Radio NZ comment on pre-election 2023
Talking to Radio NZ’s The Panel
23 January 2023
I was asked to talk about Jacinda Ardern’s replacement as prime minister, Chris Hipkins.
Why the world is watching the 2020 NZ Election.
Polling Day was delayed from 19 September to 17 October due to Covid-19.
Election 2020
The Election got more interesting when the opposition National Party was forced to find a new leader – and chose the controversial “Crusher Collins”. It was if a volcano was about to erupt!
Guardian, 20 July, 2020
Selected stories
Election 2017
In August 2017, Jacinda Ardern took over leadership of the NZ Labour Party, and Labour’s polling immediately shot up. As we went into the election, it was clear that the incumbent prime minister, Bill English, would have to think carefully about how to debate against her.
The Ardern government
After the 2017 election, Ms Ardern formed a government, in coalition with the NZ First Party, and supported by the Green Party. “But the business of government is complex, grinding and (when you fail) unforgiving. And, in a democracy, it’s not about one person. Due to proportional representation, to be prime minister of New Zealand, you have to build and maintain coalition relationships with other parties, and you may have little in common with some of them.”
Selected media contributions
Print.
“Two months from New Zealand’s election, National gambles on Judith Collins crushing Jacinda Ardern’s charisma”
The Conversation
20 July 2020
TV.
“National should avoid appearing 'patronising' in combating the charisma of Jacinda Ardern - political commentator”
1 News
21 August 2017