PHOTO: NZ HERALDIt is election year and I am really not looking forward to it as it has a few of the hallmarks of that nasty election of 2005. The Labour government then was in its second term, and the National Party was growing more desperate not to spend nine years in opposition. National had a disastrous political campaign in the 2002 election, only winning 27 seats. For many, that run-up to the 2005 election and its aftermath was horrible. There was constant negative press on Maori issues leading to a considerable number of non-Maori individuals feeling free to express bigoted opinions almost with impunity.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 15, 2023 15:42 UTC