M_and_M

How exciting, I have now been here over a YEAR, which means I can now be added to the electoral roll. OH can't however, He has not yet been here a year (although I don't know how they can know that with the odd nondescript questions they asked on the form).

So, can you give me a potted guide to NZ politics so I can work out who to vote for?

Woodlea

Labour are Labour and National are Conservative, the Greens are the Lib Dems and Winston is like the Beast of Bolsover but he has his own party. MMP is awful and so is a three year electoral cycle, otherwise it's pretty much the same, no one gets what they voted for but that's democracy!

Charismatic

Except they are probably much more popular.

I would have said Winston was something like UKIP, sort of your man-down-the-pub closet racist, but with Asians rather than Eastern Europeans. Old people like him.

One of the most important things to realise is every government since MMP was introduced has been a coalition due to the electoral system so strategic voting is popular. Big parties (National/Labour) tend to pick up local seats and smaller parties win on party votes with a few exceptions.

garethwm

Theoretically : National = Business freedom, lower taxes, individual responsibity. Labour = Tax the rich more, unions, sociaj welfare (plus 2 policies for this election are capital gains tax and less immigration). Reality : theyre both centre parties and much of a muchness. Greens = socialist under an environmental guise. ACT = less welfare, fewer taxes, everyone for themselves. Maori = uplifting of maori, treaty of Waitangi. Mana = separatist. United Future = dedicated to getting Peter Dunne into parliament. NZ First = dedicated to getting Winston Peters into parliament, grey power, Xennphobia, conspiracy theories ...

Clappy

I would describe Labour as being like the Labour party in Britain during the 1970s, National are like the Labour party in Britain during the 1990s. ACT are like the Conservative party in Britain during the 1980s.

I do agree that MMP and three year cycles are awful. Nobody ever says it but I suspect these are designed to protect the population by preventing them from doing a Muldoon on themselves, again.

Charismatic

It has its benefits, the population don’t like to switch sides even when given a chance. Voter engagement is very favourable.

Another important point to realise is that, unlike the UK and most other countries, legislation is enacted directly. There is no concurrent majority (e.g. House of Lords, Senate etc.) and the Governor-General is just a ceremonial rubber stamp. As MMP has tended to return coalition governments this hadn't been a major problem.

However the incumbent National government where very fond of passing legislation under "urgency" avoiding the inherent ugly inconveniences like consideration, public input, scrutiny and debate in the parliamentary process. However, after they faced criticism, they changed the process so they no longer need to call it "urgency" .

Purrball

Excellent point. Especially compared to the United States, where there are multiple veto points built into the process before a bill can even get to the president's desk, where they can also wield a veto if they wish.

I'm not going to write too much (phew, I can hear some say ), but the reason MMP came about was because of a radical lurch to the right in New Zealand politics, first by a faction within the Labour party in 1984 and then Ruth Richardson's mother of all budgets, all egged on by zealots within Treasury. The likes of her's, Roger Douglas's and Don Brash's policies have led to their marginalisation into the ACT party. People were utterly pissed off by this point at the upheavals in society that only seemed to benefit a few at the expense of many and they've consistently supported MMP in multiple referendums.

I also support the notion of a three year term; governments should be held to as much democratic accountability as possible. The press certainly won't do it.

I've seen people on this forum complaining about New Zealand's off-shoring, lack of health and safety culture, long working hours, the cost of housing, school costs and relatively poor wages in many sectors. It's worth understanding how this came about. For those who are interested, I recommend watching parts five and six of Someone Else's Country all the way through... and even though these events took place almost 25 years ago, are still hugely relevant to New Zealand's politics today.

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/some...s-country-1996

Part six covers the move to MMP from about the 6-7 minute mark and at 9 minutes onwards particularly. It's interesting to note who opposed MMP at the time, namely business interests.

davros1984

National = tories minus policies to help young people get on the property ladder
Labour = labour (welfare,benefits etc)
Greens = libdems & greenz = hopeless
NZ First (winston peters) = only party that seem to care about ordinary kiwis, want tough and fair immigration and do not see how wealthy asians buying lots of auckland properties is a good thing. Also tough on maori (jobs and opportunities not payments). They are very much like UKIP, in touch with the ordinary person
Mana = Respect party,racist against whites and non-maori.

My view is that a combination of National and NZ first is the way to go. National on the economy but WP as the conscience of ordinary Kiwis.

Hazelnut

I'm sitting here watching a landslide of UKIP MEPs being voted in and my blood is running cold. It certainly makes thinking about leaving the UK a lot easier. With bigoted, small minded, uneducated, environment destroyers like this in power I think the polite version of the technical term for how we are is 'flipped'. They intend to dismantle most of the employment and environment protection laws built up over the last 40 years.

barnsleymat

From what I can gather a large chunk of the British voters want to see changes to the open door immigration policy and a fairly strict immigration policy brought in, plus people don't seem to be happy with being dictated to by Brussels. With the main parties not even letting this discussion take place a vote to the right was always going to happen. If a bunch of idiots like UKIP can get a good percentage of the votes it just shows how ignored the British public feel.

A country that makes it's own decisions and a sensible immigration policy, these are certainly two reasons why NZ was the best option for us.

Justcol

wait until you try to figure out MMP, MP's and ministers that haven't been votes in !!
As with every other aspect of kiwi life their political system seem to be geared towards
the give everyone a go at it

Charismatic

Except women in executive positions it seems.

davros1984

Then I suggest you don't move to New Zealand as it is not a member of the EU and has the ability to determine its own laws and control its borders. The UKIP result for me makes me so glad I am going back to the UK.

Prior to joining the EU we had our own trade agreements with the commonwealth. In addition, we controlled our borders. the 3 main parties should be ashamed of what we did to our brothers in countries such as NZ.

nick333

Was always taught never to mention, Religion, Politics and the War. So saying nothing! Happy living in ignorant bliss!

Sally Redux

Total opposite for me. I am worried about going back now.