One year on: How has NZ’s three-way coalition Government shaped up? - The Front Page

National leader Christopher Luxon, Act leader David Seymour, and NZ First leader Winston Peters on their way to sign their coalition agreement. Winston Peters and David Seymour will share the role of Deputy Prime Minister for the first time in New Zealand’s political history 24 November 2023 New Zealand Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell

Forced compromises, a business-like acumen, and happy families — this week marks one year since Election 2023.

The results launched the National, Act, and New Zealand First parties into weeks of tense negotiations, until finally - a new coalition Government was sworn in.

A 1News Verian poll shows 30% of people think the country is in better shape than on election day a year ago, while 40% think it is in worse shape and 26% think little has changed.

Further 1News polling showed National on 37% support and Labour on 29% – both down one point since the last poll in August.

The Green Party was at 12%, Act 8%, NZ First 5% and Te Pāti Māori 4%.

Political commentator, Ben Thomas told The Front Page that compared to how people might have expected Christopher Luxon, David Seymour, and Winston Peters to work together — you’d say it’s been a ‘huge success’.

“It’s almost like an HR team building exercise Christopher Luxon might’ve had at Air New Zealand, the kind of brainstorming sessions where there are no bad ideas.

Thomas said if there was one loser out of the coalition thus far - it would be National.

“I suppose the Prime Minister himself has a situation where he doesn’t quite get to kind of lead as the kind of top dog in the same way that we’ve seen in the past. There very much is this sort of, Government of equals. He’s first among equals with David Seymour and Winston Peters.

“So, he hasn’t necessarily been able to stamp the sort of authority on that role,” he said.

Early in its rule, the coalition Government was scolded for taking a ‘slash and burn’ approach — negating some works Labour spent years building.

“I think they would see it as a kind of controlled burning of the undergrowth in the bush. That feeds nutrients into the soil and it creates a climate where there can be new growth,” Thomas said.

The backlash towards this Government came fairly quickly, with Maoridom protesting nationally about a week after the Government was sworn in.

It has also not been without its controversies. Ministers such as Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds had their portfolios stripped, Luxon was forced to pay back his living allowance, and contentious bills such as fast-track and the reversal of smoke-free initiatives brought with them intense opposition.

But, Thomas said the Government’s first year had been relatively, and comparatively, light on scandal.

“You normally, I think, lock in the first real scandal that’s going to need a resignation somewhere between a year and 18 months in. So, they’re tracking pretty well. Certainly, some of the newer ministers are perhaps not as deft or as sure-footed as some of their more experienced colleagues.

“But at the same time, no real smoking guns have emerged that are kind of career-ending,” he said.

Listen to the full episode to what Ministers have stood out in the past year, what the Government might look like going forward, and what about those pesky polls?

The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.

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