Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mark Mitchell
OPINION
Labour’s leadership ended the year feeling surprisingly upbeat, watching the chaotic and amateurish new Luxon Government. But Labour cannot wait and hope that the coalition will tear itself apart and lose public support. Labour needs to show voters fresh faces with fresh ideas.
The firstweeks of the new Government were farcical. From the circus of the prolonged coalition talks where Christopher Luxon trailed Winston Peters up and down the country like a lovesick schoolboy, to ministers insisting they didn’t want any critical advice on their policies from public servants and spending time fighting the use of te reo in public agencies, to Nicola Willis’ “mini mini mini Budget” that only showed National still can’t pay for its tax cuts, to Act critiquing “woke” poets and Peters abusing journalists, to the incredibly unpopular and shortsighted moves to encourage more smoking, cut climate change programmes, and reduce workers’ rights.
National’s own pollster, Curia, has the coalition’s lead in the polls down by half compared to election night, and more voters than not saying the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Maybe watching National and co at work is what convinced Labour’s Chris Hipkins to say that Labour hadn’t done anything wrong and didn’t need to change.
Labour’s loss of nearly half its 2020 voters in the 2023 election is not just a matter of “the tide being out”. There was a fundamental failure to present an inspiring vision to take the country forward. Frankly, I was disturbed to hear the new leader of the Opposition said he could not pinpoint what the party could have done differently to win.
The Government may be shambolic now but its ministers will gain experience and it will get many of its unpopular policies out of the way early, before turning its focus to the next election. To win, Labour will need to show voters it understands why they rejected it in 2023 and that it is offering new ideas, and new faces.
So, over this summer, Hipkins should fire up the barbie and invite these five up and coming stars around - to learn some lessons that will help Labour rebuild in this term and beyond.
Vanushi Walters
Vanushi Walters.
Walters was one of the most impressive new MPs that came in on Labour’s red wave in 2020 and was unlucky not to be made a minister. She led the justice select committee ably and has the potential to be one of Labour’s leading policy brains.
As New Zealand’s first Sri Lankan MP, she brought links to communities that Labour now lacks. Hipkins would be smart to ensure that Walters gets back into Parliament when other List MPs retire.
Craig Renney
Council of Trade Unions (CTU) economist Craig Renney. Photo / Mark Mitchell
As the Council of Trade Unions’ economist, Renney and his team exposed the gross inequities of National’s tax plan - with a few hundred megalandlords set to receive over $1m each in tax cuts, while just 3000 families will get the promised $250 a fortnight tax cut. Revelations that cost National a lot of votes in the final days of the election campaign.
It’s telling that Labour itself couldn’t produce those attacks. Hipkins would be well advised to work closely with Renney, and consider offering him a good list slot in 2026.
Moko Tepania
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. Photo / Tania Whyte
Tepania is one of the most impressive young leaders in Aotearoa. At 31, he was elected Far North District Council’s first ever Māori mayor. Last year, he was one of five winners of the Young World Politician of the Year award.
Hipkins would do well to learn from Tepania how he has extolled processive and inclusive values, and overcome the politics of division. Labour needs a new candidate for Te Tai Tokerau now that Kelvin Davis is retiring. Tepania must surely be on the shortlist.
Stacey Morrison
Broadcaster and television host Stacey Morrison. Photo / Jason Oxenham
She’ll probably not talk to me any more after mentioning her in a political context, but Morrison - as a TV presenter, radio host, and author - is such an important advocate for te reo Māori and an inspiring example of how positivity and optimism can drive change.
For a tired Labour Party up against a relentlessly negative and backward-looking Government, learning the art of positive change from Morrison would go a long way to getting back on track.
Mark Hutchinson
Mark Hutchinson. Photo / Paul Taylor
Labour’s Napier candidate didn’t get the attention he deserved. Although unable to retain the seat in the face of Labour’s vote collapse, Hutchinson proved to be a strong debater and put a strong case for leftwing values.
As a business owner who has worked with major corporations across the country, he could give Hipkins insights into how Labour became so disconnected from the business community over the past two years.
Labour must change if it wants to be a credible alternative to National at the next election. As a first step, Hipkins could do worse than taking the time to learn from these examples of success.
As well as spending time with new talent, Hipkins also needs to hold a tangihanga hākari (post-funeral feast) for some of his defeated MPs who need to get the message it’s time to move on and make way for a new generation.
Lots of mahi for the Leader of the Opposition, if he wants to avoid being the guest of honour at his own hākari.
Shane Te Pou (Ngāi Tūhoe) is a commentator, blogger and former Labour Party activist.
