I think it was Colin James who said if a martian were to have come to New Zealand and visited the Labour and National party conferences this year they would think that the poll numbers we are currently hearing should be the polar opposite that they are now.  

Labour is full of energy and vigour- selecting new, young and vibrant candidates for next year’s election, prepared to debate new policy initatives and as alive and well as it has been in my time as a member.  National on the other hand is dull, uninspiring and lacking in vision, hoping to coast to victory.  The heat of an election campaign will not be so easy for them of course.

The job for Labour  is to transfer this energy and vision into voter support.  It is a big job, but it can be done.  Why the poor polling?- well it has been a difficult year.  Labour in government has made mistakes, there has been some ill-discipline and sections of the media are in crusading mode.  But I still believe that New Zealanders want a government that looks after our people and our environment, that supports a fair go for all Kiwis no matter their wealth or background, creates opportunity and supports those in need.   Labour embodies these values, far more than National, and has the team to deliver on them.

In the hubub around the Electoral Finance Bill and sideshows that the media wish to fixate on its easy to think we are all off to hell in a hand basket.  Let’s just look at the last week for three examples of things that show we are on the right track

First we have the news that our 15 year olds continue to stack up well internationally in terms of core educational achievement.  As this article in the Herald (somewhat buried under the EFB hysteria) notes we are effecitvely third equal in the world in science, fourth equal in reading and sixth equal in Maths.  There is still work to do in terms of the ‘tail of under-acheivement’ especically for Maori and Pacific students- but these results are something to be proud of.

I am also proud that last week we saw a 28 year low in unemployment in New Zealand.  Just 20,000 people are on the unemployment benefit. Ruth Dyson’s press release highlights the initatives that the government has put in place that have helped create this situation. 

And then this weekend we have the news that an in-principle settlement for the Taranaki Whanui (Wellington) iwi has been agreed.  On paper this looks like a just settlement- one that will go a considerable to making redress for past wrongs and providing a stable base for future development for Maori in our area.   The agreements for some public buildings and sites to transfer ownership, but stay in public use is a mature and welcome step. Further north the basis of an enduring partnership with Tainui over management of the Waikato River is also something to be proud of.

I will post seperately on the Electoral Finance Bill.  Suffice to say that I strongly support the principle of fair, transparent electoral finance laws in New Zealand.  The Bill has done much to support these principles, and create a level playing field.  It is not an attack on democracy, it is in fact bringing us into line with the kind of laws present in many democracies. 

But in the end I believe come next year the EFB will not be the basis on which most people cast their votes. I take nothing for granted, but I think New Zealanders will look at the quality of schools, the support for early childhood education, the reduced cost of going to the doctor, the jobs that have been created, and the vision for a sustainable New Zealand, and they will know that the future lies with Labour.