I have left Labour Party conferences with a lot of things over the years- unsuccessful raffle tickets, great policy ideas, great organising tools, even a tiny hangover from time to time.  But never before have I left with a song in my head I just can’t get out.  Chris Knox’s Its A Better Way With Labour is great.  As a long term Chris Knox  fan I am biased, but it is really catchy.

I also left this year’s conference incredibly optimistic about Labour’s chances.  Our conferences are truly a place for debating ideas and strategies.  We still have a normal remit process, but there is scope for discussing other issues in depth and to work out long term plans.  From child poverty, to faith based issues to sustainability and the role of science in innovation we discussed a vast range of issues.  

Perhaps even more encouraging are the people at Labour conferences.  As one journalist remarked to me at the conference- Labour conferences look like New Zealand.  We have  people from a wide variety of ethnicities, ages and backgrounds.  A balance of men and women, urban and rural, north and south.  I very much doubt the same kind of diversity would be on show at a National conference.

Labour’s story- of working together to build a better, fairer New Zealand where people of all backgrounds can succeed and live together in harmony, is one that I still think mirrors the New Zealand story.  With the diverse whanau that are now part of Labour we can take that story proudly forward into the future.

Check out Helen and Michael’s speeches to the conference. They provide a great recap on the achievements of the past, the ideas for the future, and the danger to our country presented by a return to National in government.

It really is a better way with Labour, way better.