New Zealand survives a two-party squeeze
By Rod Donald 
Green member of New Zealand Parliament, www.greens.org.nz/people/donald_r.asp 

Despite an election campaign focused almost exclusively on New Zealand's two main parties, Labour (similar to the U.S. Democrats) and National (Republicans), Greens retained a foothold in Parliament after the Sept. 17 general election.

Under New Zealand's system of proportional representation (known as Mixed Member Proportional), parliamentary seats are allocated in proportion to each party's support, providing they win at least 5 percent of the vote. Greens won 5.3 percent nationwide for six seats in the 120-seat House of Representatives, down from nine in 2002.

This drop is due to a number of factors, including an extensive anti-Green advertising campaign waged by a mysterious, extremely conservative international religious group called the Exclusive Brethren Church (that also spent $500,000 in 2004 supporting George Bush), as well as not having enough Green campaign workers in some key districts.

The biggest reason was that many sympathetic voters felt pressured to support Labour, fearing National might win the election. This "two-party squeeze" was reinforced by biased media coverage, which largely ignored Greens.

In response, supporters were urged to give their party vote to Greens so that Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark could govern with a "clean" coalition of Labour plus the Greens. Unfortunately the outcome-Labour's 50 seats plus the Greens' six seats-means Clark needs the support of one or two other minor parties to command the majority she needs to govern.

Negotiations are now underway, and Greens expect to win some policy concessions, particularly on the environment, energy and "buy kiwi-made," in return for their support.

Contact the New Zealand Greens at www.greens.org.nz. 

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