In New Zealand, a small country in the heart of the Pacific, questions of economic and ecological survival loom large. Voters are also confused and conflicted, looking for clear-cut choices (left vs right; Māori vs Pākehā) or someone to blame (biased media or business lobbyists, ‘woke’ intellectuals or neo-liberal think tanks, take your pick). Most New Zealanders find themselves in a sceptical middle ground, mistrusting the fanatics and looking for leadership that avoids the extremes. Again, however, it is questionable whether MMP is working to deliver a balance of forces that empowers the middle ground. The more the new Government reaches across social, economic, and philosophical divides in search of good ways forward, the better.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 29, 2023 23:57 UTC