Blue Blood

by Andrea Vance

'A political bombshell book' - Sunday Star TimesBeginning with the shock resignation of John Key, Blue Blood reveals the reasons behind one of the most dramatic falls in popularity in New Zealand's political history and tells the full story of how the National Party went to war with itself.Informed by campaign emails and internal party communications, and with commentary from key advisors, staffers, and past and current MPs, Andrea Vance sheds new light on the ministers and motivations that made negotiations with the kingmaker, high-profile resignations, secret recordings and text messages, allegations of bullying and harassment, and leaders gone rogue on the campaign trail.Blue Blood takes the reader inside the rooms where fatal decisions were made, asks what values lie at the heart of a modern-day National Party, and questions who else might be waiting in the wings.'I was unable to put it down. Stranger than fiction and yet entirely factual. A timely reminder of how quickly things can change in politics' Tova O'Brien, Today FM'A bizarre, gothic psycho-drama of National's recent political history' The Listener'A blockbuster of a book that reads like a thriller - or a horror story' Capsule

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2022

Reviews

[Adam Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Good summary of what the national party has been up to since the departure of Key. Cringe worthy at times - I’d forgot some of the disasters like when Bridges accuses labour of leaking his expenditure report only to discover it was one of his own MPs. Relies a quite a lot of testimony from former MP Nick Smith. Some interesting speculation on where Luxon’s leadership may take the party towards the end of the book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was living overseas between 2016 and 2021 and thought I was reasonably well-informed about NZ political news, but somehow managed to miss the entire Jami-Lee Ross affair (amongst other things). This book was an entertaining way to get back up to speed. The quotes from National party insiders are the best parts: "I thought: 'Ah fuck, here we go.' And it was like that just about every day. You’d think it can’t get any worse. And then it did."

The last few chapters are less compelling, and more of a straight retelling of recent history. Perhaps we'll get a sequel, depending on how things go for National in 2023...?

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the insight, new impression of people we think we know

[Darry · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a pretty factual account of the Key years to where the Nats are currently this is a good book. It serves its purpose and broadly documents the utter carnage of recent memory. Serving as a reminder of that is reason enough to read. However this book is all about the who, when and what, etc... but none of the why, which is one reason why I find this book a tad lacking.

Statements from anon sources are matter-of-factly stated, not challenged, contrasted or examined in any substantial way. Such that it, on occasion feels like a mouthpiece for unnamed sources with an axe to grind. I feel this book suffers trying to be the first account of very recent events, and is thus a bit too surface level in places because of it, lacking any real analysis. Some bits could have, and should have been covered in more depth. Saying all this I definitely found the '17 election negotiation chapter eye opening. As were several of the gem like quotes from named and unnamed sources. These gems of this book are anything uttered by Chris Finlayson. And given the present, a few bits of the last two chapters w. regards to Luxon.

This book is definitely framed to set up a fairy tale for '23 and acknowledges this in the final pages. Rather than factually documenting something it feels like the media once again trying to manifest something into existence because the story is good. Which annoys me to no end.

[David Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great account of the tumultuous era since National lost its key (sorry about pun) leadership under the John Key/Bill English-led government of 2008-2017, with the departure of the eponymous Key, English and Steven Joyce and some of their closest behind-the-scenes staffers. Just how cohesive that government and party was is revealed by Vance as she chronicles the party unravelling in the late 2010s and early 2020s with several changes of leader and a whole lot more. Vance has talked to a lot of people and her efforts pay off. One minor inconsistency - late in the book she describes David Seymour of the ACT party as goofy, then a few pages later says he has finesse. But the mildly interesting tidbit that he was an enthusiastic cigarette smoker during his university days makes up for that. And Vance also provides a good summation of ACT's rise from marginal to central party in NZ politics during the era of National's woes. Her last chapter, about the rise of Christopher Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis is also well done. I eagerly await the sequel which will chart how they and the broader party handle the latest scandal to engulf National.

[Daniel Headifen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been interested in all this stuff as it happened it generally felt quite familiar. Surprised that the author dropped some of the drama out of actual events and quotes and would go for lots of anonymous sources saying “what the fuck was that?” When Judith Collins took on Bridges the interviews the next morning with National MPs as they came to parliament were far more emotional than Vance quotes here. And the sense of disbelief the country had when Todd Muller quit. Maybe cause I read it quick but Judith Collins having to sack dodgy MPs felt at first like she was the right person for it. Then - when will it ever stop? But I guess it all keeps moving so you almost forget there’s been all the craziness. Michael Woodhouse doing dumb stuff hardly gets a mention. However that I read it so quick tells me it is a pretty compelling book.

[John Puzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book as a present. My first first reaction was 'not another 'expose' written by a journo looking to make a name for themselves'. However, as I was deeply involved inside the National Party in the Bolger years, I couldn't resist reading. I'm so glad I did. It is well written, well researched, and obviously draws on the memories of people who were there. I recognised so many of the comments and traits the book described, which confirms that they still haven't learnt. Keep quiet and let National destroy themselves has to be, and I'm sure has been, the Labour maxim. Andrea Vance also takes an insightful look at the other parties, how they were established, and contrasts their different approaches. For anyone interested in party politics in NZ, how good it could be, and how stupid it generally is, this is well worth reading.

[Morgan Borthwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the last 10 years of history, betrayals and leadership challenges in New Zealand politics and the National Party in particular - led by one of our best. Excellently paced and full of tidbits, juicy gossip and scandals we all saw and read about but with depth this time - Vance’s only weak point was not digging into the structure of the National Party itself and the obvious role Goodfellow had to play in the leadership trials, culture and candidate selection for the party (resulting in Bezzant, Barclay, Falloon, Walker, Ross, etc) that really needed its own chapter. Otherwise a great story and honest reflection - but it needed that extra piece to make a complete story.

[Renee Hapimarika Van de Weert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in NZ politics.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll not be surprised by the characters or the plot arc, there are few if any twists in the tale; never the less, it sets out and ties together what happened in a logical way and confirms many more distanced observers’ suspicions and expectations.
The writing is clear and concise and the voices authentic.
Not a spoiler; Vance leaves this reader expecting a sequel.

[Andrew Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A damn good yarn.

A really fast paced trip through the shambolic transition of the National Party from the leadership of Key through to Luxon.

A little light on the analysis, for me I'd love to understand more deeply how the move to more social conservatism really took over.

Rounded up from 3.5 to for as it reads so well as a great story.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable and well-sourced account of a fascinating period in New Zealand's political history. I don't think this book contained any shocking revelations, but certainly it shed much new light on the personalities and alliances behind major events. I enjoyed reading it a lot. 4.5 stars.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, really. A lot of rigorous journalism, a noticeable series of spelling/grammatical errors, and two final chapters that felt tacked-on, which lost the narrative flow that had been building up through the rest of the book. Generally very good, though.

[Libby Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great reminder of a short period of turmoil in the National Party ranks over the Covid years of the early 2020s. Labour did t win the election, National handed it to them on a plate with horrendous inter-personal friction.

[Tom J · Rating 5 out of 5]

sometimes i think australian politics is embarrassingly provincial and self obsessed, it’s nice to see that nz is even worse. some of the people in this, particularly jamie lee ross and judith collins are absolute maniacs

[Tanya TL · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read, very quick paced. Unputdownable.

[Stephanie Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't necessarily learn anything new, it was a fascinating look into the machinations of the National Party. A pageturner.

[Felicity Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific insight into local politics written with obvious extensive knowledge and tremendous research. Thoroughly recommend

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The National Party have really been through it. Great for a politics nerd like me.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about past 10 years of turmoil in National Party

[Thu]

incredibly depressing to finish reading this the day after national has been elected back into power

[Stella Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a whirlwind of a book! VERY compelling, just a little bit eccentric, and extremely informative

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

informative look at the problems within the national party of NZ after the key government

[Matthew Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book the year it came out. So good. Insightful and informative. Well written too.