Last night's election was full of momentous events - John Key won, Helen Clark resigned, Winston Peters is gone. We asked the experts what the stand-out event of last night was for them
.KEY POINTS:
Click here for last night's rolling commentary
New Zealand shifts to the right
The realisation that the country has voted for a potential return of "Rogernomics" was the stand-out event of last night for political scientist Grant Duncan.
The Massey University lecturer said National could not govern without ACT who have five seats, including Roger Douglas.
"The big question now is John Key has positioned himself as a centrist, and yet he really is dependent largely, not completely, on a far right government with people who have a reputation for wanting to slash government, slash taxes and slash spending," Dr Duncan said.
He said a lot of people who voted for change did not vote for "far-right policies" but "centre-right moderation" and a change of leadership - not Rogernomics.
"But you would have to say there is a lot of sympathy for that neo-liberal, Rogernomics policy in the National Party and now they have to collaborate significantly with ACT, as opposed to ACT and others," Dr Duncan said.
He said the National Party had learnt a lot about MMP and had extended an "olive branch" to the Maori Party which could provide some balance.
Dr Duncan said Winston Peters not being in Parliament and Helen Clark's resignation would be largely forgotten in a year.
Helen Clark's concession speech
Helen Clark's concession speech was the stand-out event of the night, said political scientist Bryce Edwards.
"It suited the mood of the night, it came across very genuine," said the lecturer from the University of Otago.
He said the multi-lingual greeting showed the stateswoman that she is and would want to be remembered for.
"Certainly, announcing her effective resignation as Labour Party leader, that was what caught everyone unawares," Dr Edwards said.
He said that summed up an end of an era.
"It probably would have hit the public quite hard and that moment signifies Helen Clark's huge role in politics over the last 20 years was now at an end," Dr Edward said.
- NZHERALD STAFF
