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On 8 November 2008, the right-wing National Party, led by John Key, NZ's 38th Prime Minister, won the general election campaign (58 seats) and formed the 49th New Zealand government to 2011, in coalition with ACT, United Future and Māori parties.
New Zealand uses mixed member proportional(MMP) representation to elect the New Zealand Parliament of at least 120 members. 70 Members of Parliament represent geographic communities of roughly 57,000 people each, with the remaining MPs coming from party lists. |
Kiwibank, KiwiSaver, KiwiRail - 'Keep it Kiwi' approach couldn't save the Labour Party (43 seats) in the 2008 election.
Since 1999, the social democratic Labour Party, led by Helen Clark, had dominated 3 consecutive governments (first in coalition with the Alliance; after 2002 in coalition with the Progressive Party; and after 2005 with the Progressive Party, the New Zealand First Party and the United Future Party). |
Not to mention the new-born minor Kiwi Party, one of 19 registered parties for New Zealanders to vote in 2008.
In the party votes, the Kiwi Party polled 12,755 in all, which represented only 0.54% of the total votes cast. Republic of NZ, the smallest political party just won 313 votes nationwide. |
What's wrong with Kiwi families? Do Kiwis need a party called Family Party to stress family issues?
The Family Party, known as Christian Party, polled a total of 8176 votes altogether and a final total electorate vote of only 0.37%. |
Vote for me - the planet. The Green Party focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it.
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In the 2008 election the Greens increased their share of party vote to 6.72%, with 9 MPs. The Greens won 5.3%, 6 seats in the 2005 election.
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The last public campaign in Christchurch Cathedral on 7 November, a day before the election day.
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Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman, the co-leaders of The Green Party make it the third-largest party in New Zealand.
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The Greens concerns: Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Buy Kiwi Made, GE Free, Fair Trade, Non-Vilence, anti military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It also states that measuring economic success should concentrate on measuring WELL-BEING rather than analysing economic indicators. Human beings are part of the natural world. Unlimited material growth is impossible. Therefore the key to social responsibility is the just distribution of social and natural resources, both locally and globally. |
Next generation is the human touch of Green campaign.
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Green stickers found in streets - I ONLY DATE BOYS WHO VOTE Green.
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Think green? Act green? Vote Green.
A Green supporter promotes Green message on bike with a DIY trailer made from a rubbish bin. |
Pita Sharples (co-leader of Maori Party, the second from left) is appointed by National-led government as Minister of Maori Affairs. Tariana Turia (co-leader) as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, outside Cabinet.
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The Māori Party focus on Māori ownership of the foreshore and the seabed; retirement age for Māori to be reduced to 60.
The Māori Party won 5 seats. However its share of the party vote remained low, at 2.39%. The Labour Party won the party vote by a large majority in every Maori electorate, meaning that the typical Maori voter had split their vote, voting for a Maori Party candidate with their electorate vote and the Labour Party with their party vote. |
Democrats for social credit - a leftist political party
Never heard about the Democrats Party and its candidates. Does it remind you of the American eagle? It won just 0.05% of the party vote in 2008. |
act - ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIMES
Rodney Hide, the Act Party leader, is given by National-led government as Minister of Local Government and Minister for Regulatory Reform, outside Cabinet. The Act Party got 85,496 votes, equivalent 3.65% of total party vote in 2008. |
The National Party currently advocates policies of reducing taxes, reducing social welfare payments, promoting free trade, privatising the state assets, restoring security alliances (like American president surrounding by dozens of bodyguards).
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Hoardings of party and electorate candidate are placed voluntarily in residents' private garden.
According to the NZ Electoral Act 1993, election signs / displays (up to 3 square meters in size) are allowed to be put up in the 2 months before the eletion day. They are normally removed 12 hours before the polling day. |
On polling day,political parties CANNOT: display in view of a public place; display party lapel badges on vehicles; feature a candidate's name on the lapel badge; permit candidates or supporters to wear clothing in party colours promoting the candidate or party.
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Most Pacific Islanders give their support to Labour Party other than NZ Pacific Party formed by Taito Phillip Field ( a former Labour MP who is currently facing charges for bribery and corruption).
In total, the Pacific party attracted 8640 votes, or 0.37 % of the total electorate vote in 2008. |
The Labour Party achievements:
- introduced Kiwi Saver(retirement saving scheme); - liberalised immigration, particularly skilled migration, into NZ; - made Te Reo Māori an official language; - established the first State-Owned Enterprises; - made the civil service more business-like with Chief Executives instead of Permanent Secretaries; - declared New Zealand to be a nuclear-free zone; - legalised homosexual relations... |
Thanks Helen (Kiwis call their Prime Minister 'Helen' while she is called Ms Clark by media).
Helen Clark is the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand, the longest serving leader of the Labour Party. |
Helen Clark in the 2002 election which Labour comfortably won.
On 8 November 2008, Helen Clark(former Prime Minister) announced she was stepping down as Labour leader. Phil Goff(former Minister of Defence) and Annette King(former Minister of Police) replace Helen Clark and Michael Cullen(former deputy Labour leader and former Minister of Finance) respectively. |
In the 2005 election, the policies on the foreshore and seabed was one of the key debates between the Labour Party (Iwi - Maori means people or a larger grouping tribes) and the National Party (Kiwi - all people living in New Zealand, here more likely refers to people except Maori).
The same issue led to the resignation of Labour junior minister Tariana Turia and her establishment of the new Maori Party in 2004. |
The Labour's policies on interest free student loans plus living cost allowance seem not sweet enough for majority Kiwis as they finally chose the National Party just for a CHANGE after 9-year Labour in power.
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Winston Peters, leader of The New Zealand First Party, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Senior Citizens and Racing in the Labour government, neighther regain an electorate seat, nor won over 5% of the party vote (4.07%). They are out of the government.
Winston is well known for his attack on Asian migrants, introduction of free public transport for citizens aged over 65. On 29 August 2008, he stood down as Foreign Affairs and Racing Minister for "knowingly providing false or misleading information on a return of pecuniary interests" over a $100,000 donation made in 2005. |
Advance voting is available on 22 October, 16 days before the election day 8 November 2008. You can cast an advance vote if you're going to be away / sick / working on election day, voting on Saturday is against your religion or would cause hardship or serious inconvenience.
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Ellen casts her first vote in the NZ 2005 election.
The white polling booths / desks behind her are made from reusable cardboard. |
TICK TICK IT'S TIME TO VOTE - a reminder from a helicopter
Almost 3 million New Zealanders registered to vote in the 2008 election, but only 79.5% of enrolled voters turned up, lower than most previous elections. |
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