As already mentioned the election campaign is well into its swing. I know it is not as big or as significant as the one in rhe US, but here is a guide to the participants.
Labour-current head girl in charge, though Helen Clark is much compared to a man, especially by those sexist types who really cannot cope with a women being in charge. She has been Prime Minister since 1999, and has done a great job of managing her government and coalition partners. Labour is not so different form the UK version, being a somewhat a left of centre “3rd Way” philosophy. They certainly have suffered the bullying attitude of a party in power for a long time.
National– the blue team, and and in the same vein as the Conservatives. In the past similarly, considered the “natural party of government”. The are lead by John Key, leader in the last two years. He is a young fresh face, who claim for popular appeal is his upbringing in a state(council) house, by his solo parent mother, and then going to have a succesful financial career as a currency trader for Merril Lynch. So poor boy does good. Though in the current climate I am not so sure how good a look it is. He appears somewhat light-weight to me. A good face and a “nice man”, who I think tries to appeal to all, and I am not so sure has a grasp of the important issues. Certainly I think the approach of the party for the election was keep “your nose clean”, do not be too controversial, and let the unpopular government lose the election. However, with the current economic crisis people actually want answers and opinions and plans. Te nature of the campaign has changed, and Helen Clark’s experience has become a more important factor.
Greens– obviously a strong environmental approach, and really more left -wing than the Labour Party, with an emphasis on human rights and of the mainstream parties, the strongest acknowlegement of the rights of Maori.
New Zealand First-the party of the blue-rinse brigade.Its demographic is older and white. It really is a vehicle for its leader. I found it hard to get a handle on this lot when arrived here, and it is amazing that they managed to go on and on and on. Lead by Winston Peters, a maverick and politician who is a great self-promoter, and populist. To save his political skin he regularly pulls out the race/immigration card, as he has done this week. It always appeals to his core anti- Asian audience. He has been in the recent coalition as Foreign Minister, but “outside of cabinet”- a remarkable constitutional arrangement. Winston has made a carreer of criticising the power of big business on political parties, but has been recently caught out by being shown to have accepted a large donation from a prominent business man and lied all about it. Hmmmm.
United Future-another small party that is really a vehicle for its leader, Peter Dunne. He was once a sucessful Labour minister. They have a family and Christian aspect, with general free market approach. Dunne is our local MP.
ACT– the strong economic free market proponenets. Deregulation, privatisation, small State politics. Maggie at her zenith? The leader is well known for his success in “Dancing with the Stars“.
Libertarnz the ultimate small party neo-liberal, minimal state philosophy.
The Kiwi Party. I know nothng about them, but brief read of the website gives impression of anti-lots, socially conservative and anti change, appeal to the small man.
There is plenty there to digest. More updates later.
