State Of It: Auckland Vote Not A Left-Right Result

KiwiFM Audio: Wallace Chapman and Scoop's Selwyn Manning discuss how the message behind Aucklanders voting for Len Brown and an indy-mix of parties and teams ought not be considered from a left/right point of view, but rather as a vote for progress over conservatism.

Aucklanders decisively voted for a mayor with a vision, with ideas on how to solve its infrastructure problems, of putting a human face to an austere corporate culture, and a council that campaigned on solving real problems and making the lot of the people from this part of New Zealand better for its 1.4 million citizens.

It may be argued that Aucklanders have voted for a centre-left council. But to define the result in such two dimensional linear terms is simplistic and inaccurate. This was a vote for bright, new politicians with a progressive bent, over the old, conservative, ideologues, the do-little-squatters that have littered this metropolis' councils for a decade. There are a few exceptions, but the message is certainly clear.

Remember, the supercity reforms have seen Auckland restructured into a political powerhouse. More than one third of New Zealand's economy will be energised here. One third of its voting population now lives within its territorial boundaries. For a central government to ignore Auckland's needs (as the National Party did in the 1990s) will be political folly.

It is also wrong for this election outcome to be seen as a victory for the Labour Party. Clearly the vision of a corporate dominated culture advanced by ACT leader Rodney Hide and the National-led Cabinet caused Aucklanders to retreat, politically. However, this election caused Aucklanders to consider their vote not along party lines, but alternatively to bid for directional vision and progress. The Labour Party and its leader Phil Goff would be wise to realise that. If they are to gain anything from this election result, it would be to create/shape a party that can become a vehicle for what Aucklanders are demanding, rather than Labour attempt to force voters into believing its policies are an offering, a menu, worth perusing. It's the old adage: give the customers what they demand, not solely what you can be bothered to offer.

Additionally, regarding infrastructure, if the National-led Government ignores the call for it to honour its 2008 campaign-pledge to advance an infrastructure boom, if it decides to deny Aucklanders and their mayor what they are demanding – transport and rail corridors to unlock economic stagnation and unleash its potential – then the National leadership will do so at its peril. After all, if the Cabinet can bailout Canterbury, it can invest in Auckland.

Len Brown and his council largely campaigned on a vision of progress. He now has the power and the political machine to achieve this vision. His message to his opponent John Banks was simple: “You are either part of the solution or part of the problem.” The message is as apt for the Prime Minister. Reticent half-hearted responses like 'vision is good but we have to be practical' just will not cut it.

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