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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> <strong>Friday</strong>, <strong>October</strong> <strong>23</strong>, <strong>2020</strong> NEW ZEALAND 3 Kiwi voter the true hero of Election <strong>2020</strong> This is what <strong>2020</strong> looks like. <strong>The</strong> Kiwi voter knows it better than most DEV NADKARNI While the Labour Party has been deservedly feted for its unprecedented <strong>2020</strong> election victory, it is the New Zealand voter who is the true hero for crafting a result that goes well beyond the power they gave Labour to govern alone – in itself an absolute rarity in any MMP system. If you look beyond that absolute majority for one party – which defeats the very purpose of a system like MMP – it is clear that result was no fluke but was thoughtfully crafted. By none other than the New Zealand voter, giving themselves a parliament that truly reflects contemporary New Zealand. Consider this: New Zealand is the first self-governing modern nation to have given women the right to vote 107 years ago. Today, the newly formed Parliament comprises 48 women. In recent years a frequently heard lament is the disengagement of young people from politics. As if to address that issue, the Kiwi voter has ensured 25 per cent of the Parliament to be below the age of 40. Despite handing a landslide win for Labour making the party uncharacteristically monolithic in a MMP system, the Kiwi voter has ensured that three minor parties espousing a diversity of values and agendas are in Parliament (Greens, ACT and Maori Party). In that sense the clever voter has kept alive the spirit of MMP, giving a four-party system for governance over the next three years. With a strategic left/centre-left/indigenous seat count of 76 in a 120-seat House and a 55 per cent collective vote share, the Kiwi voter has deliberately left out the right/centre right bloc collectively (National + ACT) with just 43 seats and a 35 per cent vote share (all numbers might change marginally in the final count due November 6). Most Kiwis voted strategically enough to get three minor parties in at the expense of one major party, the National Party, a clear no-confidence in that party’s policies, programmes and leadership. <strong>The</strong> Kiwi voter proved beyond doubt that big dollar appeasement strategies don’t wash as New Zealand First found out, being booted out despite its much touted multi-billion dollar Provincial Fund and with no one credible in sight to succeed the charismatic Winston Peters. Most Kiwis voted strategically enough to get three minor parties in at the expense of one major party, the National Party, a clear no-confidence in that party’s policies, programmes and leadership <strong>The</strong> new Parliament comprises 11 per cent rainbow people (world’s highest) This Parliament is the most ethnically diverse in the country’s history with the first ever Latin American, African and Sri Lankan MPs. Proudly for Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong>s, it has the first ever <strong>Indian</strong> origin electoral MP (though there have been List MPs earlier). Several MPs from the Pacific Islands, giving island people their biggest ever presence of elected representatives in the Labour party. From post-election analyses it is evident that many traditionally National voters, particularly from the provincial and rural farming bloc, having given up on National going by its dismal polling all along, strategically voted for Labour to give it an absolute majority to help keep the Greens at bay, because of policies that the agricultural sector perceives as too extreme and radical. <strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that this result was a big tick in confidence for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s leadership through the Covid-19 crisis – something that has made her a globally feted personality. Her popularity, halo or pixie dust as some have put it would have been a challenge for any opposing party to counter. • Continued on Page 6 bayleys.co.nz/commercial Boundary lines are indicative only Investment flats on 2,043sqm freehold site 22 Landscape Road, Papatoetoe • Large 2,043sqm (more or less) site zoned Residential Mixed Housing Urban • Freehold multi-tenanted residential flats; if fully tenanted annual income: $145,600 per annum (approx.). Please note Unit 4 is currently vacant as Vendor has recently refurbished the unit • In close proximity to Papatoetoe Train Station, schools, New World supermarket and the newly upgraded St George St mall • Opportunity to invest, hold or develop For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 29 Oct <strong>2020</strong> 2 Harris Road, East Tamaki Tony Chaudhary 021 995 121 tony.chaudhary@bayleys.co.nz Amy Weng 021 177 3422 amy.weng@bayleys.co.nz Janak Darji 021 047 1290 janak.darji@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, MANUKAU, LICENSED REAA 2008 bayleys.co.nz/1902871
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