Red Peak lifts Greens to unaccustomed heights

Are you struggling to keep up with which flags are in or out? Thought the Greens and National went together like a vegan with bacon? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here is this week’s list of who’s up and who’s down in politics.

UP – The Green Party and in particular Gareth Hughes

Red Peak is officially on the ballot paper all thanks to Hughes and an unlikely alliance with National to get it over the line. The Greens were on the wrong side of the debate when it came to opening pubs for Rugby World Cup games but they’ve redeemed themselves with the voting public.

UP – Pandas

They’re cute and cuddly and if John Key has his way they’ll be chewing on bamboo in Wellington Zoo before long. Even if Key doesn’t end up getting his preferred silver fern flag he may have a new legacy in getting some fury little friends for the capital.

UP – Hairdresser rights

Stylists have found an unlikely champion in Health Minister Jonathan Coleman. The ‘‘loopy’’ Rules Reduction Taskforce report has recommended the removal of a requirement for those stylists to be annually registered. They face yearly inspections while tattoo parlours do not. Coleman says he is on the case.

UP – Climate change awareness

The deportation of a Kiribati family this week didn’t seal the deal of making climate change refugees an actual thing but it did get people talking about it. This is a very real and scary thing for our Pacific Island neighbours and all of a sudden it has the much-needed attention it deserves.

DOWN– Labour

The Red Peak debate has gone from bad to worse for the opposition and getting behind the groundswell for change was never going to be enough for Labour. They had to drop their hard line on the referendum being a yes/no question and their refusal to do so has cost them dearly. DOWN– Child, Youth and Family

A scathing report by an expert panel to overhaul to state child protection agency has criticised almost every part of CYF’s operation. It forms the first part of a business case to completely rebuild the department. CYF can only go up from here.

DOWN– Nick Smith

Getting booted out of the House isn’t exactly the world’s biggest crime but when it happens twice in the space of minutes it’s a tad embarrassing. To make matters worse Smith was the acting sponsor of the bill being debated when it happened. But let’s face it, when you go around saying ‘‘you are unfit to be Speaker’’ you’re time in the chair is going to be limited.

DOWN– John Key

Everyone is well aware our Prime Minister likes to be besties with everyone, in particular notable types like Barack Obama and David Cameron. While having a round of golf with Obama is one thing – trying to match Cameron’s weird university pig ritual by telling the nation you took part in the ‘‘Chunder Mile’’ isn’t exactly something to be proud of.

Fail of the week

Labour really missed a golden opportunity this week with Red Peak and to add salt to the wound they got made to look silly by the Greens who not only got Red Peak across the line but did it by doing a deal with National. It’s one thing that another party won the public over but when it’s a win by the Greens it hurts that extra bit more in Camp Labour.

Sledge of the week

David Seymour set John Key up nicely when he asked the Prime Minister whether the pandas he wanted to bring to Wellington would have Chinese-sounding names. ‘‘Yes, they will be called Bing Bing, Xing Xing, Zhing Zhing, and under a Labour government they will never be allowed to buy a panda enclosure in Auckland,’’ Key chortled.