What the Leaders Say - Part Two

Reading Between the Lines - part 2 

Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, Andrew Little and David Parker

In recent weeks the Labour Party Leadership Candidates have sent emails to all party members, asking for their support in the leadership race. David Parker, Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson outlined their views on issues facing Labour and how they would address these issues if they were elected leader.

In order to make an informed decision I have looked at the information included in their emails and grouped it into five headings:

• Why are they standing for leader
• What does the Labour Party mean to them
• What experience do they have
• What are the issues facing the Labour Party 
• How would they address the issues facing the Labour Party

This is the second post in a series of blogs presenting the information.

Here is what they had to say on what the Labour Party means to them.

What does the Labour Party mean to you?

Andrew Little

Labour is the party that was built by working Kiwis for working Kiwis. We are still that party.

Nanaia Mahuta

I have long believed that Labour is a Party of aspiration and opportunity. We all have a Labour story that connects us to our working class roots and the opportunities that have emerged from applying our values of a fair and decent society where all people can climb the ladder of opportunity, and where we support growth for more people in an equal society.

Grant Robertson

I'm proud of the core values of our party to give everyone a fair go, the opportunity to make the most of their potential and the obligation to look after each other.

David Parker

David Parker didn't specifically outline what Labour means to him.

Reading between the lines, I think it is telling the way in which the candidates describe what the Labour Party means to them. Andrew Little succinctly describes the Labour Party in a couple of lines that could easily be a sound bite or a slogan. For me, this characterises Andrew Little, he knows Labour, he believes in Labour and he articulates it clearly.

Nanaia Mahuta has plenty of heart and her rhetoric is firmly rooted in Labour's historical base which appeals to me. However, I feel, at times, her message gets lost in the delivery.

Grant Robertson is articulate and says the right things but has a tendency to sound too corporate and a bit light.

David Parker didn't specifically describe what Labour means to him in his email which summarises a key issue for me. He comes across as competent but dry.

Ideally, I want the Labour leader to embody all these characteristics and attributes. 

My next blog post will examine what experience the candidates have to lead the Labour Party.

#informeddecision

What the Leaders Say - Part One

Reading Between the Lines - part 1 

Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, Andrew Little and David Parker

In recent weeks the Labour Party Leadership Candidates have sent emails to all party members, asking for their support in the leadership race. David Parker, Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson outlined their views on issues facing Labour and how they would address these issues if they were elected leader.

In order to make an informed decision I have looked at the information included in their emails and grouped it into five headings:

• Why are they standing for leader
• What does the Labour Party mean to them
• What experience do they have
• What are the issues facing the Labour Party 
• How would they address the issues facing the Labour Party.

I will post a series of blogs presenting the information. 

Here is what they had to say on why they are standing for leader.

Why are they standing for Leader?

David Parker   

I am standing because I want to lead Labour forward to once again share the hopes and aspirations of working New Zealanders - to lead a party we can all be proud of and one New Zealanders will be proud to vote for.

Andrew Little 

People have asked me why I'm standing. I'm standing because I believe in Labour's values. I believe in fairness and justice for workers, for families, for all New Zealanders. 

People aren't getting a fair go right now and I won't tolerate a society in which the very few at the top gain at the expense of the many.

I won't tolerate a society in which good jobs are destroyed and replaced with insecure work in which people in the middle are squeezed tighter and tighter by the cost of living and have no way to get ahead. A society in which those at the bottom fall of the edge of the cliff.

These are the principles I have stood for throughout my life and they have been at the core of how I have led. They are the principles that the Labour Party embodies.

Nanaia Mahuta

I am ready to lead a Labour Party that cares about the state of our environment, wants economic opportunity to benefit more people, supports opportunity and innovation, and helps hardworking people to get ahead.

Grant Robertson

Grant didn't specifically outline reasons why he is standing for Labour Leader.

As you would expect from the future Labour leader, there is a strong focus on equity for workers and working New Zealanders. David Parker's statement is succinct but as a potential leader, lacks the heart I need to connect with him.

Andrew Little spends the most time of the four candidates giving his reason for standing as leader. He combines passion with a personal touch that comes across as genuine and heartfelt. He has strong beliefs which are non negotiable, he sounds like a leader. 

Nanaia Mahuta focuses on people, the economy and the environment but she doesn't connect with me in the same way as Andrew Little does. 

Although Grant Robertson didn't explicitly state why he was standing for the role of leader, we will hear from him in future blogs.

My next blog post will examine what Labour means to them.

#informeddecision

Q and A with the Labour Leadership Candidates

Nania Mahuta

The role of Labour Leader is a high stakes position. Labour requires someone who can rebuild the Party's support base and reconnect with the voting public. In order to learn more about each of the leadership candidates: Andrew Little, Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, and David Parker, I asked each of them the following questions.

Which New Zealand Prime Minister living or dead would you have lunch with and why?

Norm Kirk I grew up hearing stories about him and you felt that he could have been your uncle – someone with a common touch and I guess it would be more like a beer and possibly a pie that he would want for lunch. A simple gesture captured in the well known photo with child in hand showed that he was prepared to look beyond cultural stereotypes to forge a vision of hope and opportunity.

What is you favourite book of all time?

The Mitford Sisters, so far a very interesting family. It just goes to show that even though you might be raised in the same household, political opinion is not confined. I like the fact that by and large these women were not defined by their gender.

What are you reading at the moment?

Reading for purpose at the moment papers relating to children's health and wellbeing and the Maori economy.

What motivated you to enter into politics?

The change of the political system coincided with political activity occurring in my tribe and the Waikato Raupatu Treaty Settlement. When I stood for selection I was the only woman with four other male contenders. The rest is history as I have served in Parliament since 1996, and from 1999 I have been an electorate MP. My main motivation has been continuing to advocate for the opportunity arising from the Treaty Settlement process, education and skills training opportunities for our young people and the wellbeing of women and children.

If you were Prime Minister what is the first thing you would do?

Implement the Living Wage, abolish secondary tax, raise company tax and implement research and development tax credits.

What are the three key attributes politician needs to be a successful Labour Party leader?

To Listen, To engage in meaningful ways with people in their communities, To identify the problem needing to be solved, To request accurate information and to make a decision.

What do you think have been the most significant changes to New Zealand politics over the past ten years?

Declining rate of participation in our democratic system and the erosion of public confidence in the political process due to lack of transparency or ‘public voice’ in decision-making (for example TTPPA and RMA).

Many thanks to Nanaia for her time and responses. 

You can find out more about Nanaia by visiting

http://campaign.labour.org.nz/nanaia_mahuta_leadership

Q and A with Labour Leadership Candidate Andrew Little

Andrew Little 

The role of Labour Leader is a high stakes position. Labour requires someone who can rebuild the Party's support base and reconnect with the voting public. In order to learn more about each of the leadership candidates: Andrew Little, Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, and David Parker, I asked each of them the following questions.  

Andrew Little

Which New Zealand Prime Minister, living or dead, would you have have lunch with and why? 

Peter Fraser. His politics were forged in the workplace and social conflicts of the first couple of decades of the 20^th century, he went on the become one of our greatest prime ministers, including holding the role during the second world war.

What is you favourite book of all time? 

Impossible question to answer really, but I always enjoyed Roald Dahl’s “Danny, champion of the world” because of its depiction of street smarts overcoming privilege. Otherwise, it’s anything that depicts lawyers as heroes.

What book are you reading at the moment? 

I dip into Thomas Pikkety’s “Capital in the 21^st Century” still and I’ve just finished Bill Sutch’s “Poverty and progress”.

What motivated you to enter into politics? 

I wanted to have a say on the rules that affect people’s lives and make sure the rules and policies that govern us don’t leave people out or behind.

If you were Prime Minister, what is the first thing you would do? 

Abolish secondary tax.

What are the three key attributes needed to be a successful Labour Party leader? 

Be a listener; take time to take people with you when that is needed; other times, be decisive and accept the consequences.

What do you think have been the most significant changes to New Zealand politics over the past ten years? 

People’s changing expectations of the role of the state, including for many a loss of faith in what the state will do.

Many thanks to Andrew for his time and responses. 

You can find out more about Andrew by visiting

http://andrew-little.org.nz/ 

Labour Pains

The Rebirth of Labour

    

It seems a lifetime ago that we were standing on the side of the road waving signs, handing out pamphlets, and knocking on doors trying to gain the support of the electorate for a Labour lead government. For a number of reasons the electorate did not support the Labour Party. National was re-elected with increased support. 

In the wake of such a poor result on election night there was always going to be some fall out. However, after initially indicating he would continue, David Cunliffe resigned as Labour leader and then bowed out of the leadership race altogether. 

As a new Labour member, I was unaware of the various factions within the party. I liked David Cunliffe. I saw him in action during the campaign, he had presence, was articulate and connected with the people around him. However, as many people did not share my view it became evident Labour needed a new leader. 

When nominations closed on Tuesday 14th October, there were four candidates: Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Grant Robertson. After a grueling general election these four must now go back on the road to seek support from Labour Party members.  They face a mammoth task to, not only, lead the Labour Party, but to rebuild its reputation and support base. At this early stage of the leadership campaign it is a close race with no one candidate having a clear lead or advantage.

Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, Andrew Little, David Parker

Arguably, whoever wins takes on an unenviable job. Labour's support base is at its lowest. The National Party led by John Key can seem to do nothing wrong in the eyes of the public. Although three years may seem a long time, it is not long to rebuild Labour into the viable alternative to the current government. It seems that people think the Labour Party does not represent them. They are tradesmen, small business owners, and middle New Zealanders who perceive they do not have a connection with Labour as the party of the people. 

Over the next month we will hear how each of the leadership candidates propose to rebuild connections with the community and within the Party. Once the leadership race is decided, my hope is that we can get in behind the new leader, put our efforts where they are needed, and fight to make New Zealand a fair society. 

It may be a painful process but it is one we must go through in order that we are growing and strong in 2017.

  #Stay Positive