Donald Elley of Bellingen:
My home country New Zealand votes in more woke left and Socialism.
The Australian
NZ election: Jacinda Ardern vows unity as she wins historic majority
- By CRAIG GREAVES
- OCTOBER 17, 2020
- 636 COMMENTS
Key events
For well over two months, the outcome of New Zealand’s 2020 general election was looking pre-determined.
Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party was widely expected to be comfortably returned to power for a second term.
In the end, it all panned out even better than forecast as Labour cantered to a landslide win.
Pre-election polling rang true as New Zealand voters in massive numbers rewarded the popular Ms Ardern for her handling of the COVID-19 crisis – the central issue in this election – with another stint in office.
In what was a massive affirmation for the progressive vote, the incumbent prime minister eased her Labour Party to a mammoth win over its nearest rival, the Judith Collins-led opposition National Party, and is now widely expected to establish Labour-Green rule across the land.
Ms Ardern indicated in her victory speech that she will seek to govern from the centre.
Ms Ardern told a rapturous and large crowd at Labour Party’s election HQ in Auckland that New Zealand had shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years.
In her victory speech, she spoke to new Labour supporters – of which there were many – thanking them for their support.
Ms Arden assured the country that Labour “will be a party that governs for every New Zealander”.
She noted that the party’s support was shown across the country – in both urban and rural electorate, “in seats they hoped for, but didn’t expect”.
The Prime Minister also assured the country that Labour would govern as they campaigned:
“Positively with optimism about our future.”
More people have lost the ability to see everyone’s view, but hopefully this election shows that this isn’t who we are as a country, she said.
“New Zealanders can listen and debate, we’re too small to lose sight of other perspectives.”
She acknowledged that the 2020 election “has not been an ordinary election, and it’s not an ordinary time”.
“It’s been full of uncertainty and anxiety and we set out to be an antidote for that.”
There’s a lot of work to do in the next three years, and that includes bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.
“This is our opportunity to build an economy that works for everyone, to keep creating decent jobs … to take on poverty and inequality, to turn all of the uncertainty and hard times into cause for hope and optimism.”
Ms Ardern repeatedly struck aspirational notes throughout her speech.
The next few years might not be easy, she said, but notes that “light has always shone through in the form of determination and support”.
“That light has always been more powerful than the most overwhelming darkness.”
With nearly 92 per cent of the total votes counted, Labour is set to gain 49 per cent of the vote, giving it 64 seats in parliament, while National took home 27 per cent and 35 seats.
In New Zealand’s 120 seat parliament, Ms Ardern needed to win 61 seats to govern outright.
But it was a bloodbath for National, which has lost 20 MPs. Its vote imploded and some senior party MPs, including deputy leader Gerry Brownless, were among those who lost long-held seats, with only their high position on the party list saving them from a humiliating parliamentary exit.
The party will lose a great deal of ground in the next parliament, taking years to recover.
But for Labour, it was an incredible evening and the party won its greatest share of support in 50 years. It flipped safe National seats across the country in urban electorates as well as historical strongholds.
The country has now turned red, and Ms Ardern has a very strong political mandate for at least the next three years – possibly more given the size of her victory.
Labour’s tally of seats exceeded the 61 needed to form a government on its own.
Though Ms Ardern tonight refused to be drawn on whether she will form a government with the Greens, she is widely expected to do so.
The Greens won 7.6 per cent of the vote and will take up 10 seats.
Labour will, of course, be able to count on the support of the Green Party – a reliable Labour ally and current government support party.
Green Party’s co-leader Marama Davidson tonight proclaimed that “New Zealanders want a strong and truly progressive government”.
ACT, a right wing libertarian party and National ally, also had a great night. The party, led by its sole MP David Seymour, following on from its good form in pre-election polling to win 8 per cent gave it, like the Greens, 10 seats in the next parliament.
The Maori Party is also tracking to pick up one of the Maori seats.
Ms Collins ands her party aside, the other big loser of the night was deputy prime minister Winston Peters and his New Zealand First party.
As widely predicted, even by fatalistic yet realistic members of his own party, the election was an electoral wipeout for his New Zealand First Party.
The current government coalition partner, who had struggled in the polls throughout the campaign, fell well short of the 5 per cent threshold to win a place in parliament after pickin up just 2.6 per cent.
Despite his party’s crushing results, 75-year-old Peters remained upbeat and would not be drawn on what the future holds for him and his party.
In true Peters form, he tonight said that the country “will have to wait and see” what he will do next.
Peters said his party was proud to have questioned authority, and “that force is still needed”.
But, voters clearly rejected his brand of politics and it is hard to see new constituency forming in sufficient numbers before the next election three years hence.
On the night, Labour took a large early lead and never looked back. By 8pm (NZT) that had solidified, with predictions showing a clear pathway to a landslide electoral victory for the party.
The official election results – including special votes, such as those cast overseas and by people outside their home constituency – will not be known until November 6.
Tonight, however, was Labour’s night. It was one of the best the party has ever had in its 104-year history and cemented Ms Ardern as one of the most successful leaders in New Zealand’s modern political history.
donaldelley 