New Zealand Labour Party re-elected on an anti-labour course
In the October 17 general election in New Zealand, the Labour Party government of Jacinda Ardern was re-elected for a second three-year term with a greatly increased majority. For the […]
Category Archives: electoralism
The success and failure of Harry Holland’s campaign against conscription
The initial purpose of the anti-German campaign following the sinking of the Lusitania was to boost flagging recruitment to the army. After an initial burst of enthusiasm, recruitment had dwindled […]
Industrial unity and a party of labour – the Red Feds’ 1913 ‘turn to political action’
At first glance, the discussion at the Unity conference in January 1913 seems to be about an uninteresting question of organisational forms. The leaders of the United Labor Party (ULP) […]
The mixed blessing of IWW influence in the New Zealand labour movement
The stirring Preamble adopted by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in Chicago in 1905, proclaiming the class struggle and the goal of overthrowing the capitalists, became the rallying […]
The years of frustration, defeat, and sorrow
Harry Holland and the early labour movement in Australia and New Zealand, Part 5. On his release from prison, Holland, Barlow and Batho evaluated the experience of producing The Socialist […]
Are we to be reduced to believing in miracles? – A reflection on the outcome of the New Zealand general election
When the rich and powerful are celebrating their electoral success and workers are tasting defeat, the last thing that is needed is another smug commentator to step forward with their […]
Why the founding of the Labour Party was a historic advance
“The first great step of importance for every country newly entering into the [working class] movement is always the constitution of the workers as an independent political party, no matter […]
Conspiracies, exposés, and revolutionary morality – a discussion in 140 characters
When I published a post critical of Nicky Hager’s book, Dirty Politics – How attack politics is poisoning New Zealand’s political environment last week, it prompted an exchange on Twitter […]
The politics of “Dirty Politics”: three aspects of the election campaign in New Zealand.
To begin with the numbers: In the general election held in New Zealand yesterday, the National Party government was returned for a third term with a slightly increased majority. Of […]
The Internet-Mana Party steps boldly into the swamp
With a general election to be held in New Zealand on September 20, excitement is building in some quarters, nowhere more so than among supporters of the new Internet–Mana Party […]
A worker at large 