Why are the Greens so happy?
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- Date published:
12:05 pm, October 15th, 2023 - 75 comments
Categories: election 2023, greens, labour, maori party -
Tags: green politics, how change happens
Firstly, my commiserations to Labourites. That’s a hard result for Labour. Not so devastating for the left generally, well done to both Te Pāti Māori and the Greens on increasing the left vote.
I’ve been seeing a few comments on twitter from across the political spectrum, people wondering why the Greens are so celebratory. Seems a good time to talk about green political kaupapa and how change happens.
First the obvious stuff.
The numbers
The Greens were nearly out of parliament in 2017 following the brutal backlash to then Green Party co-leader Meteria Turei’s groundbreaking welfare speech at the beginning of the election campaign. Everything is upwards from that point, both the numbers and the lessons learned.
This year the Greens will have the most MPs in parliament they have ever had. It’s currently looking like 14, up from 10, but they may pick up an extra seat on the Specials. That’s a nearly 50% increase.
It’s a renewal. With MPs retiring this year, six of the fourteen MPs will be new. This gives a solid core of eight experienced MPs to bring the new ones in. For those keeping an eye on the medium and long term this is gold.
Notable is that when the Green Party list was selected this year, the new candidates in top fifteen were heavily environmentally focussed, redressing the imbalance towards social justice of recent years. Think social justice more integrated than devalued.
Fourteen Green MPs is historic. The Greens now hold 30% of the Labour/Green bloc MPs. Along with the strong wins by Te Pāti Māori, the left should now be looking at moving past the old FPP/MMP position of major party with support parties, and instead how to form three very strong parties on the left (assuming it is possible for Labour to make that change).
Winning the electorates and the party vote
Also historic for the Greens is the winning of three electorate seats. Chloe Swarbrick retains Auckland Central, Tamatha Paul takes Wellington Central, and Julie Anne Genter takes Rongotai. The Greens have previously only ever won two electorate seats, Jeanette Fitzsimons in Coromandal in 1999 and Swarbrick in Auckland Central in 2020.
I haven’t had a good look at the party vote in electorates yet, but we can see something important happening in Labour stronghold Mt Albert. The very close result with Labour’s Helen White leading over National’s Melissa Lee by only 96 votes, is in part to do with the strong performance by the Greens’ Ricardo Menendez March.
TVNZ’s coverage of this last night was all a bit FPP, with a nod to vote splitting, and John Campbell shouting from the side ‘but look at the Greens!’ Menendez got the Greens 23% of the party vote in Mt Albert.
Likewise the Greens’ court jester candidate in Dunedin, Francisco Hernandez’s team ran a strong campaign, with the Greens getting 26% of the party vote there.
The Greens have long campaigned in electorates they cannot win because it raises their party vote. It speaks to how we could be viewing MMP differently, not as a contest of two sides, but as a confluence of many dynamics.
Being in Opposition
Opposition isn’t simply where parties get consigned when they lose an election, it’s a critical aspect of our democracy. Opposition holds government to account.
The Greens campaigned on more MPs and Ministers in a Labour-led government, but these numbers work in Opposition too. The Greens are good at Opposition and I for one am pleased to see them freed up to go hard on both climate/ecology and wealth/welfare. That’s hard against Nact policy, but it’s also about pulling Labour leftwards and greenwards.
All of which is to say that these results are the Greens coming into their own and building their party for the long haul. It’s a sign of how well their work on both climate/environment and poverty/welfare is paying off as well as the excellent ground game in those electorates.
The less obvious stuff
The stories we tell matter. My initial sense about this election is that people did want change, but it wasn’t only a swing to the right, there has also been a distinct swing to the left with the Green and TPM vote. The story we tell about this right now matters. We need to be honest about the truth about a right wing government, but we also need to look at the good changes happening on the left.
This need for change can be understood in traditional left/right politics, but there is more to it than that: the parties willing to push back against neoliberalism, and prioritise people and environment. That transcends trad left, and the left needs to recognise this and learn how to make it work for the broader progressive position. It’s not hard to see how Māori have their own politics independent of the left, and the Greens do too. This works for particularly younger generations who aren’t wedded to the traditional left/right spectrum.
The other critical aspect here are the visions being presented. Post-neoliberal policies matter, but so do strong voices saying TINA can be retired and here is what we can do instead. Te Pāti Māori and the Greens both did that in distinct ways this election.
Which leads to how change happens. The key here is that the Greens don’t want power for power’s sake. They want change. And that change is based in a set of specific values and principles that don’t waver.
The celebratory nature of the Greens’ response is partly to do with results, but it’s also a basic position in the world where relationship is seen as primary. People want to feel good, and presenting politics in ways that make us feel good is not only good strategy it’s imperative in the coming years of the climate/ecology crises.
Where to now?
The Greens can be criticised for being too conciliatory, and it’s been good to see them stand up with much stronger critique this year. But the default to celebration and joy here is natural, because when it comes down to it, this is what most people want. The Greens have built that social tech into their politics right from the start and we are seeing this now.
In contrast, mainstream politics is brutal and relentlessly negative. For three elections now the Greens have presented the most left wing (and costed) policies of any party in parliament, and yet there are those on the left who still consistently slag them off, in a ‘better dead than green’ kind of way. There’s an obvious challenge for the Greens to grow their base, but there’s a bigger challenge for the left in how to create a politics that most people want that is based in societal, community, and environmental wellbeing.
Of all the things the left could do right now, this is what I consider the most important: change how politics is done. Prioritise relationship over competition, and power sharing over power mongering. No more ‘river of filth’ rhetoric, instead learning how we can work across difference. We cannot force people to become left, we have to engage in relationship.
Labour have made shifts on this, first in 2017 with Little choosing to work proactively with the Greens to change the government, then with Ardern bringing the language and practice of kindness. Māori already have this built in culturally, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. The broader left struggles to recognise the importance and it’s going to take a change in world view to be able to tell a different story that more of New Zealand wants. Three years in Opposition is the perfect time to work on that.
Front page photo by Michael Craig via Isaac Davidson
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- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...19 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...1 day ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...1 day ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...1 day ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...1 day ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...11 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...12 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...12 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...13 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...14 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...15 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...16 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...16 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...18 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...21 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...5 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...7 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...7 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...8 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...9 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...9 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...10 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...10 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...10 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...11 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...11 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...11 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...11 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...11 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...11 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...11 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...12 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...12 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...13 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...14 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...14 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...14 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...15 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...15 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...15 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...16 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...16 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...17 hours ago
- NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand
Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...18 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...18 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...18 hours ago
- Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities. Fixing this benefits everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Peter Anthony Pitt, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (Faculty of Science), University of Sydney An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities. In Australia, for example, 0.5% of Indigenous ...19 hours ago
- Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Cricket originated in England, but has been spread worldwide by British soldiers and settlers in the past few hundred years. It is now the second most popular sport in ...19 hours ago
- Disinformation and deepfakes played a part in the US election. Australia should expect the same
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Barnes, Associate professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock As America takes stock after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, it’s worth highlighting the AI-generated fake photos, videos and audio shared during the campaign. A slew ...19 hours ago
- Is thunderstorm asthma becoming more common?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kira Morgan Hughes, PhD Candidate in Allergy and Asthma, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University When spring arrives, so do warnings about thunderstorm asthma. But a decade ago, most of us hadn’t heard of it. So where did thunderstorm asthma ...19 hours ago
- Overwhelmed by ever more clothing donations, charities are exporting the problem. Local governments ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yassie Samie, Postdoctoral Researcher in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University anna.spoka/Shutterstock What happens to your clothes after you don’t want them any more? Chances are, you will donate them to op shops run by a charity organisation. There are more ...19 hours ago
- Friendly fire: a nuclear push by allies at COP29 poses a sticky problem for Albanese
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland IndustryAndTravel/Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t see this coming. At the global COP29 climate talks in Baku, the Australian government was indirectly criticised by two allies, the United States and the ...19 hours ago
- Nugget Is Dead brings queer love, multiculturalism and Aussie flair to the Christmas movie formula
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hart, Associate Professor, Film Screen & Animation, Queensland University of Technology Julia Firak Stan’s new Christmas film Nugget is Dead is a colourful production that follows the rules of the seasonal genre film to a tee – with an Aussie ...19 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Should I cut contact with my ex-stepdad?
My parents are finally getting divorced. So why do I feel like my stepdad’s feelings are still my problem? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera My parents recently announced their separation. This in itself isn’t a problem. I’ve already gone through this once before in my early childhood, so ...19 hours ago
- New Zealand Drops In Global Ranking On Climate Action
If the government won’t hold polluters to account, then people will. People are increasingly taking to the streets and the courtrooms, putting their bodies on the line to shut down polluting industries. This will only escalate further unless New ...19 hours ago
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The site will be off line for some hours.
That means Green MPs can connect with more people having more MPs to be stationed strategically around electorates will help to keep a high profile,plus we may get some hard working new talent.
In a funny sort of way I think opposition is the best place for The Greens, kind of like NZFirst and, maybe, Act whereas National or Labour are best suited to being in power.
That is often said, but at least the Greens have proven they can work constructively with any government – left or right – inside or outside – if given the chance.
Seymour Butts has never co-operated with anyone other than National and even then it was only on his terms.
Luxon will have a hard job controlling the mountain goats amongst his flock of sheep.
I still believe that if the Greens truly wanted change then they'd say they can work with National (on Green terms of course) because until they do they'll always be taken advantage of by Labour
Until there is a change in that part of their constitution that requires coalition deals to be ratified by the Members, that ain't ever going to happen.
Kind of my point, it's easy to talk about change but it's a bit harder having to do the compromise
Much easier to be in opposition and hold the moral high ground
Easy way to find out. Luxon could say today "I'd rather talk to the Greens than Winston".
Nothing is stopping him … except the National Party.
In the immortal words of Cold Chisel
You've got nothing I want, you've got nothing I need
It's up to the Greens to make overtures, not National
Again why the Greens are suited to opposition
Perhaps you've forgotten 2017 already?
The overtures were loud …
No, honestly, National really did seem to be serious about a coalition with the Greens | Stuff.co.nz
Nothing stopping Luxon doing what National did then.
Does this myth ever die?
National, every 3 years: "You're just a bunch of woke commies, you don't really care about the environment … "
Also National: "Why won't you work with us? Just because we insult you and don't even attempt to understand you, that doesn't mean we can't be friends!".
What do you picture them working with National on, exactly? There are no common policies, intentions or interests.
Greens are close-to as strong in Parliament as the Alliance of old. In some areas their spokespeople are stronger than Labour's.
I see Greens and TPM cooperating very strongly in Select Committees and in legislation, to be the primary energy of Opposition.
Labour needs to respect this as it rebuilds over 3 years.
Congratulations to the Greens on their best result ever. With a momentum for further growth that gives hope to reformers everywhere.
It's the second most successful Green Party on earth so they are also in a position to reach out to the German, Icelandic and other Green parties to strengthen as an international movement.
They've also proven from their success in government that gaining power is no threat to principle, and thyey can exercise power, gain policy, and increase their vote as a minor party. That is very rare.
That's definitely something worthy of celebration!
The Greens ran a good campaign in my view. Concentrated on the electorates where they had a chance and didn't waste their resources on the no hopers. They stood smart sassy candidates in the places where voters like such people (Wellington).
Their insistence on sticking to policies of the left, including sticking up for the environment and giving the middle finger to any compromise with the corporation T-shirt National poverty machine made them stand out from Labour who were too busy trying to please the centrist business-as-usual brigade. How many times do you have to hear the saying "If you try to please everybody you end up pleasing nobody" before you believe it?
I was particularly impressed with the (very probable) win in Rongotai because I used to live there many years ago.
They are not in government but they will prove a worthy opposition. Watch them go straight for ACT's goolies in the new parliament.
Given that NACT are almost certainly going to be in thrall to Winston in the upcoming government, we may even see Luxon approaching the Greens for support to get some green/semi-green legislation through. It would be a clever move-don’t hold your breath though.
As I said in a comment above, the Greens have worked constructively with National before as regards home insulation and they would probably do so again if it was concerning a policy that was dear to them.
That is, of course, if Seymour Butts gives his consent, and he probably wouldn't because he loathes the Greens.
They did some good work with the Nats as well around marriage equality, didn't they? Butts might go for stuff like that, NZF wouldn't.
Seymour's consent would not be needed because National and the Greens have 64 seats which is a majority.
Yeah but if it causes Act to throw a hissy fit and dissolve its deal…
Why would National working with the GP over something that ACT actually supports (like marriage equality) – cause Seymour to have a hissy fit?
I think you underestimate his ability to work with all parties (as he showed during the euthanasia debate/referendum).
To be fair to the Greens they have done very well in appealing to the upper middle class and taking votes off National
do you have any evidence for those two ideas?
The electorates they won aren't exactly working class are they
ok fair point, didn't realise you were talking about the three electorates. Would be interesting to see the class spread across the party vote.
Any evidence that they're getting Nat votes?
Absolutely none except the idea that higher earning areas tend to vote right rather than left so if they're voting Green then they're not voting National/Act
The GP always do much, much better in the leafy suburbs – Auckland Central, Rongotai and Wellington Central are not poor areas. Their vote in the really poor areas has always been dismal (look at Mana or Mangere for example)
It's always been a conundrum – why the GP, with social policies which should be attractive to poorer areas, tend to do badly there; while they do much better in wealthy areas.
But no idea why anyone would think that the GP are taking votes from National.
Around 65% of Auckland Central households have an income of less then $100,000.
54% of AC people rent, compared to 29% of NZ generally.
The assertion isn't that AC is working class, it's that it's upper middle class, with the implication this is the vote that the Greens got.
My guess is that Swarbrick lands well with a range of people, including students, renters, progressives, and environmentally conscious people. And yes, her middle class background will make her more appealing to some of the wealthier people there than say Marama Davidson would.
Mostly, I wish we had the research to tell us
https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/historical-electorate-profiles/electorate-profiles-data/document/DBHOH_Lib_EP_Auckland_Central_Households/auckland-central-households#_85
Then how do you explain the very high National result in the same electorate?
Auckland Central includes the hugely wealthy suburbs of Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, etc. – all with an entry level of 2 million plus; as well as the luxury apartment complexes on the waterfront.
There is no denying that these areas are upper middle class (at the very least – you could make a strong argument for upper class – though that's a bit antithetical to the Kiwi way of life)
The balance is made up of high-density, low quality apartment blocks – heavily occupied by students and immigrants (mostly the latter regard this as a staging post on their journey to a stand-alone house).
National took the electorate on the party vote (clear majority) – and pushed Swarbrick hard on the electorate vote. It's pretty clear that only tactical voting from Labour voters pushed her over the line [NB: I don't have an issue with tactical voting]
Most of the students living in the electorate don't vote there (registered in their home electorate, if they're registered at all) – and apart from politics students – mostly don't vote.
Many of the flat owners/occupiers are immigrants – who (wild generalization coming) don't vote Green; and/or are highly traumatized by the huge increase in visible crime (assaults are routine, murder not infrequent, many people simply don't feel safe walking along the streets after dark). Crime has been a *huge* issue for voters in Auckland.
I'd pick that Swarbrick did well in Herne Bay and other hugely wealthy inner suburbs as well as the Islands, and possibly the hip apartments ; and that Mahesh Muralidhar did well in the immigrant and flat-dweller communities – as well as those wealthy people without a green conscience.
Prior to Swarbrick, this was a solid National electorate (Ardern made no dent in it, despite trying twice). There is nothing Labour about it – and hasn't been for at least a generation – since the gentrification of Ponsonby in the 80s.
I mostly lived in central during my university years but your analysis rings true to me. The old phrase upwardly mobile comes to mind, gentrification, property developers both hobbyist & professional all over…
Yeah, I think that a lot of people remember Auckland Central from their uni days – and don't realize just how much it has changed. There are no longer many (if any) shared flats in the way there used to be in the 70s and 80s – it's high rises and mansions.
I would suggest that Chloe's personal appeal also counts. I was watching it all with no sound, and at the end when Chloe spoke she had huge presence, commanding eyes, more so than any other of the boring old farts and younger bumblers whom I saw that night..
Today I saw some of it with sound on, and what she was saying was not exactly the Nuremberg Address, but she was captivating, in that she held attention. I suspect she gets extra votes from intelligent listeners (because I find her writings more full of significant content than many others'), and I suspect that with young people/students and educated older middle-class (liberal) grey-haired people, she can draw more attention and support than any other current MP could do.
Agree that she's certainly charismatic – much more so than any of the other GP MPs (or, to be fair, any other party's MPs either). The only other person in NZ politics with that level of political charm is (much though I hate to say it) Winston Peters.
That actually does accord with my experience as a Deaf person. Chloe is exactly what you describe and yes, she's commanding.
I've met her in person twice and both times, she came off as genuine.
No wonder that she kept her position then.
Anecdotal, but my flatmate who was door-knocking for the Greens in Freemans Bay/Ponsonby/Grey Lynn was quite surprised at the very large number of people who indicated they would vote Chloe for electorate & National for Party.
Once a Labour electorate goes Green, it's damned hard for Labour to get it back – Wellington Central is probably gone for good, so far as Labour is concerned, though they might have a shot at Rongotai in future.
This also creates an interesting issue for Labour longer-term. The days of running Labour leaders out of Auckland might be over (the city is now too right-wing, even though Mount Albert will narrowly hold). That means you might see a succession of Labour leaders from Outer Wellington, Christchurch, or even Dunedin or Palmerston North.
There hasn't been an example of the Greens taking an electorate off Labour. Auckland Central was National, before Swarbrick took it in 2020; as was Coromandel before and after Jeanette Fitzsimons took it in 1999.
Labour leadership abandoning Auckland is a very high-risk strategy. Part of the beef that Aucklanders had with the government over the Covid lockdowns, was just how out-of-touch the leadership were with Auckland (where all the lockdown pain was going on). If all, or a substantial part of the Labour leadership team are SI (or even worse, Wellington) based – then Aucklanders are less likely to vote for them. One third of the population is too big a chunk to safely ignore.
Having said this, there is still a Labour stronghold in South Auckland – where Jenny Salesa and Arena Williams have been returned with substantial majorities – as has Carmel Sepuloni in Kelston.
After the devastating Climate Change effects has had on NZ (and the rest of the world), with the liklihood of more to come in the future, it seems NZers are now taking the NZ Greens Party seriously
Last night's results are evidence of this fact and I can see the party strengthening, eventually becoming more mainstream in the not too distant future, as its CC, economic and social policies will become more acceptable for the benefit of NZ in general.
Congratulations NZ Green Party.
The Greens (and whisper it quietly, ACT) taking electorates off Labour and National is good for democracy, accountability. There were no cups of tea, and yet "safe" seats were lost by the major parties.
Not taking voters for granted is always good for the voters, regardless.
Turei and Godfery made good points on TVNZ last night that a big part of the swing to TPM in the Māori seats is the commitment to kaupapa Māori, but also the renewal and bringing new people through.
I agree it's good for democracy and accountability. It's a problem for Labour to lose those seats, but that's happened before.
It has indeed – and the challenge for TPM will be to keep those seats for more than one election. They've made a good start with retaining Waiariki – but have to show the electorate that they can achieve results that are 'better' than those achieved by Labour.
I think that this is likely to be aided by some retirements (I suspect that Mahuta and Tirikatene will retire, rather than staging a comeback in 2026).
But Labour will not want to lose these seats long-term.
I have as curated a social media feed as anyone else, but mine at least has been full of people wanting a change of personnel to get rid of the people who did things they didn't like over the last three years, seemingly in the expectation that there's not much difference between a Nat-led govt and a Labour-led one.
Problem is, there's a big difference. The changes they voted for include:
1. Tax cuts for the rich, funded by benefit cuts and cuts to public services that may not be important to the people wanting the change but are important to people who are heavily dependent on them.
2. The re-inflation of the property bubble, which was the leading cause of housing unaffordability, the "cost of living crisis" and people in low-paid work having to do two jobs to make ends meet.
3. The rental market skewed firmly back in favour of landlords.
4. Every single environmental the Greens managed to squeeze out of Labour being under threat and likely to be rolled back.
Those aren't minor differences. The only good thing out of it is your point re Greens as an effective Opposition. They're way more effective than Labour and they've just increased their numbers, and that increase brings in more environmentalists than batshit crazy social justice warriors.
do you think your SM feed is influenced by GC pol? Because there's a very obvious split in mine in that most GC people I know flatly refuse to vote left because of the one thing they don't like from the past term. I would guess that Auckland has some issues from the lockdown that they were disproportionately affected by.
I follow a lot of GC feminists but was also seeing a strong rejection of Labour due to Covid response issues (which often seem to involve the assumptions that 'status quo' was an available option, or that people have a civil right to refuse vaccination for a current lethal pandemic AND continue working with the elderly, immuno-suppressed etc).
there's another thing we should be looking at. Are we better off in the med and long term for climate/ecology in having a strong left Opposition than a L/NZF government for another term?
strong left Opposition
Such an unlikely proposition could only ever emerge if the govt does the wrong things: the common enemy syndrome kicks in proportionally. Lux may be using an advisor capable of figuring this out.
Ideological governance is a sure-fire way of alienating the populace therefore Seymour will have to be kept in his kennel. Yet it's possible that Winston could allow a treaty referendum if framed suitably to make a rightist ideological position seem sensible. Don't laugh, stranger things have happened!
So Lux is likeliest to do his version of muddle thro the middle in classic neolib fashion and thereby not spook mainstreamer nags…
Interesting question! Partnering with NZF only ends up as a circus with way too many clowns, so it could be worse in the long term for Labour to eke out a third term making a fool of itself than to go into Opposition. The 2005-8 Clark govt provides an example. But those issues I mentioned above are important – the damage done by the property bubble alone was huge, and NACT will set about re-inflating it ASAP.
Well.
And parting comments because I'm not going to comment any further, what sunk Labour was co-governance, crime and inflation. The first two labour could have done alot more about. Specifically, crime. People have had enough.
Hopefully Winston doesn't make the cut.
co-governance, crime and inflation
Three strikes & you're out, eh? Probably an effective triad in the minds of most voters. I'd rather let Labour off the hook on crime, since I buy their feeble excuse (cops engage criminals, not us politicians). You could point out neoliberalism breeds crime, therefore Labour are morally guilty just as much as National are.
If you did, fair enough – but we both know Labour will never, ever, admit that truth so in the land of realpolitik it don't count for much. Re co-governance, they'd plead that apparent laziness on their part was actually an insouciant devil-may-care kind of whistling while they work sort of act. As for inflation, blaming the govt for the tide coming in & going out could be more plausible. Everyone knows the market does it.
I don't buy Infused's claim about co-governance. All the people I've seen ranting about it were never potential left voters in the first place.
Nothing to do with ranting. But centrist voters were very concerned over an unelected minority group in control of significant infrastructure (like water).
And Mahuta's shenanigans around the entrenchment provision just put the icing on the cake.
They didn't have to rant and rave, they just quietly went and voted elsewhere.
Were they Left voters? Well, they voted for Ardern in 2020 – so Labour had a strong shot at converting them.
And, the more you call them 'racist', the less likely you are to persuade them to your point of view.
Labour/Ardern/the Maori caucus – simply did not bring NZ along with them on this one. And, by the time Hipkins walked it back, the credibility was burned – and people simply didn't believe that it was 'really' off the agenda.
"Voted for Ardern in 2020" means little. By definition, Labour's percentage of the vote in 2020 meant a lot of people voted for them for the first time in that election and were never likely to again.
I agree that a proportion of that vote was unlikely to ever stick with Labour – but they had a sporting chance to convert another chunk of that windfall vote. And failed, spectacularly.
Tax cuts have no inherent moral value in themselves, sure. Particular tax cut proposals very much do, though. It depends on whether you think depriving the poor to provide the already-wealthy with even more than they had previously is a moral negative, I guess.
Current govt was actively trying to at least reduce the expansion of the bubble with some effect, even if it didn't have the bollocks to actually reverse the growth. New govt has policies to actively increase the expansion.
Landlords always say the market is in the hands of the renter, no matter how much they're shafting their tenants.
If feeding your family depends on making human civilisation increasingly difficult, it's time for a good look at current business models and the blatant unsustainability thereof. A NACT govt certainly won't be doing that.
As for crime, see item 1. The property bubble and the people who facilitated it (yes, including Labour ministers) have a hell of a lot to answer for when it comes to rising crime. Way more than Chris Hipkins does. In any case, what we're talking about here is more the success of a propaganda narrative than the failure of a government.
Yes, a good result for the greens. I am thinking of re-joining and participating a bit more.
I just hope it’s taken by the GP as a sign; ditch or de-emphasise identity politics, that’s the way to win. Green voters want to hear the GP talking about tax, the rights of working people, renters rights, and the environment.
Not quite. As a former Green Party member, local office holder, volunteer, and voter, I want to hear them talking about the climate crisis, the environment, tax, the rights of working people, and renters rights.
Yes they have dialed back the focus on gender issues and identity politics but I am waiting to see if this is permanent and there are not players in the wings waiting to step in and drop the ball again.
Yeah, with you on that. I was also heavily involved (candidate last time) and I’m also interested to see if the focus remains on the right issues. I might re-join and try to make sure. Because yes, there definitely are players in the wings waiting to step in and fuck it up, but we don’t actually have to just sit here and watch it happen.
GC? I find insider shorthand really unhelpful. It makes me feel dumb. NACT I get, GP I get, NZF I get, TPM I get.
I follow road cycle racing. GC to me means General Classification (the winner overall of a stage race).
GC=gender critical.
Aah. Thank you. To me using shorthand terms like GC is potentially lazy and/or alienating. It assumes people in that discussion orbit understand the term.
When I searched it Google returned about 1.5 million references and most of the early ones were golf clubs with no hint of being gender critical.
it was a sub conversation between me and Milt. Not so much lazy as rude.
Lol yes, not lazy, just rude. Sorry, the reference to GC was to women who won't vote Labour or Green due to those parties actively undermining women's rights. I'm hoping the Greens will do less of this after these personnel changes.
Noting that Green polling went up after Metiria.
Dropped, after! Greens walked back on it.
I recall being intrigued by that reversal of public opinion. I agreed with her underdog truth-telling – evidence of authenticity. I knew rabid mainstreamers would howl about it, and they did. Never forget that hypocrisy is shared by both left & right in this country! She offended them both simultaneously, only got solidarity from those empathic towards beneficiaries – an eternal small minority. Her political problem was blind-siding her caucus colleagues when she did it. Political suicide.
Dennis, this is correct. I was sad when they got rid of Metiria Turei.
It was the first and one of the only times in my lifetime that somebody actually spoke to me politically.
I won't forget that feeling, ever.
I've never been clear on that. There's a lag between events and how they turn up in polls. Not sure that there was enough time between her speech and that poll.
I have never ever forgotten that, KJT.
That compelled me to vote for Greens for the second time and I don't regret it.
I just voted Greens again in this election and I don't regret this one either.
I'm very happy to back Greens.
Nothing wrong with the Greens celebrating – they are their own party – not the radical wing of Labour.
However, this result just takes them back to where they were in 2014 – before Jacindamania sucked the oxygen out of the left to fuel Labour in 2017 & 2020.
I expect that the pre-election polls led them to hope for a larger percentage – and there will be some disappointment over this.
Their result is a significant improvement over 2020 (as it is for every party except Labour). But the total vote for the left as a whole (including TPM and the GP as well as Labour) is down over the 2017 result.
Really? Have you included all the Special Votes before you made your assertion? As far as I know, it stands at 54 (2017) versus 52 (2023).
The figures you've provided show the same thing – a drop from 2017 to 2023.
Of course I haven't included the specials – they haven't been counted yet.
2017 %: Labour 36.9, GP 6.3, TPM 1.2 Total: 44.4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2017_New_Zealand_general_election
2023 (provisional) % : Labour 26.9, GP 10.77, TPM 2.61 Total 40.28
https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/index.html
Finally, some data to support your reckons and instead of you jumping the gun, which is a step in the right direction.
Thanks for the commendation.
I did actually look at the data before I made the initial comment. And didn't think it necessary to provide that level of detail, in what was a general comment.
Look forward to you applying the same level of scrutiny to other commenters and their reckons.
You’re welcome.
Indeed, you’re not the only one but you do have particular form with spouting half-baked assertions that create a vibe or feel but do little to inform and then being petulant when pulled up on it.
It is my prerogative as a commenter to reply to other comments as I wish.
It seems to me that you cannot stand the heat of robust debate here …
Short version, they want to be a 10% plus party election to election (1999 start) and reached this goal – 2011 and 2014, then a disappointing fall back 2017-2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_of_Aotearoa_New_Zealand
After specials, they should be higher than the 11.06% (2011) best result.
Given low turnout among youth they will poll better than election results.
Good post, weka.
You touched on a couple of important things.
TPM in particular and the Greens are building generational movements. The purple block are only really looking at the next administration, being wedded to incessant polling and balance sheets, because of their adherence to neo liberalism. I couldn't agree more that TINA and it's handmaidens – 'trickledown', 'capital flight' and 'markets' can be retired and replaced with something new.
Labour and their more fervent supporters in this cycle had adopted a National attitude. The National party was started to stand against the Labour party. This election period, the vibe was don't let National in. From Labour's election ads, posts here on TS and the feel from the comments here as well. Hipkins speech at the end of the night needed to be heard during the campaign.
Hopefully during the time in opposition, Labour rediscover their principles and stick to them. (You can't claim to be in it for the worker and renter while at the same time running record migration).