The year of the politician: opportune but rugged
In 2014, New Zealand politics is going to be simmering all year. It is election year and politicians and political parties will be toughing it out, and taking on every single opportunity to impress. While playing to the gallery, mud-slinging and grandstanding will be common place too.
General elections give citizens and voters a chance to have their say and weigh out issues of both local and national importance. This is rightfully their chance of getting heard, but also their chance to play judges and decide who has served their interests.
The political bigwigs who will have any major say, should be ready to be tested on their performance, conduct, connect with the people at large, and associations (beware of the paparazzi) it will all be measured and factored in when the ballot speaks. For the last two years the two major parties National and Labour have been slugging it out blow for blow. Now in the final run up, their policies should be shipshape and highlighted in their promises. Another impending issue is the lack of a clear majority for either of the two parties and their dependency on coalition partners.
The Greens and Labour have a steady partnership going, while the National party seems to be courting the Maori Party, ACT, and United Future. The former are confident of getting the numbers this time around. On the hand, after gaining ground in 2011, the National party is going to bear the brunt of incumbency.
Who is in the fray?
The National Party (59 seats)
Caption: John Key: Has he stolen a march on the others? Another term, maybe?
The party stands tall in the parliament with a lead on the Labour party. They delivered on most of their election promises but at the cost of their pride. Asset sales and infringements of civil liberties (including spying on New Zealanders) could be a blow. Also, getting that final nudge across the line will be a problem this time around. However, their leadership and a buoyant economy even in the tough years is something to commend the government for.
Labour Party (34 seats)
Caption: David Cunliffe: Has he got his footing right? Will he be the maverick?
Undoubtedly the party has a lot to do this year. The change in leadership at the end of last year might be the impetus they needed to get their act together. But would that be enough? David Cunliffe their new leader doesn’t carry the ‘good boy charm’ of Shearer but is certainly taking the National Party on. A continued momentum on the asset sales and driving bad press onto the doors of the Nationals, maintaining a continuous parallel policy line on energy, housing, unemployment and other issues has kept their traditional voters happy. But that is the same policy that reduced them in parliament. They are not only losing their vote share to the opposition but also to their own coalition partner. A game changer though can be a winning economic policy.
Green Party (14 seats):
Even with their bold policies they don’t seem to be losing favour with the people. They have steadily grown under the leadership of Metiria Turei and Russel Norman. Their policies on sustainability, social responsibility and creating green jobs need to be acted upon. A progressive approach and a first world attitude, that is lacking in the other parties hold them in good stead even in 2014.Will they be able to up their seat-share in the parliament, yes, very likely but will they be able to stand alone, no, not yet.
NZ First (8 seats)
Leading a wonderful come back, Winston Peters, got NZ First 8 seats in the parliament after scoring none in 2008. Their approach to multi-cultural and inclusive politics has clicked with the voters. Gaining a lot of the traditional vote bank, people disinclined to vote for any of the two major parties. As a leader he seems to be very visible and a part Maori heritage gives him leverage and wider appeal. The challenge will always be in which party to trust and partnering with which gets them the advantage. They are a win-win party.
Caption: Win-Win Peters
Caption: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP): A mere distraction or do they have any substance to deliver?
The others in the reckoning:
The foremost among the others contending is the Maori Party (3 seats) lead by Tariana Turia and Te Ururoa Flavell. They seem to be in a bit of a soup with regards to their leadership but with their traditional vote share intact will breeze to that number again this year, a push to double digits will be a distant target. With a single seat each United Future with their sole MP Peter Dunne, the Mana Party lead by Hone Harawira, and ACT lead by John Banks will be doing all they can in 2014 to push the voters to give them a fair look.
A wild card with all the publicity he is generating is Colin Craig and the Conservative Party, a tie-up with National and possibly a berth in the ministry is not very far from his reach.
The final word:
The issues at hand are protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, how each political party justifies as to how it is under harm and what needs to be done is where the eye balls will be. The leadership, health, economy, housing, unemployment, youth issues, a deteriorating family life, immigration, and migration will all be important issues in 2014. With all the global ranking indices indicating that New Zealand is a first world country, and high on growth and development, do we really have the infrastructure to placate that? Are we just a pretender first world country and only getting there? With that and more questions to answer I open 2014 for debate for the political myriad of New Zealand.
In 2014, New Zealand politics is going to be simmering all year. It is election year and politicians and political parties will be toughing it out, and taking on every single opportunity to impress. While playing to the gallery, mud-slinging and grandstanding will be common place too. General...
In 2014, New Zealand politics is going to be simmering all year. It is election year and politicians and political parties will be toughing it out, and taking on every single opportunity to impress. While playing to the gallery, mud-slinging and grandstanding will be common place too.
General elections give citizens and voters a chance to have their say and weigh out issues of both local and national importance. This is rightfully their chance of getting heard, but also their chance to play judges and decide who has served their interests.
The political bigwigs who will have any major say, should be ready to be tested on their performance, conduct, connect with the people at large, and associations (beware of the paparazzi) it will all be measured and factored in when the ballot speaks. For the last two years the two major parties National and Labour have been slugging it out blow for blow. Now in the final run up, their policies should be shipshape and highlighted in their promises. Another impending issue is the lack of a clear majority for either of the two parties and their dependency on coalition partners.
The Greens and Labour have a steady partnership going, while the National party seems to be courting the Maori Party, ACT, and United Future. The former are confident of getting the numbers this time around. On the hand, after gaining ground in 2011, the National party is going to bear the brunt of incumbency.
Who is in the fray?
The National Party (59 seats)
Caption: John Key: Has he stolen a march on the others? Another term, maybe?
The party stands tall in the parliament with a lead on the Labour party. They delivered on most of their election promises but at the cost of their pride. Asset sales and infringements of civil liberties (including spying on New Zealanders) could be a blow. Also, getting that final nudge across the line will be a problem this time around. However, their leadership and a buoyant economy even in the tough years is something to commend the government for.
Labour Party (34 seats)
Caption: David Cunliffe: Has he got his footing right? Will he be the maverick?
Undoubtedly the party has a lot to do this year. The change in leadership at the end of last year might be the impetus they needed to get their act together. But would that be enough? David Cunliffe their new leader doesn’t carry the ‘good boy charm’ of Shearer but is certainly taking the National Party on. A continued momentum on the asset sales and driving bad press onto the doors of the Nationals, maintaining a continuous parallel policy line on energy, housing, unemployment and other issues has kept their traditional voters happy. But that is the same policy that reduced them in parliament. They are not only losing their vote share to the opposition but also to their own coalition partner. A game changer though can be a winning economic policy.
Green Party (14 seats):
Even with their bold policies they don’t seem to be losing favour with the people. They have steadily grown under the leadership of Metiria Turei and Russel Norman. Their policies on sustainability, social responsibility and creating green jobs need to be acted upon. A progressive approach and a first world attitude, that is lacking in the other parties hold them in good stead even in 2014.Will they be able to up their seat-share in the parliament, yes, very likely but will they be able to stand alone, no, not yet.
NZ First (8 seats)
Leading a wonderful come back, Winston Peters, got NZ First 8 seats in the parliament after scoring none in 2008. Their approach to multi-cultural and inclusive politics has clicked with the voters. Gaining a lot of the traditional vote bank, people disinclined to vote for any of the two major parties. As a leader he seems to be very visible and a part Maori heritage gives him leverage and wider appeal. The challenge will always be in which party to trust and partnering with which gets them the advantage. They are a win-win party.
Caption: Win-Win Peters
Caption: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP): A mere distraction or do they have any substance to deliver?
The others in the reckoning:
The foremost among the others contending is the Maori Party (3 seats) lead by Tariana Turia and Te Ururoa Flavell. They seem to be in a bit of a soup with regards to their leadership but with their traditional vote share intact will breeze to that number again this year, a push to double digits will be a distant target. With a single seat each United Future with their sole MP Peter Dunne, the Mana Party lead by Hone Harawira, and ACT lead by John Banks will be doing all they can in 2014 to push the voters to give them a fair look.
A wild card with all the publicity he is generating is Colin Craig and the Conservative Party, a tie-up with National and possibly a berth in the ministry is not very far from his reach.
The final word:
The issues at hand are protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, how each political party justifies as to how it is under harm and what needs to be done is where the eye balls will be. The leadership, health, economy, housing, unemployment, youth issues, a deteriorating family life, immigration, and migration will all be important issues in 2014. With all the global ranking indices indicating that New Zealand is a first world country, and high on growth and development, do we really have the infrastructure to placate that? Are we just a pretender first world country and only getting there? With that and more questions to answer I open 2014 for debate for the political myriad of New Zealand.
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