New Zealand Election 2023: A Diverse Competition Amongst Numerous Parties

By IndraStra Global News Team

Cover Image Attribute: In August 2023, Chris Hipkins, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, was captured in a photograph making gestures during a campaign visit to the Otara markets in Auckland. / Source: New Zealand Herald/AP 

New Zealand is approaching its upcoming general election scheduled for October 14th, and it appears that the political landscape is poised to return to the familiar coalition government dynamics that have characterized the nation's recent political history. Neither of the two major political parties seems likely to secure an outright majority, setting the stage for potential alliances and collaborations.
In this election, citizens will choose 120 representatives for the single-chamber New Zealand House of Representatives using the mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting method. This system ensures proportional representation, with 72 members elected from individual electorates and 48 members selected from closed-party lists.

The Key Political Players and Possible Combinations

Probable Partners: Labour and Greens

Following the unexpected resignation of Jacinda Ardern in January, Chris Hipkins has assumed the leadership of the Labour Party. Ardern had led the center-left party to a resounding victory in 2020, marking the only instance of a single-party government since the implementation of proportional representation in 1996.
However, even before Hipkins assumed leadership, Labour's fortunes had been shifting. Some swing voters expressed dissatisfaction with the party's focus on various minority issues, often at the expense of middle-class New Zealanders grappling with the escalating cost of living. In response, at 44 years old, Hipkins redirected the party's priorities towards more mainstream concerns, often referred to as "bread and butter issues."
Despite these efforts, recent opinion polls indicate that Labour is trailing behind the center-right National Party by a margin of 28% to 39%. This suggests that it is increasingly unlikely for Hipkins to retain power on his own.
Historically, Labour has governed with the support of the minority Green Party. While they are not in a formal coalition, the Greens have expressed their willingness to collaborate with Labour, as evidenced by one of their members assuming the Minister for Climate Change role following the 2020 election.

Leading Contenders: National and ACT New Zealand

National, currently on track to become the largest party according to polling data, may have the potential to form a government in partnership with ACT New Zealand. However, it is worth noting that the right-wing ACT party has clarified that it may not necessarily enter into a full coalition with National; instead, it might provide support on a case-by-case basis.
Christopher Luxon, aged 53 and the former Chief Executive of Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ), leads the National Party. Luxon has garnered significant voter support for his party, even though his personal popularity lags behind Hipkins's.

Potential Decision Makers

Winston Peters and his populist New Zealand First party are campaigning under slogans such as "Let’s take the country back." The 78-year-old Peters, who played a pivotal role in the 2017 coalition that brought Ardern to power, has publicly vowed not to support a Labour government again. The Labour Party has categorically ruled out any collaboration with New Zealand First.
Te Pati Maori is a party that primarily focuses on providing Indigenous solutions for the country's Indigenous people. Historically, it has supported National governments in the past. However, Luxon, the current leader of the National, has indicated that he is not inclined to work with the Maori party.
As the election date approaches, these key political dynamics and potential alliances will decide the makeup of the 54th New Zealand Parliament. 

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