December 11, 2023
New Zealand’s National Party government has won its third consecutive election, increasing its vote and trouncing the Labour Party.
Echoing Paul Keating’s true believers speech, Key said of his win: “This is a victory for those who kept the faith.”
As counting drew to a close tonight, National had won 48.1% of the vote, an increase of 0.8%. It appears certain to win 61 seats in the 120-member House of Representatives, an increase of two.
The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has addressed the New Zealand Labour Party Congress in Wellington.
Shorten was introduced by Clare Curran, the member for Dunedin South and Opposition shadow minister for Civil Defence and Emergency Management, and Open Government and ICT.
Earlier, the New Zealand Opposition Leader, David Cunliffe, addressed the Congress.
Following a newspaper report this morning that the former Defence Minister, Peter Reith, had contradicted statements by the Prime Minister, John Howard, about when they spoke to each other and what was said about allegations asylum seekers threw children overboard, both men made media appearances today to show that they are in fact in agreement.
Reith has criticised the report in The Australian, whilst the government seemed happy to both defend Reith and allow him to take the flak for Children Overboard. As always, John Howard chose his words carefully.
Howard spoke at a press conference with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.
This is a background guide to the Closer Economic Relations policy regarding Australia and New Zealand.
The booklet was produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.