It’s coming up to the General Elections in New Zealand, to be held on November 26. One of the features of New Zealand’s political party scene is the number of smaller parties who share the limelight with the two major parties. Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand work with the Electoral Commission to allocate time and funds to each party both broadcasters have provided 72 minutes for opening addresses and 60 minutes for closing addresses. Four of the eleven parties have just put their videos on Youtube. The National Party have gone with their major asset, John Keys. The Labour Party have taken their party and its spokespeople back to their roots to remind us about their commitment to social justice. The Greens have gone with a Vox Pops and outdoor feel.
New Zealand Labour Party (Labour Party) and National Party each have 20 minutes for opening and 16 minutes for closing, along with $1,150,000 to produce their campaign. The Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand (Green Party) has 8 minutes for opening and 7 minutes for closing, with $300,000. ACT New Zealand (ACT Party) and Māori Party each have 5 minutes for opening, 4 minutes for closing, and $160,000. New Zealand First (NZ First) and United Future New Zealand (United Future) each have 3 minutes for opening and 2.5 minutes for closing, with $100,000. The Alliance (Alliance), Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP), Conservative Party of New Zealand (Conservative Party) (formerly Coalition of New Zealanders), The Kiwi Party (Kiwi Party), Libertarianz, each have 1 minute for opening, 1 minute for closing, and $20,000 for closing.
Labour’s 2011 Opening TV address features members of the Labour shadow cabinet, including Labour leader Phil Goff, talking about the impact of their family of origin stories on their sense of social justice. We’re shown footage of the origins of the Labour Party in the coal mines of West Coast of the South Island and the struggle to recover from the Great Depression. Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)
The National Party address shows Prime Minister and National Party Leader John Key in a town hall setting answering questions from the audience about policy and encouraging viewers to vote for the National Party in the General Election. Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)
The Green Party’s Opening Broadcast for the 2011 Election, has a range of talking heads filmed on locations across Tamaki-Makaurau, Auckland. Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)