigration policies and so they’re back baby! Bill English V Andrew Little is about as appealing as a Duco event undercard and it will take a hot fire Jacinda Ardern DJ gig to stop Winston from getting all of the media coverage in 2017.
Māori Party
Weaker. I hope they achieved what they wanted from two terms with National because in the media spotlight they really cut their own legs off.
ACT Party
The same. People can’t figure out why Seymour gets so much coverage? Talk shit, get hit…s. Online. He has strong opinions and says crazy stuff.
United Future Party
Weaker. Surely Peter Dunne is going to lose his seat?
The Mana Party
The same? Is this a typo? Are they still a thing?
Auckland
Stronger. The Blues are getting Sonny Bill.
NZ economy
Stronger. The Trump Presidency is great news for our biggest export “Actors who can play Mexicans but are not actually Mexicans.”
NZ media
Weaker. And it infuriates me that one of the big news companies won’t make a seperate clickbait free websites for the actual good journalism they still produce. On the positive side it looks like Radio New Zealand is poised to become a significant news website.
World peace
No idea, but I’m very nervous.
2016 in one sentence… If they’re the idiots then how come they’re beating us?
Guy Williams is a tall comedian, broadcaster and writer
Simon Wilson
The National Party
Stronger. Blinglish and Bennett are already having a high old time and they will quickly become very popular, although there is always the risk he becomes too boring and she too horrible.
The Labour Party
Weaker. Because not stronger when they really, really should have been.
The Green Party
Same. Got the MOU which is significant but haven’t translated it into more support which is also significant.
NZ First
Stronger.
Māori Party
Weaker. Hone will damage them – with the sidelining of Marama Fox he’s started to do that already.
ACT Party
Weaker. Really, what is the point?
United Future Party
Weaker. Tide’s going out.
The Mana Party
Stronger. Clever Hone.
Auckland
Stronger. Better mayor and better council too.
NZ economy
Weaker. We’re further behind on adapting economically to climate change, fixing the distortions caused by property, diversifying away from dairy, growing the tech sector and taxing fairly. Also, a surplus gained by cruelly ignoring the worst afflicted is a terrible thing to crow about.
NZ media
Weaker.
World peace
OMG weaker.
2016 in one sentence… Jokes are quite useful but way too many people getting hurt.
Simon Wilson is a writer and former editor of Metro