Close Up - Big Dealers (feat. John Key)

the haircuts match the theme music!

john key is obviously the devil ;)

I'm not sure what use foreign exchange trading is for a PM. I would rather have someone who understands people and the impact of his policies rather than someone who knows how to short the currency.

Great video, he comes across really well. To be able to make those educated decisions at the drop of a hat is impressive. And I liked the way he answered the questions about his salary and losses, even though his track record and salary were probably right up there he wouldn't be lured into bragging about it.
An ideal background for a PM to have, someone that understands economies, critical thinker, handles pressure and stress. For the people that say 'who wants a greedy PM that only cares about money?' do you really think people become PM for the pay packet? I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket compared to his previous job. And yeah, I would want someone who understands world economies and can make the right decisions to keep our country afloat ( check out Greece, Italy and Ireland right now, yikes).
I wouldn't be interested in having someone 'who's just like us' as PM, the common man would be too short sighted and send the country broke after their term was up. Like what Labour was on their way to doing with ACC, etc.

@Ted: that dropkick would be me (possibly it was all the squash, champagne and waterbeds that made me dozy). After re-watching the clip, I've changed 'breathless' to 'intrepid' ... cheers

Who was the dozy dropkick who described me as 'breathless'? That's about as accurate as saying a television executive is intelligent.

Perfect for a politician. He gambles with other peoples money.

Thank god we have a Prime Minister of NZ that knows how to run an economy! Not like the Helen Clark bulls**t we've had for so long.

Personally, i can't see any benefits for the average New Zealander in having a PM at the helm of the country, who's interests seem to be purely personal greed and ambition. Hardly a good track record to careing about the welfare of people from all walks of life.

The smiling assassin is pretty apt. There's nowhere he wont travel for a photo op... He's prob the most dangerous PM we've had for a while as everyone seems to thing he's great. Anyone know who else is in the National Party? He's a one man band. Is that good or bad?

Fascinating. But given the appallingly and heartless money-first money-above-all legacy that Margaret Thatcher bestowed upon the UK, I am not sure whether it is to NZ's advantage to have a PM with a pedigree in financial markets but, clearly, apparently no fine taste in interior design!

There has to be worse places to find a PM than the top of the FX market. What was his trading record after this doco was made?

John Key is a top man. Very down to earth and the best PM this country has ever had.

"These guys came very close to bankrupting the country in 1985, and all in the name of a quick buck. "
From memory it was the Muldoon era flawed government policies and the hangover from think big that nearly sunk us, not the development of a healthy FX market, which incidently is a neccessary adjunct to a freely floating exchange rate.

I think this is pretty interesting - John Key certainly has a pretty good knack for judging popular opinion on political issues and then changing his position, maybe a skill he picked up foreign exchange trading?

I have a hunch in these comments we'll get to see confirmation bias in action - those of us who think Key sucks lauding this over him; those who love the guy showing how this demonstrates his awesomeness.

Super. Fantastic internet debate awaits!

These guys came very close to bankrupting the country in 1985, and all in the name of a quick buck.

It is great to have someone like this at the Helm of our country who can think on their feet and make such big and instant decisions at such an early age . Very Capable, understands financial trends and doesnt spit the Dummy under pressure.
I am a small business owner not at all political, but bloody impressed with him as he must have learned a hell of a lot more of these skills since this video was made.