CRYPTIC QUICK

Across

1. Is intimate with such a pal’s vital statistic? (5)

4. Is not certain if I’d sub Otago University requires (7)

8. It is light in the middle of what was once resin (5)

9. Venetian craft may display supermarket goods (7)

10. John was the plaintiff, but she sounds a dear (3)

11. Will be too long in bed to see plover moving about (9)

12. Remark one musical sound (4)

13. Scorch the fish, as will a cleaner (4)

18. Accustom one to a heat - but one may vary it (9)

20. Take it as it’s printed in musicology (3)

21. If in due order, it can be made into one (7)

22. It may be drab, but the colour is uniform (5)

23. It will finish up not so much if it never stops (7)

24. Long narrow top part removed from game bird (5)

Down

1. Where the pupils may be accommodated in a small hotel (8-5)

2. Make one undergo being a king’s man, for instance (7)

3. One has it in one’s bones to spoil neat line (6)

Across

1. System of beliefs (5)

4. Distress, consternation (6)

7. Misery (3)

8. Squirm (6)

9. Athletic (6)

10. Lozenge (8)

12. Average (4)

13. Tooth coating (6)

15. Plaid (6)

16. Pacific island vegetable (4)

17. Whinge (8)

19. Get free (6)

20. Musician who rhymes to a beat (6)

22. Fish eggs (3)

4. One with a spade may be an ANZAC (6)

5. Dismiss one in turning up in a party (6)

6. Ring-belt produced by UV light acting on oxygen (5)

7. Perhaps harps on rehearsal of what’s unscrupulous in business (5,8)

14. Manage with economy to be a spouse (7)

23. Colouring implement (6)

24. Smooth and sleek (5)

Down

1. Preliminary event (7,6)

2. Consume (3)

3. Reside (5)

4. Pudding (7)

5. Rogue (9)

6. On the other hand (13)

11. Short-term (9)

14. Speaker’s stand (7)

18. Traditions or habits (5)

21. Chum (3)

15. Make match work when others are out (6)

16. Fly larva forming a disc round end of pond (6)

17. One’s spirits, as kept up by a bird? (6)

19. Is unable to see a screen hunters can use (5)

‘‘transformational’’ enough for all you critics out there?

Only six months since the handbrake was removed (‘‘Petered out’’ in fact) ‘‘transformational’’ is happening.

It always takes time to undo the catastrophes and crises left behind after National has been in charge.

Eight out of nine years of deficits under National had to be turned around to begin with.

Rotting hospitals and schools are now revealed. Power prices have soared because of National’s electricity reforms.

State housing stock was being neglected and sold off by National – now reversed, and being added to by Labour.

Massive increases in homelessness, and people living in cars, emerged under National. The environment? Our water quality was never worse.

And ask Christchurch how well their recovery was managed, by National, after the earthquake.

Yes, we need ‘‘transformational’’ all right. And it started last week, under this Labour Government.

Count your blessings, New Zealand!