Phil Goff appears to have emerged unscathed as the undisputed Leader of the Labour Party despite the challenges posed by his old colleague Chris Carter. If the outcome of the Regional Conference of the Party held in Auckland on October 16 and 17 was any indication, he will lead Labour into next year’s election.
From any point of view, Election 2011 will be crucial for Mr Goff to continue in the role of Leader of his Party, which has been languishing in the opinion polls. However, he and his colleagues appear confident and have begun preparations for the electoral battle, with renewed confidence.
While sound policies and programmes may change public opinion in favour of Labour, Mr Goff has to put his house in order at the outset. It is also imperative that he strengthens the lineage of command and put in place people with the ability to share his ambitions and vision and articulate with the people across the country.
National continues to ride high in opinion polls but there is no room for complacency. The recent hike in GST, despite the somewhat corresponding or compensatory tax cuts, has not helped ordinary New Zealanders. Prices of most commodities have registered a sharp rise, disproportionate in most cases, to the lift in GST rate from 12.5% to 15%. As the impact of this rise begins to hit, National could be in trouble.
Compound these is the problem of unemployment. Many people who are out of job, find it extremely difficult to be re-employed. Too many of them are seeking jobs that are too few to accommodate everyone. Not all rush to become beneficiaries.
Mr Goff, obviously aware of these political probabilities, has begun to speak the language that people understand. His Party has drawn the battle lines and has begun the local electorates’ nomination process.
A number of candidates representing most ethnic minorities would be in the fray, and as Party President Andrew Little said, such a mix has experienced MPs and upcoming talent from lower-rung supporters.
“Labour is well placed with a strong and dedicated party organisation and an excellent selection of candidates to win in 2011 and deliver a government focused on the real issues facing New Zealand,” he said.
Key Electorates
We will in due course discuss the strengthening and weakening ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ spots across the country but in any event, a number of key constituencies would be of interest not only to the two Parties but also to the public. In Auckland for instance, battle guns would sound the loudest in the Te Atatu, Mangere and Manurewa constituencies. Watch this space.
As the electoral fever catches on, we will see an increasing number of people from the Indian Subcontinent, seeking to enter the political arena and announce themselves as candidates. Some of them would clearly have an eye on the Party’s List.
Everyone in a democracy has the freedom and the right to run for Parliament – some of them would be successful too – but we cannot overstate the need for caution. The Indian community has demonstrated its success in all areas of the economy; we have among us some of the best doctors, engineers, professionals and businesspersons that the world could have with pride. But we are yet to demonstrate our maturity in politics and truly understand the nuances of this vital segment of polity.
Sectoral Politics
The selection process for Electoral and List candidates usually leads to polarisation, as seen in India over the past several decades. This may in itself be a good thing, because it allows people to place themselves in political parties that best suit their ideology but a small country like New Zealand can ill-afford in-house polarity.
Both Mr Goff and National Party Leader and Prime Minister John Key would indubitably be aware of the intricacies and intransigence that invariably seep into the political camps. The need of the hour is therefore discipline and orderliness.
As the two major political parties begin to have a closer look at the contenders, they will do well to choose their candidates, not based on ethnicity but on their ability to protect, preserve and promote not only the democratic ideals of New Zealand but also the country’s penchant for integrity and honesty.
Labour and National should demonstrate their role as guardians of these principles and not allow parochial feelings to dominate the electoral scene. The last thing we need in New Zealand is insular politics.
