What are New Zealand's politics like?

[Blue3]

What are New Zealand's politics like?

Also, how liberal/conservative is it, compared to the United States, or the UK, or the rest of Europe?

What are the major issues there?



(My sister is thinking about moving there)

[Frodo]

She can't go wrong reading this primer comparing New Zealand and the United States:

[Ebowed]

It's paradise, and its politics aren't bad either.

My favorite way of explaining the contrast between NZ and other similar nations is the way it treated its indigenous population.  While absolutely not perfect, there is something to be said for a country who had the foresight not to slaughter all of the native humans.  NZ rejected a bid by Australia to join it as a state because of Australia's treatment of its own aboriginals.  In response (keep in mind this was at the beginning of the 20th century), Australia codified protections for Maoris and granted them the right to vote.  New Zealand still refused to join up because they protested the treatment of Australia's own aboriginals, not just New Zealand's Maoris who happened to be living there.  This is why Maori had actual rights in Australia while aboriginals were still seen, legally, as part of Australian flora and fauna.

New Zealand is ahead of the curve on many issues.  Their environmental movement really took off in the 1940s and the continued existence of some of its most amazing, unique, highly endangered birds can be credited to the emergence of its environmental movement coming well before the hippie / counterculture era of the late 1960s.

All of that being said, it has been quite Americanized over the last couple of decades and it is certainly a highly similar culture to the US, Australia, etc.  But there are little quirky differences that make it quite lovely and politically speaking I'm hard pressed to think of any issue where the framework isn't significantly to the left of the other countries we're comparing it to.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Like Kiwi. Bland and a little sour.

[warandwar]

I'd watch the fantastic documentary Revolution, on youtube here.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Beautiful country, full of amazing people

[bagelman]

Like Kiwi. Bland and a little sour.

Kiwis are delicious you fiend.

[Angel of Death]

New Zealand changing their electoral system to a proportional one has to count as one rare dramatic success story.

[Phony Moderate]

This seems like the right thread to ask: what the heck is going on (or not) with NZ Labour? Way behind the three-term government and not a single opinion poll in almost a decade has shown them in the lead. Or is it just down to NZ having a thing for keeping governments in power for ages?

[Slow Learner]

This seems like the right thread to ask: what the heck is going on (or not) with NZ Labour? Way behind the three-term government and not a single opinion poll in almost a decade has shown them in the lead. Or is it just down to NZ having a thing for keeping governments in power for ages?

From what I'm aware, it's due to incompetent leadership. Think Shorten but 100x worse.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

John Key is such a stereotype, lol.

[rob in cal]

    Also, the way in which New Zealand introduced proportional representation was very innovative, with a national commission studying different electoral systems, then a national referendum to first decide the most popular of them, and then a final referendum on whether to adopt the most popular one, similar to Germany's system.

[warandwar]

    Also, the way in which New Zealand introduced proportional representation was very innovative, with a national commission studying different electoral systems, then a national referendum to first decide the most popular of them, and then a final referendum on whether to adopt the most popular one, similar to Germany's system.

and all because David Lange misspoke during a televised debate!

[MaxQue]

    Also, the way in which New Zealand introduced proportional representation was very innovative, with a national commission studying different electoral systems, then a national referendum to first decide the most popular of them, and then a final referendum on whether to adopt the most popular one, similar to Germany's system.

and all because David Lange misspoke during a televised debate!

Never heard about that. Can you fill us on details?

[Hydera]

This seems like the right thread to ask: what the heck is going on (or not) with NZ Labour? Way behind the three-term government and not a single opinion poll in almost a decade has shown them in the lead. Or is it just down to NZ having a thing for keeping governments in power for ages?

John Key is a very competent person who hasn't really angered anyone. Plus Labour was more competitive with the centrist vote during Helen Clark(Helped by the really smooth economy during most of her tenure).

John Key came along and capitalized on the GFC to get into power and has been barely popular enough ever since to keep ruling. He's quite centrist as well and did help pass a law allowing same-sex couples to marry despite half of his party being in opposition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Definition_of_Marriage)_Amendment_Act_2013

Also he did implement a lot of Environmentalist policies due to it being popular in the county.


Also there hasn't been much issues in New Zealand recently. Tax decreases and Privatizations that were done under a Labour Government in the 80s(Rogernomics) is a sealed issue.

And John Key has a mild personality which is hard to campaign against, unlike with Abbott and John Howard.

Also a Labour government deepened on the greens and the anti-immigration/economic left, NZ first. which was quite repulsive to moderate voters.

Plus the economy is still growing.


So unless the economy goes into recession again or voters get tired of John Key eventually. Labour will be out of power until then.

[Blue3]

Has anything happened in NZ politics over the last year?

[Lachi]

Has anything happened in NZ politics over the last year?

Other than the fact the John Key got replaced, not really that I know of.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

They're having an election in September. Apparently the two "big" Māori parties (the Māori Party and Mana Party) have mended their differences and are going to be working together in the election to some extent. Labour/Greens seem to be on the upswing to some slight extent. As mentioned, Key quit and there's a new guy (English), who hasn't been that interesting. WINston Peters is still Winston Peters and may be a king maker in the election.

[Zioneer]

They're having an election in September. Apparently the two "big" Māori parties (the Māori Party and Mana Party) have mended their differences and are going to be working together in the election to some extent. Labour/Greens seem to be on the upswing to some slight extent. As mentioned, Key quit and there's a new guy (English), who hasn't been that interesting. WINston Peters is still Winston Peters and may be a king maker in the election.

I wonder how it feels to have politics be so boring.

[Blue3]

My sister is moving to NZ for college this week, so that's why I'm asking.

[SATW]

I'm not a fan of New Zealand's political system, but I don't know anything about the people or culture outside of its low-energy politics.

[Blue3]

They're having an election in September. Apparently the two "big" Māori parties (the Māori Party and Mana Party) have mended their differences and are going to be working together in the election to some extent. Labour/Greens seem to be on the upswing to some slight extent. As mentioned, Key quit and there's a new guy (English), who hasn't been that interesting. WINston Peters is still Winston Peters and may be a king maker in the election.

I wonder how it feels to have politics be so boring.

Me too.