I don’t know what it says about the political mood or direction of NZ politics generally, but the results, as on record yesterday, for the local body elections were very good for the Green Party. The low voter turnout makes it hard to make definitive judgements. The results do show that sigificant numbers of Kiwis think the Greens are providing a credible alternative to the previously dominant shades of politics. It also gives Green representatives the opportunity to show something of what the Greens can do when in office.
Metiria Turei congratulates them:
A “Green sweep” of all Green candidates in Wellington topped off the best local Government result ever for the Green Party today.
“Every single Green candidate for Wellington City and the Regional Council was elected today, with the city’s Green mayor Celia Wade-Brown re-elected alongside new Green councillors Sarah Free and David Lee and sitting Councillor Iona Pannett,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.
“They’re joined by Green Councillors Paul Bruce and Sue Kedgely who were elected to the Wellington Regional Council.
“The fantastically successful Wellington team is joined by record numbers of new Green Councillors and community board members up and down the country.
“Dunedin gets its first Green Councillor in Aaron Hawkins, five Green people have been elected to community boards in Auckland, other Greens are on boards in Christchurch, and Gisborne Greens will be a force for their community with record representation in that region this year.
“Today’s local body election results are a victory for smart, green, compassionate ideas and a victory for communities who want representatives with brains and with heart.
“This is a brilliant result for the Green Party. The National Government should take it as a sign that the Green tide is coming in.
Well, it’s too early to make strong predictions for next year’s parliamentary elections based on the results of this weekend’s local elections. But it is gratifying to see that the overall the results of the mayoral elections nation-wide have a slight lean to the left. Given that a low turnout is said to favour the right, either that saying is wrong, or the left is looking strong for NZ’s near future.
There has been some talk of changing the mode of voting in local elections to encourage more democratic participation. I favour one day of voting at voting booths – make it an event that people become increasingly aware of as voting day approaches.
It’s not just the voting mode that needs changing. Local councils, esepcially Auckland Council need to be more democratic, not less as is the MO of the NAct government. there is no place for unelected CCOs in local councils, or for removal of democratic processes.
[Update] Clow (Labour) for Whau:
On the preliminary results now online on the Auckland Council we site, Clow has won the council seat for the Whau Ward. This is a preliminary result. It is close: Clow by 48 votes. (Yesterday afternoon Raffills was winning by about 89 votes over Clow). Fingers crossed Clow holds. This is looking like a significant shift to the left in Whau, which also has 5 Labour wins out of the 7 available places on the Whau Local Board.
We didn’t have the Green candidates on offer in Whau. I voted for the Labour candidates, plus gave one tick to the Mana candidate (he didn’t make it).
Waitakere Ranges – Auckland Council
2 Greens on the Future West ticket for Waitakere Ranges Local Board (h/t mickysavage) – among a strong Future West winning team. Congratulations to the Future west winners at Waitakere Ranges:
Sandra Coney
Neil Henderson
Denise Yates
Greg Presland
Saffron Toms
Steve Tollestrup (Future West – Green)
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