NZ Maori Party may hold general election key

By RAY LILLEY – 42 minutes ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A party representing New Zealand's indigenous Maori may hold the key to power in elections Saturday that could also end the rule of one of the world's longest-serving elected women leaders.

Polls have shown a center-right coalition is consistently ahead of Prime Minister Helen Clark's Labour government, though both sides were cautious Friday as they wrapped up their campaigns.

The country's foreign affairs and trade policies are unlikely to change much no matter which side wins — including the long-standing ban on nuclear-powered ships entering New Zealand ports that has rankled military ally Washington.

Domestic issues dominated the campaign, though the global financial crisis loomed large, worsening a recession and forcing both main parties to pare back promises of big tax cuts.

Conservative National Party leader John Key, a multimillionaire former foreign currency trader, has campaigned on a platform of change and says he can better steer the country though the economic woes.

Clark argues that the troubled economic times mean voters should stick with the government they know.

"At the end of the day it will be people seeing Labour puts people and jobs first," Clark said, predicting a closer result than polls suggest.

National and Labour are racing for a majority in the 123-seat parliament, but the country's complex proportional voting system ensures small parties get a significant number of seats, and government is formed after intense horse-trading.

Both sides have wooed smaller allies to their side — Greens and Progressives to Labour and conservatives to National. The only unaligned group is the Maori Party, likely to win at least four seats.

If Labour claws back late ground, the Maori party may be able to play kingmaker.

"We'll decide totally based on the relationship and also what we are able to advance for our people," Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said of who her group would support after the vote.

Maori make up 15 percent of New Zealand's people but are among the poorest, worst housed, least healthy and suffer higher unemployment and crime rates than most other citizens. They blame their conditions on European colonization that saw their lands seized and many tribes impoverished.

The party's other leader, Pita Sharples, said Maori had drawn inspiration from Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election, which "sends a message to New Zealand that anything is possible."

"It's a message to the whole world that we can build on our past and move forward," Sharples told The Associated Press. "Such a success in America has got to be stimulating and good for the world."

Maori have been part of mainstream politics in New Zealand for more than a century, and there are more than 20 legislators with indigenous backgrounds across the spectrum of parties.

Sharples said he hoped Obama's win would spur more voters in New Zealand to support candidates who want to close the social divides between minorities and the broader community.

Clark, 58, and who first came to power in 1999, has pledged to deal with Maori Party concerns.

Key, 47, and in parliament for just five years, acknowledges some of his policies are "diametrically opposed" to the Maori Party's, but says he will be flexible if they hold the key to his party taking power.

This should be an interesting election. Could we see the first male Prime Minister in New Zealand this century (first since 1997 when Jenny Shipley came to power followed by Helen Clark).

I like Helen Clark though

and I'm confused,
New Zealand Politics
by Paula
November 7, 2008, 8:38pm

but it was tasman!!

The votes are coming in.... National currently looking to be getting around 48% of the vote, but early days yet....

Listen Live http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/

Clark drops a bombshell (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

09/11/2008 0:17:15

Helen Clark has dropped a bombshell, announcing she will stand down as leader of the Labour Party after losing the election.

"My job as leader of the Labour Party is complete. I will be standing down and I will be expecting Labour colleagues to elect a new leader before Christmas. I will give that new leader, whoever it is, the total loyalty and support that I have enjoyed from every single Labour leader of Parliament for a very, very long time."

She told her supporters in Auckland that she accepts responsibility for the election result which has seen National gain 59 seats while Labour has 43 seats.

Miss Clark said it is a night for the winners to savour but Labour will not be going away.

She said Labour has achieved some incredible things with and for New Zealanders and she will be looking back on the last nine years with an incredible amount of pride. She said they were years of high employment, economic growth, huge advances in health and education.

Miss Clark said Labour is New Zealand's oldest political party and has already started rebuilding.

But she expressed fears that all Labour has worked to put in place "does not go up in flames on a bonfire created by the right wing of politics."

Summary Showing Final Winning Candidate in Each Electorate:

Epsom -HIDE, Rodney ACT Majority= 11813

Manukau East -ROBERTSON, Ross LAB Majority= 10784

Manurewa -HAWKINS, George LAB Majority= 5753

Mt Albert -CLARK, Helen Elizabeth LAB Majority= 8695

Mt Roskill -GOFF, Phil LAB Majority= 5557

Rongotai -KING, Annette LAB Majority= 7845

Ikaroa-R�whiti -HOROMIA, Parekura LAB Majority= 1609

Dunedin North -HODGSON, Pete LAB Majority= 6660

Te Atat� -CARTER, Chris LAB Majority= 4638

New Lynn -CUNLIFFE, David LAB Majority= 3368 Wooo

Hauraki-Waikato -MAHUTA, Nanaia LAB Majority= 1046

Mana -LABAN, Winnie LAB Majority= 5314

Port Hills -DYSON, Ruth LAB Majority= 3093

Hutt South -MALLARD, Trevor LAB Majority= 3632

Christchurch East -DALZIEL, Lianne LAB Majority= 5545

Waimakariri -COSGROVE, Clayton LAB Majority= 518

Mangere -SIO, Su'a William LAB Majority= 6496

Dunedin South -CURRAN, Clare LAB Majority= 5992

Wellington Central -ROBERTSON, Grant LAB Majority= 1517

Rimutaka -HIPKINS, Christopher John LAB Majority= 625

Palmerston North -LEES-GALLOWAY, Iain LAB Majority= 1050

Christchurch Central -BURNS, Brendon LAB Majority= 880

Helensville -KEY, John NAT Majority= 18562

6 Clutha-Southland -ENGLISH, Bill NAT Majority= 14323

18 Ilam -BROWNLEE, Gerry NAT Majority= 10812

42 Rangit�kei -POWER, Simon NAT Majority= 11131

29 Nelson -SMITH, Nick NAT Majority= 7884

2 Bay of Plenty -RYALL, Tony NAT Majority= 16440

39 Papakura -COLLINS, Judith NAT Majority= 9674

37 Pakuranga -WILLIAMSON, Maurice NAT Majority= 12759

10 East Coast -TOLLEY, Anne NAT Majority= 5933

11 East Coast Bays -McCULLY, Murray NAT Majority= 12800

44 Rodney -SMITH, Lockwood NAT Majority= 14376

32 North Shore -MAPP, Wayne NAT Majority= 13159

36 �taki -GUY, Nathan NAT Majority= 1422

54 Waikato -TISCH, Lindsay NAT Majority= 11757

Botany -WONG, Pansy NAT Majority= 10119

Whangarei -HEATLEY, Phil NAT Majority= 13673

Hunua -HUTCHISON, Paul NAT Ma

Australia expects close NZ ties to go on

The Australian government says it will continue to work closely with the New Zealand government following the election of a conservative prime minister.

The centre-right National Party swept to victory in general elections on Saturday, ending nine years of Labour rule under Helen Clark.

Stephen Smith, the foreign minister in Australia's Labor government, offered his congratulations to National Party leader John Key, New Zealand's new prime minister.

"We value very much our relationship with New Zealand, it's a very, very important relationship and we expect that the very close cooperation which has always occurred between Australia and New Zealand, both nation-state to nation-state and government to government, will continue," Mr Smith told ABC Television on Sunday.

"We worked very closely with (former prime minister) Helen Clark's government for the last year or so, just as her government worked very closely with the Howard government.

"So we expect that very close cooperation and working together to continue."

In the end "time caught up with" Ms Clark, he said.

"I think she's held in very high regard and very high respect, not just in New Zealand ... but also in Australia.

"I think one of the very good things she did as a prime minister was to effectively rebuild New Zealand's relationship with the United States."

One of the former prime minister's legacies she has handed to the incoming government is a better relationship with the US, Mr Smith said.

"I think if you thought of one word for Helen Clark, it would be that one Australian word, gutsy.

"She's been a fighter in good times and bad times, and I think it's that which has really earned her respect and regard and affection of her political colleagues and opponents."

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PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has congratulated New Zealand National Party leader John Key on his election victory and invited him for a state visit.

The centre-right Nationals swept to victory in general elections held yesterday, winning 59 seats in the 122-seat Parliament, and ending nine years of Labour rule under Helen Clark.

The Australian Prime Minister said he telephoned Mr Key last night to congratulate him on “a fine win for himself and his party”.

“I've also invited John to visit Australia at the earliest opportunity for him to undertake an official state visit,” Mr Rudd said in Canberra.

“I think that would be a great opportunity to begin this new period in the relationship.”

The trans-Tasman leaders took a fresh commitment to work together, Mr Rudd said.

He did not appear to lament the loss by the NZ Labour party, saying the relationship between Australia and New Zealand was strong and beyond party politics.

Kiwis open to Australia merger

    * From: NewsCore http://www.news.com.au/breakin.....frfkui-1225840304275
    * March 13, 2010 11:02AM

  

MORE than 40 per cent of New Zealanders think it's time the South Pacific nation considered becoming Australia's seventh state, according to a survey of more than 1000 people.

The research, conducted by UMR, asked residents on both sides of the Tasman for their views on a possible union of the countries, 110 years after New Zealand chose not to join the Australian Commonwealth, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Of the New Zealanders asked, 41 per cent said the prospect of New Zealand becoming Australia's seventh state was "an idea worth debating".

On the other hand, 58 per cent did not believe the discussion was worth having. One per cent were unsure.

The survey, which has a margin of error of three per cent, found New Zealanders believed a union would bring big improvements in the ease of travel to Australia and to the defence status of the nation of four million people.

The six colonies of Australia federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have since been added.

The Australian constitution provided for New Zealand to join but the country decided to remain separate.

Are their actually any kiwi's left in NZ or are they already over here?


I hope this news doesn't make it to Canberra kevUN I'm sure is pretty desperate to find a group of idiots whom be can given a vote!

Those 'idiots' with a current National party government would most likely alighn themselves to a Liberal coalition  

I wouldn't vote for Kevin Rudd.

I wouldn't want New Zealand to join with Australia. Besides the fact I like their symbols more, I prefer the culture of New Zealand which would be lost joining Aussie Aussie Aussie. NZ historically made much better decisions than Australia too. Anyway NZ would just get Tasmania style jokes so, no thanks. Then again, I could save $10,000 on uni fees if they did.

mmmm.... maybe a NZ Prime Minister for Australia one day  

Quoted from Dara

Anyway NZ would just get Tasmania style jokes so, no thanks.

I think they're already getting it a lot worse than TAS. Baaaaaaa  

NZ doesn't get the inbred jokes as much as Tasmania

Not it's more the inTERbred jokes  

NZ Earthquake
A major earthquake, measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale has hit New Zealand this morning. The country is devastated with 350,000 New Zealanders missing, and over 100,000 injured.
The country is totally ruined and the government is so overwhelmed that it has issued a worldwide appeal for assistance. Other nations have been quick to respond to the disaster.
Britain is flying in rescue workers and sniffer dogs to help locate trapped victims.
The USA is flying in food supplies and aid money.
France is flying in doctors, nurses and first aid units.
Japan is flying in high tech communications equipment.
Germany is flying in special trained police squads to help restore order.
Russia is flying in tents and warm clothing.
Australia is flying in 350,000 replacement Kiwis.......

...reducing the IQ of both countries  






P  

Quoted from 122

Kiwis open to Australia merger

    * From: NewsCore http://www.news.com.au/breakin.....frfkui-1225840304275
    * March 13, 2010 11:02AM

  

MORE than 40 per cent of New Zealanders think it's time the South Pacific nation considered becoming Australia's seventh state, according to a survey of more than 1000 people.

The survey found New Zealanders believed a union would bring big improvements in the ease of travel to Australia and to the defence status of the nation of four million people.

That's because it would actually ADD a defence force.  Lovely Helen got rid of most of them.

Yes of course!! NZ is so worried about an attack by a foreign power  

Q:How do kiwi's find sheep in long grass?

A: Irresistable