New Zealand election: Disillusioned voters eyes shift away from the left Published 21 minutes ago Share please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Voting in the general election started on 2 October - By Frances Mao BBC News in Auckland They said hello, smiled and shook hands for the cameras. Then after New Zealand's prime minister moved on with the press pack, sweeping through the food court in Auckland's city centre, the couple fell back. "Yeh honestly, we're probably not voting for him," said Ian, who along with his partner Trina is in his 30s. "There's good and bad in both parties, and I think it's really close," Trina said. "But for us young working professionals, we've got a daughter now and we have to think about her future." Whether measurably true or not, many New Zealanders believe their country is in the doldrums. please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Chris Hipkins faces an uphill struggle to win enough votes to stay in power As the nation heads to its first election in three years, that sour mood is signalling a swing away from the diverse, centre-left government that was led by Jacinda Ardern for five years. The former prime minister, who stepped down in January, lent a star power and brand of "kind" politics to her country which won her fans around the world - even as her popularity waned at home. Her successor Chris Hipkins has had to face an increasingly irate and fed-up electorate this year, battling the hangover of the pandemic and a suffering economy. Political scientists says the clearest indicator of public pessimism has been a poll question which, for the first time in years, is now being answered in the negative by most voters: "They feel the country is heading along the wrong track," says Lara Greaves from Wellington's Victoria University. Speaking to voters in the biggest city Auckland this week, "the economy's cooked" or some variant of that is often the first thing mentioned. please log in to view this image Image caption, Freya says many people she knows can't afford to stay at university and have dropped out "It's recession vibes," said architecture student Freya, 20, who's working two retail jobs to keep up. She counts herself lucky to be able to live with her family in Mount Roskill - but she knows "plenty of people" in her traditionally working-class neighbourhood who dropped out of university to get food on the table. "No one's really spending, costs are up, the living wage - it's not even a living wage really it's crazy. It's so expensive these days, I feel money just flows out." Even though New Zealand's is comparable to other developed economies, "people don't really think that [it] is doing better than the rest of the world because they are hurting," said local economist Brad Olsen. "Households are struggling so that dominates the conversation," he says, citing data by his firm Infometrics, showing households on average are spending NZ$240 ($144; 117) more per week, while food price inflation peaked at a 12% increase this year after severe flooding and Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. New Zealand's long-term housing crisis has also punted home ownership beyond reality for the young generation, he says - but those who did buy homes in the past decade are now having to find an extra NZ$30,000 for their mortgage, due to higher interest rates. The New Zealand flood victims too scared to go home In response, both major parties have pledged policies to fatten wallets. Labour says it will cut the 15% tax on fresh fruit and vegetables, while centre-right National is pledging income tax cuts and other measures they say will boost business. The policies have been questioned by economists but are proving a hit with voters. But few are convinced these will fix the wider problem. New Zealand - a country which once sold itself as on the edge of the world - is at the bottom of a supply chain exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the slowing economy in China, its largest trade partner. Along with the economic concerns, many locals are also alarmed by a perceived rise in crime and gang violence. Although not significantly reflected in the crime data, stories of "ram raids" - where criminals use a vehicle to smash their way into a store - and burglaries ranging from diamond stores to corner shops, known here as dairies, have filled newspapers and social media feeds this year. "It used to be really safe here, peaceful," says taxi driver Aman Singh, 29, who moved to New Zealand over a decade ago and has become a citizen. He recalled a burglary assault last week in an Auckland suburb where a dairy owner had his fingers cut off. Auckland shooting renews debate on rising crime rate Aman plans on moving to Australia at the end of the year - where he was confident there would be more work, and his money could go further. The exodus of young people and working immigrants to New Zealand's larger, more prosperous neighbour, or even further afield to the UK, is a trend commonly noted. "A lot of people around me have moved overseas, just because everything feels just quite sluggish here and very slow-moving - the priority doesn't appear to be so much about moving forward," said Antonia Brightwell, 22, outside a voting booth in a shopping centre. She had also considered the option last year, but decided: "I've assessed the importance of sticking where I am and just dealing with things." She said she strongly favoured parties which would help her family's businesses. please log in to view this image Image caption, Antonia's biggest concern was what her future would look like with an economy "currently in the trenches" "I know that we're still just coming out of what happened with Covid and just trying to get back into that," but the recovery had been too slow, she suggested. Even Labour voters agree. There has been some frustration that Labour, which in 2020 under Ardern won a rare majority in New Zealand's proportional system which had always produced multi-party governments, wasn't able to accomplish more. Several ministerial scandals this year have also tarnished Labour's image. NZ justice minister quits after drink driving arrest "I feel like they haven't really achieved that much, or generated that much money," said Freya, who voted for Labour but criticised the slow rebound in tourism. New Zealand's stringent Covid response under Jacinda Ardern was globally praised and a scientific report released this week estimated the policy, which included a closure of borders from March 2020-August 2022, had saved 20,000 lives. But locals were also pushed to their limits with extended restrictions like lockdowns, Prof Greaves said. It led to a rise in disillusioned and angry New Zealanders, crowds of whom camped on the lawns outside parliament last year. Those groups have also made their presence known in this year's election. Polls show support for both major parties have ebbed - while there's been a sharp uptick for fringe, anti-establishment parties peddling a nastier tone of political debate. please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Chris Luxon's National Party is is expected to emerge as the largest party, polls suggest The noisy contender this year has been Act, a libertarian party once banished to political exile with less than 1% of the vote. It has come back to claim up to 10% of voters, according to some polls. National, under leader Chris Luxon, has signalled it would form a coalition government with the party, whose leader has vowed to roll back mining and firearm restrictions, and has attacked Māori representation in the country, prompting an outcry from Māori lawmakers. Populist party New Zealand First also looks set to return - with current polls suggesting leader Winston Peters will hold the balance of power in Saturday's vote. In 2017, he sided with Labour, a move which allowed its then new leader Jacinda Ardern to become prime minister. Few expect him to embrace the left again now. In the event that no coalition deal can be reached then a second election would be needed.
Hamas chose this path. No one was going to stop Israel responding in the way we're seeing given the barbarian actions of Hamas. All the US and the rest of the world can do is try to ensure as much aid as possible for the innocent victims of Gaza. There was no way Israel would respond in any other way following the slaughter of over a thousand Israelis. I agree that it's going to be horrific.
Col I'm not sure the beheading of children narrative is true. Biden repeated it and then had to walk it back as it was totally unsubstantiated JerusalemCNN — The Israeli government has not confirmed the specific claim that Hamas attackers cut off the heads of babies during their shock attack on Saturday, an Israeli official told CNN, contradicting a previous public statement by the Prime Minister’s office. “There have been cases of Hamas militants carrying out beheadings and other ISIS-style atrocities. However, we cannot confirm if the victims were men or women, soldiers or civilians, adults or children,” the official said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that people had been beheaded by Hamas in an appearance beside Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, but did not specify if they were children. NBC - WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden painted a vivid picture of the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war in remarks to Jewish community leaders Wednesday — but the White House later had to clarify his claims. “I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children,” Biden said in broader remarks about his administration’s support for Israel amid its war with Hamas and efforts to free American hostages. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for further details about Biden’s remarks. Two senior administration officials said Biden was referring to reports from Israel about beheaded children and cited several media reports of beheadings. NBC News has not confirmed those reports. IDF Spokesperson Maj. Doron Spielman told NBC News: "That specific report and that number I can’t confirm." As I mentioned before, Biden is a decent bloke and clearly shocked at these events but he's become emotionally affected which as they say - ain't good
Col, the US calls itself the World's Policeman. Now is the time for it to exercise restraint and show clear thinking as how to obliterate Hamas, not to fall into the trap of escalating the conflict
A BBC (I think) reporter was stood next to the bodies of babies apparently beheaded. I can see how this could become a well spread myth, as it's so incredibly abhorrent. If it's now been debunked, then I retract. I haven't seen it debunked as yet. Biden is incredibly weak which would undoubtedly have been included in the calculations of Hamas and their backers. The US will undoubtedly support Israel in the conflict, as will the UK. Not with troops or anything visible, but with arms and "special advisors".
NBC - White House clarifies Biden's claim he saw photos of terrorists beheading children in Israel-Hamas war After the comments, the White House clarified that Biden had read news reports. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/wh...oundtable-jewish-community-leaders-rcna119865 https://news.sky.com/story/its-impo...-report-of-beheaded-babies-in-israel-12982329 The first casualty of war is the truth Col. Biden is a liability, Sunak a rank amateur After the comments, the orts. - NBC The first casualty of war is the truth Col
Certainly agree with your last paragraph. However, nothing would have ensued any differently without those reports. Over a thousand dead Israelis and hostages taken would have been enough.
https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/world-politics/new-zealand-election/winning-party Still 1/9. It’s all good. Who am I supposed to want to win again?
national this time but they will need some other parties help to govern act and probably the bloody clowns from nz first
I am no friend of Hamas and know perfectly well that they would slit my leftist throat as easily as that of an Israeli Jew. They are a thoroughly reactionary force but the scale of their atrocities was not on the same numerical scale as the mass bombing of the Gaza Strip is turning out to be, and which has no forseeable end. But Israel has provided the water in which Hamas can swim - if they had presented a reasonable roadmap to the full statehood and independence of Palestine, instead of continuing to build settlements there, dislocating thousands to refugee camps, treating the non Jewish population like a ghetto under military rule then Hamas would find it far harder to draw recruits. Many of those in Palestine have given up hope of a road to independence through negotiation. The one person who could have led a unified national organization with the goal of statehood (and only that) was Arafat, and the Israeli's were constantly trying to assassinate him (and perhaps did in the end).
Mark Urban was interviewing an Israeli representative on Newsnight last night and she brought up the beheaded babies thing. He said that the BBC had not been able to substantiate the claim. It's irrelevant really, though. What Hamas did was horrific and unjustifiable, whatever the details. I'm afraid the response from Israel is equally unjustifiable, and probably a war crime. In the early hours after the Hamas incursion, our government said that it would support Israel in whatever response it saw fit. That's just irresponsible.
100% correct. Sunak and Biden committed themselves immediately to whatever action Israel though appropriate - it's a colossal failure and shows how weak both administrations are
Was it not Ararat who had the best opportunity, via the talks overseen by Clinton, to finally seal a deal and turned it down?
Is it justifiable to kill hundreds of innocent people knowing that amongst their number there may be a few criminals ? Try this one in any International law court and see what the answer would be.
Innocent people die in wars unfortunately. The injured will be taken in and treated in Israeli hospitals against the will of many Israelis.
Denying food, water, electricity and fuel to 2m people - half of whom are children - whilst bombing the **** out of them is not justifiable, whatever the provocation.
Unfortunately, innocent people and civilians get killed in war. What would have been an acceptable response?
