Conservatives Win New Zealand Election

Labor Party's Helen Clark Ousted As Prime Minister

(AP)  New Zealand elected its first conservative government in nearly a decade on Saturday, ending the rule of one of the world's longest-serving elected women.

John Key, a 47-year-old multimillionaire former foreign currency trader and leader of the conservative National Party, swept easily to power in this South Pacific country of 4.1 million people. He did so by ousting Prime Minister Helen Clark's Labor Party.

"Today, New Zealand has spoken, in their hundreds of thousands, they have voted for change," Key said in his victory speech, borrowing a slogan from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.

The worldwide financial crisis loomed large during the campaign, and Key named it as the biggest challenge facing the country.

"The state of the global economy and the global financial crisis means that the road ahead may well be a rocky one," Key said. "Now, more than ever, New Zealand needs to be on top of his game.

"Tomorrow, the hard work begins."

Prime Minister Helen Clark conceded defeat, telling supporters that "tonight is not our night."

Clark, 58, has led the country since 1999 and was seeking a fourth term. She said she would remain in Parliament but will quit as Labor Party leader, a post she has held since 1993.

"So, with that it's over and out from me. Thank you New Zealand for the privilege of having been your prime minister for the last nine years, Kia ora Tatou," she said, reciting a farewell in the indigenous Maori language.

The National Party will have to rely on small allied parties to form a majority in Parliament, which under a complex proportional voting system will shrink by one seat to 122.

Key will not need the support of the Maori Party, which won five seats. He said he would reach out to the Maori Party anyway, and seek their support in Parliament.

Key campaigned on domestic issues such as improving education and fighting crime, and blaming Clark's government for the recession.

But he offered few big policy differences from Labor. Foreign affairs and trade policies are unlikely to change - including the long-standing ban on nuclear-powered ships entering New Zealand ports that has rankled military ally the U.S.

Clark had urged voters not to change governments because the economic crisis meant New Zealand needed consistency. She accused Key of stealing Labor's policies, and of having a hidden right-wing agenda.

Allies within Key's coalition indicated they would try to squelch a move to the far right.

"The last thing New Zealand needs now with a new government is an outburst of extremism," said United Future Party leader Peter Dunne, who is aligned with the Nationals and has been offered a ministerial post.

Clark was also hurt by a series of scandals this year, including fallout from fraud investigations into former Foreign Minister Winston Peters' party. Peters' New Zealand First party appeared to have lost all seven of its seats in Parliament, ending his 30-year career as a lawmaker.

[usclimey]

Of course, a conservative in New Zealand would be considered a pinko commie liberal in Texas. It''''s all a matter of degree.

Posted by RationalTalk

Exactly the point I''ve been trying to get across to those misguided enough to think Obama is a socialist. True socialists start far, far to the left of anything Obama stands for.

[rationaltalk]

Of course, a conservative in New Zealand would be considered a pinko commie liberal in Texas. It''s all a matter of degree.

[mckha489]

I have to agree with Kiwi_chick below.
I was mortified to read the heading for this article in U.S. news where conservatism is a different brand altogether.
The National Party is traditionally centre-right, Labour is centre-left. However, NZ''s political centre is considered by most to be far to the left of America''s. NZ has had for a very long time things like universal healthcare, welfare (there''s no time limit on how long you can be on the unemployment benefit or give $ to single-mothers), student loans for all. We have Civil Unions (admittedly, not ''marriage'' if you want to argue semantics). The concept of ''small government''... BANISH IT! Stephen Baldwin would not fare well here and no political party that said otherwise would be likely to succeed for very long.

The National Party certainly stands for a less liberal agenda. However, they did help vote in the anti-smacking bill (Child Discipline Act which roughly 85% of the population opposed) so I''d say
they''re only marginally less about the nanny state than any Labour Government. So, for a ''conservative party'' that is meant to stand for less legislative interference support for a bill that makes it illegal to smack a child seems a little odd. Suffice to say there is currently no large difference between Labour and National. The Republican party they are not.

[mckha489]

I have to agree with Kiwi_chick below.
I was mortified to read the heading for this article in U.S. news where conservatism is a different brand altogether.
The National Party is traditionally centre-right, Labour is centre-left. However, NZ''s political centre is considered by most to be far to the left of America''s. NZ has had for a very long time things like universal healthcare, welfare (there''s no time limit on how long you can be on the unemployment benefit or give $ to single-mothers), student loans for all. We have Civil Unions (admittedly, not ''marriage'' if you want to argue semantics). The concept of ''small government''... BANISH IT! Stephen Baldwin would not fare well here and no political party that said otherwise would be likely to succeed for very long.

The National Party certainly stands for a less liberal agenda. However, they did help vote in the anti-smacking bill (Child Discipline Act which roughly 85% of the population opposed) so I''d say
they''re only marginally less about the nanny state than any Labour Government. So, for a ''conservative party'' that is meant to stand for less legislative interference support for a bill that makes it illegal to smack a child seems a little odd. Suffice to say there is currently no large difference between Labour and National. The Republican party they are not.

[kiwi_chick]

I wouldn''t for one nanosecond confuse a New Zealand conservative with a neocon holier-than-thou republican. Trust me, they are two completely different animals and the American kind would NOT fare well in New Zealand.

[hypnotoad72]

so, for any conservatives in the USA that don''''t think they can live under an Obama presidency, you can always apply for a visa to live in New Zealand! Bon Voyage''''

Posted by nolalou at 11:33 AM : Nov 08, 2008
---

We could buy that Stephen Baldwin guy one, as he said he would leave if Obama became President... of course, that would be welfare -- he can pay his own.

Sorry to be sarcastic and smarmy, but he''s a nit worth picking.

[nolalou]

so, for any conservatives in the USA that don''t think they can live under an Obama presidency, you can always apply for a visa to live in New Zealand! Bon Voyage''

[glidescube]

it is so odd not to see even one USA republican neocon exclaim how this ''''conservative'''' victory foreshadowed good things for conservatives in the usa. oh wait, conservatives in the usa just lost big time. so much for looking to foreign conservative wins to mean anything here.

Posted by bigsk8fan at 10:32 AM : Nov 08, 2008

Conservatives and Neocons are two different things.

Only America has Neocons while conservatinves in other nations are simialr to ours before the 1950s.

The conservatives in other nations embrass the seperation of church and state but worship the God called money.

[bigsk8fan]

it is so odd not to see even one USA republican neocon exclaim how this ''conservative'' victory foreshadowed good things for conservatives in the usa. oh wait, conservatives in the usa just lost big time. so much for looking to foreign conservative wins to mean anything here.