New Zealand's Ardern seeks second term as pandemic-focused polls open

[rooster59]

New Zealand's Ardern seeks second term as pandemic-focused polls open

By Praveen Menon

 

FILE PHOTO: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (L) and National leader Judith Collins participate in a televised debate at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealanders went to the polls on Saturday in a general election that could see Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern strengthen her left-of-centre hold on government or a challenge from conservatives led by Judith Collins.

 

Labour Party leader Ardern, 40, and National Party chief Collins, 61, are the faces of the election to form the country's 53rd parliament, a pandemic-focused referendum on Ardern's three-year term.

 

Doors to the polling booths opened at 9 a.m. (2000 GMT on Friday), though a record number of voters had already cast their ballots in advance.

 

Restrictions are in place on what news media can report about the race until polls close at 7 p.m. (0600 GMT), after which the Electoral Commission is expected to begin releasing preliminary results.

 

The election was delayed by a month after new COVID-19 infections in Auckland, that led to a second lockdown in the country's largest city.

 

New Zealand, with a population of 5 million, currently has no community cases of COVID-19 and is among only a few nations where people are not required to wear masks or follow social distancing.

 

Labour is seeking a second term on the back of Ardern's success in containing COVID-19, while Collins argues she is best placed tackle the post-pandemic financial challenges.

 

The Electoral Commission said on Saturday that almost 2 million ballots had already been cast as of Friday, accounting for more than half of the roughly 3.5 million New Zealanders on the electoral rolls.

 

Special votes, including ballots from New Zealanders overseas and those who vote outside their home constituencies, will only be released on Nov. 6.

 

New Zealanders are also voting on referendums to legalise euthanasia and recreational marijuana. The latter vote could make New Zealand only the third country in the world to allow the adult use and sale cannabis nationwide, after Uruguay and Canada.

 

Results of the referendums be announced on Oct. 30.

 

New Zealand switched to a mixed member proportional system in 1996 in which a party or coalition needs 61 of Parliament's 120 seats - usually about 48% of the vote - to form a government.

 

This means minor parties often play an influential role in determining which major party governs.

 

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by William Mallard)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-17

 

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[AndyFoxy]

Comrade Arden will win, but she really is a nasty bit of work. Pity National don’t have a decent candidate.

[GroveHillWanderer]

13 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Comrade Arden will win, but she really is a nasty bit of work. Pity National don’t have a decent candidate.

Jacinda Ardern is one of the most competent, compassionate and intelligent leaders in the world, based on everything I've seen, heard and read about her.

 

I haven't seen the slightest sign of nastiness from her at any point in her career.

[Kadilo]

5 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Jacinda Ardern is one of the most competent, compassionate and intelligent leaders in the world, based on everything I've seen, heard and read about her.

 

I haven't seen the slightest sign of nastiness from her at any point in her career.

Extremely impressive during the Covid period. 
 

I wish the UK had her leadership skills. 

[gomangosteen]

Live election details, so far just  24.6% of votes counted but quite evident Labour 50.4% will govern,  main opposition party National slumping to just 25.9%, Greens on 8.2%, ACT 7.6%

Edited October 17, 2020 by gomangosteen

[AndyFoxy]

Comrade Arden one step closer to her socialist utopia. Sad. NZ used to be a good country.

[newatthis]

59 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Comrade Arden one step closer to her socialist utopia. Sad. NZ used to be a good country.

Hopefully “Comrade Arden” will get an absolute majority this time and be set free from the chains of a cumbersome coalition.

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, newatthis said:

Hopefully “Comrade Arden” will get an absolute majority this time and be set free from the chains of a cumbersome coalition.

Don't agree with that. Hope she'll get a majority of seats, but it still would be good for the country if more parties were involved in a coalition government.

[Kadilo]

Jacinda Ardern wins landslide https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54519628

Edited October 17, 2020 by Kadilo

[Sujo]

Much better than expected. Really kicked butt. Good job.

 

Even better is that Winston Peters lost his seat.

[UnkleGoooose]

New Zealand soon  to become the Cuba of the south. A socialist nightmare financial basket case. I  credited the Kiwis with being fairly bright; they've certainly proved me wrong.

[GroveHillWanderer]

1 hour ago, UnkleGoooose said:

New Zealand soon  to become the Cuba of the south. A socialist nightmare financial basket case. I  credited the Kiwis with being fairly bright; they've certainly proved me wrong.

Socialism as a political system aims for the removal of capitalism through legal and political processes and a reduction of class distinctions (while still allowing for some to achieve more wealth than others). Socialism allows individuals to own property and businesses but advocates for industrial and production capacity to be communally owned and managed by consensus or government.

 

Jacinda Ardern does not espouse these aims and so is not a socialist. At most, I guess she would qualify for the label of a "progressive."

 

Progressive is a bit of a debated term but in general, most of those currently labelled as "progressives" emphasize the principles of racial equality and minority rights and believe in mitigating income inequality by various "progressive" policy measures. Most also advocate for a public health care system and support strong environmental protections and measures to reduce or eliminate pollution.

[Poet]

The enduring legacy of the pandemic will be a general move, internationally, towards authoritarian controls dressed up as progressivism, environmentalism, and health protection.

The elites have struggled to cope with the loss of authority and control caused by the Internet but this period is now widely considered to be their opportunity to reassert their power.

Internationally, we will see a tightening up of tax systems and a move away from concepts such as free speech, privacy, cash, private property, private vehicle, home schooling, the right to consume unhealthy foods, the right to bear arms, dominion over your own body, parental rights, and the right to travel.

Democracy will still receive lip service but the West will reconfigure to mostly mirror the Chinese model. Independent countries will be under tremendous pressure to harmonize with larger groupings over which their citizens have no democrat control. It will be, essentially, socialism for regular citizens but not for the entrenched elites.

The pre-Covid time will be presented as dangerously out-of-control.

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by Poet

[UnkleGoooose]

1 hour ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Jacinda Ardern does not espouse these aims and so is not a socialist. At most, I guess she would qualify for the label of a "progressive."

Well she was President of the International Union of Socialist Youth, and everything that she has said and done  since then stinks of Socialism. I don't know what you think a socialist is, but you might want to have a bit of reflection.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacinda_Ardern

Edited October 17, 2020 by UnkleGoooose

[milesinnz]

14 hours ago, AndyFoxy said:

Comrade Arden will win, but she really is a nasty bit of work. Pity National don’t have a decent candidate.

ha ha... it was not about the leader of the National Party, it was all the other clowns that the electorate didn't appreciate.. one clown after the next and now, laugh upon laugh even the deputy leader of the National Party lost his electorate seat.. Jacinda is just like many politicians of the left or the right, head in the clouds really just career politicians.. but then on the right, we have ummm errrr... TRUMP... want to guess what is going to happen in  the US elections ?

[milesinnz]

3 hours ago, UnkleGoooose said:

Well she was President of the International Union of Socialist Youth, and everything that she has said and done  since then stinks of Socialism. I don't know what you think a socialist is, but you might want to have a bit of reflection.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacinda_Ardern

Vote TRUMP for a better world... be interesting to see how the US elections work out.... funny how there has been a huge spike on the NZ immigration website for people from the US looking how to emigrate to NZ and how right now, numbers of US doctors are getting out of the US.. to come to where...? oh Jacinda's socialist country.. not that it is socialist.. there is a difference between socialist and a capitalist economy with a social safety net.. try Sweden and an example..

Edited October 17, 2020 by milesinnz

[Poet]

5 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

there has been a huge spike on the NZ immigration website for people from the US looking how to emigrate to NZ and how right now, numbers of US doctors are getting out of the US

Left-wingers always say they're going to leave, move to Canada or whatever, but hardly anyone ever does.

As for moving to New Zealand, they should probably research the astronomical prices of iPhones and other goodies there.

That's the problem with all the free stuff that socialism provides: it's really expensive.

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by Poet

[mstevens]

15 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Jacinda Ardern is one of the most competent, compassionate and intelligent leaders in the world, based on everything I've seen, heard and read about her.

 

I haven't seen the slightest sign of nastiness from her at any point in her career.

 

Ardern is undoubtedly a nice person and is not nasty at all - but surely there is more to a country's leader than that? Prior to Covid-19, Ardern's left-leaning Labour party was behind National in the polls. It was close, but National was ahead of Labour.

 

When COVID broke out, many New Zealanders got scared of what could happen to them if they contracted COVID. The Ardern government did a good job of getting on top of the virus and that is the primary reason they were voted back in to power.

 

The worry from those of us who tend to vote centre right is what happens to the economy now. Maybe Ardern will surprise us, but many of us are concerned.

 

As a final note, I am aghast that so many Americans have so many positive things to say about Ardern which seems to be born out of the positive media she has received internationally. If Americans had a presidential candidate as far left as Ardern is, I wonder how they would feel.

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by mstevens

[heybuz]

1 hour ago, Poet said:

Left-wingers always say they're going to leave, move to Canada or whatever, but hardly anyone ever does.

As for moving to New Zealand, they should probably research the astronomical prices of iPhones and other goodies there.

That's the problem with all the free stuff that socialism provides: it's really expensive.

 

I just had a triple bypass probably cost 100000 dollars I paid 20 dollars for parking,not in NZ but close ,iPhones and other goodies are only for the showboaters.

[Patong2]

Ardern is seen by many of the unthinking Kiwis as Jesus reincarnated in a woke world 

but she is surrounded by idiots so no matter how good she is her reign will be disastrous.

 

The likes of Phil Twyford, of Kiwibuild disaster fame, Andrew Little (wearing his communist star the other day), Kris Faafoi, his only claim to fame is as a TV sports commentator but a nice guy, David Clark posing as the invisible Health Minister, Megan Woods, sad to say but she looks almost competent against her colleagues.

 

Poor Jacinda, and she really means no harm, but at least the media love her.

[Poet]

1 hour ago, heybuz said:

I just had a triple bypass probably cost 100000 dollars I paid 20 dollars for parking,not in NZ but close ,iPhones and other goodies are only for the showboaters.

Glad it went well, must have been a very frightening experience. I hope you recover fully and get your money's worth by being hale and hearty for many more years.

Sadly, for most of us, our phones are the computer we use mostly frequently and, in these Covid times, an indispensable tool. Regardless of where I happen to be living, I need secure and reliable devices, and I am aware from Kiwi friends in my industry that the cost of equipment in their country puts them at a disadvantage.

Of course, all that pales into insignificance next to your brush with mortality, so, here's to you ????

[thaibeachlovers]

16 hours ago, gomangosteen said:

Live election details, so far just  24.6% of votes counted but quite evident Labour 50.4% will govern,  main opposition party National slumping to just 25.9%, Greens on 8.2%, ACT 7.6%

Best news out of this election is that Act did very well and have 10 seats. Worst news IMO is that the greens are still in parliament. Hopefully labour won't have them as coalition partners, or if they do don't give them any influential positions.

Now that Winston is gone there is nothing to stop labour going full left. I fear for the farmers of NZ. IMO National lost so badly because they abandoned their base rural support.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Poet said:

Left-wingers always say they're going to leave, move to Canada or whatever, but hardly anyone ever does.

As for moving to New Zealand, they should probably research the astronomical prices of iPhones and other goodies there.

That's the problem with all the free stuff that socialism provides: it's really expensive.

 

I doubt any Americans moving to NZ have to worry about the cost of the toys.

 

I never had a problem buying an iphone- never ever will I buy anything made by apple.

Second hand phones are not expensive.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, milesinnz said:

Vote TRUMP for a better world... be interesting to see how the US elections work out.... funny how there has been a huge spike on the NZ immigration website for people from the US looking how to emigrate to NZ and how right now, numbers of US doctors are getting out of the US.. to come to where...? oh Jacinda's socialist country.. not that it is socialist.. there is a difference between socialist and a capitalist economy with a social safety net.. try Sweden and an example..

LOL. Britain is far more socialist than NZ. Try getting a council house in NZ. Try surviving on the pension without private funds in NZ. Try going to the dentist or even the Dr in NZ.

NZ may claim to be socialist, but it's a bit of a Claytons socialism.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Jacinda Ardern is one of the most competent, compassionate and intelligent leaders in the world, based on everything I've seen, heard and read about her.

 

I haven't seen the slightest sign of nastiness from her at any point in her career.

Look harder.

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, newatthis said:

Hopefully “Comrade Arden” will get an absolute majority this time and be set free from the chains of a cumbersome coalition.

She has, but there are mutterings that she may invite them into the tent anyway. Another three years of labour/ greens will really destroy the primary sector of NZ IMO. The only thing that stopped them last time was Winston, and he's gone.

Thanks for the Gold Card, Winston.

[AndyFoxy]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

She has, but there are mutterings that she may invite them into the tent anyway. Another three years of labour/ greens will really destroy the primary sector of NZ IMO. The only thing that stopped them last time was Winston, and he's gone.

Thanks for the Gold Card, Winston.

Comrade Arden will continue to kowtow to the CCP as well. I bet she’ll do anything to try and get out if the Five Eyes group this time. 

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, UnkleGoooose said:

New Zealand soon  to become the Cuba of the south. A socialist nightmare financial basket case. I  credited the Kiwis with being fairly bright; they've certainly proved me wrong.

Not everyone voted for her. That anyone would vote for the greens though is, IMO, disturbing.

Sadly, IMO, they'll learn the lesson over the next 3 years. Unfortunately everyone that knew better will also suffer, IMO.

Some of us wonder if National lost on purpose, as NZ is so broke and the financial support can't continue too much longer IMO. IMO generations to come will still be paying the loans back.

IMO the worst is yet to come.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Comrade Arden will continue to kowtow to the CCP as well. I bet she’ll do anything to try and get out if the Five Eyes group this time. 

Expect millions to be spent on bicycle paths and anti car policies. As for the climate change agenda ............................. The farmers I know are fearful of what is to come.

[Poet]

28 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

never ever will I buy anything made by apple.

I always find it funny when people who choose to live in a corrupt military dictatorship pride themselves on boycotting a relatively benign American company that has delivered some much needed innovation to several industries, and sold its products to hundreds of millions of enthusiastic customers.

With 1.5 billion devices currently active, and by far the highest customer satisfaction rating of any company, it's fair to say that, on the whole, Apple has been a more positive addition to the world than the thousands of other corporations whose products we buy without feeling the need to virtue signal about it.

Personally, as a professional, I simply use the best tools that are available to me. I would even consider buying a Microsoft product if they made a good one.


 

Edited October 18, 2020 by Poet