Close eye on smaller parties this election

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

The 53rd New Zealand Parliament has risen, setting the stage for the election in just under six weeks’ time.

Thursday was the last day for the parties and MPs to get their say, with the traditional adjournment debate seeing some collegiality although a few of the party leaders could not resist final jibes at their rivals in Parliament’s debating chamber.

A parliamentary term which started with a focus on the pandemic ended with all  government-imposed restrictions lifted, and dealing with the aftermath of a series of devastating floods which will leave ongoing challenges for the new administration.

The other main factor of the term was a cost of living crisis and a teetering economy — something that political pundits believe is the kiss of death for a sitting government.

Labour scored a landslide victory three years ago in what was labelled the Covid election, with the party boosted further by disarray in the National Party. It will not be able to repeat that feat on October 14.

Chris Hipkins’ Labour Party will really struggle to win this time, let alone storm home.

Hipkins has transformed the party since Jacinda Ardern stood down, going back to what could be considered basic Labour philosophy.

On the other side of the House, Nationals’ Christopher Luxon and his deputy Nicola Willis have done a good job restoring their party’s standing and establishing it as a credible government-in-waiting since taking on the leadership in November 2021.

What looked like being a neck-and-neck election only months ago has changed its character, with the right-wing bloc pulling ahead in the polls.

One of the most interesting facets of the coming election is the way the smaller parties will have a massive effect. Once upon a time a vote for them was considered a waste of time, but now the two largest parties will be relying on at least one of them to be able to form a government.

Act in particular has held its vote in recent polls and leaves some commentators wondering how stormy a “marriage” with National might be.

One clear theme of the election is that National will continue its description of the alternative as a Coalition of Chaos, while Labour continues to warn voters of the dangers of one of the most right-wing governments in the country’s history.

There is a risk for the campaigners that until a fortnight from the election, it will be overshadowed to an extent by the Rugby World Cup.

As a longed for summer hopefully begins to take hold, will people’s attention falter a little?

Every election is touted in its time as one of the most important in the country’s history. This could be one of the most interesting.