What a fantastic weekend in Wellington. There is always plenty happening in Wellington in summertime, but this weekend was exceptional. For me, Saturday included spending time at the Pasefika Festival, the Greek Food Festival and Te Papa’s 10th birthday. Sunday saw me and a crew of supporters taking part in the Round the Bays (there’s even a video on YouTube to prove it) and then I helped release giant weta at the Karori Sanctuary.

The atmosphere at all of the events was overwhelmingly positive. It has been a great summer in Wellington (the upside of the very serious drought conditions elsewhere in NZ) and people are really enjoying it. Wellington feels like a city that is just getting better and better.

In the spirit of those positive feelings, I was particularly struck by this post by Simon Grigg last week (hat tip Russell Brown). Simon is confused by some of the negativity he has encountered on a visit back to NZ. He points out that New Zealand is a much better place than it was 10 years ago, better than the grey, divided and depressed place that Labour inherited in 1999.

I know exactly what Simon is saying. I left NZ to work overseas in early 1999, and to be honest I wanted to go. I felt alienated and disillusioned by the unfairness and inequality that the National government seemed to want to perpetuate. Nine years on I feel a sense of opportunity and success. For sure there are things we need to keep working on, people who still need to get their fair share of success and prosperity- but we have come a long way.

The obvious question is to ask what is causing the waning of some people’s ‘summer feeling’ towards the government. Much can be explained I believe by three factors- natural voter fatigue after nine years, some misteps last year and a campaigning media.

My feeling is that Labour is moving past these. We have selected some great new candidates, with more to come on the list, the caucus are aware of the discipline needed to win the election and we are addressing issues with fresh and new ideas.

Housing affordability, a massive increase to community funding and measures to reduce tagging. Practical solutions, based on the values of fairness, opportunity and security. These are the kinds of policies and values that have underpinned the positive progress NZ has made in the last nine years. I am glad to be working to keep that positivity going.