New Zealand’s long election year begins |
As New Zealand heads toward a November election, early polls suggest a finely balanced contest. Coalition arithmetic, economic anxiety and voter outflow are shaping a year that promises prolonged political uncertainty.
New Zealand’s long election campaigns begin.
If a week is a long time in politics then this year in New Zealand will seem very long indeed. The General Election will be held on November 7.
The first opinion polls of the year show Labour ahead but the centre right governing National Party coalition could form a government with a majority of one seat.
Under New Zealand’s Mixed Member Proportional voting system a major party needs at least one minor party in coalition to form a government.
The Government coalition support parties show mixed results. The populist anti-immigration New Zealand First party rose sharply but the radical right/neo-liberal ACT Party slipped.
Polls show the Opposition Labour Party’s potential support parties are not doing consistently well.
The Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori) is riven by internal disputes.
In recent months two Māori Party MPs lost their seats when they were expelled by the party’s National Council after months of internal conflict, accusations of “serious breaches” of the party constitution, and escalating factional disputes.
Labour party leader Chris Hipkins said he will attempt to win the seven Māori seats for Labour.
The Green Party, ably co-led by Clöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson, could be a viable coalition partner for Labour. In the days before Waitangi Day (the treaty signing........