Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand explained

Cabinet Name:Fifth Labour Government
Cabinet Type:Ministry
Jurisdiction:New Zealand
Flag:Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag Border:true
Incumbent:1999–2008
Date Formed:10 December 1999
Date Dissolved:19 November 2008
Government Head:Helen Clark
Deputy Government Head:Jim Anderton (1999–2002)
Michael Cullen (2002–2008)
State Head:Elizabeth II
Governor General:Sir Michael Hardie Boys (1999–2001)
Dame Silvia Cartwright (2001–06)
Sir Anand Satyanand (2006–08)
Legislature Status:Minority (coalition) (1999–2002)
with confidence and supply from the Greens
59 / 120(49%)
Minority (coalition) (2002–2005)
with confidence and supply from the United Future 54 / 120(45%)
Minority (coalition) (2005–2008)
with confidence and supply from the United Future and New Zealand First 50 / 120(41%) cooperation agreement with the Greens
Opposition Party:National Party
Previous:Fourth National Government of New Zealand
Successor:Fifth National Government of New Zealand
State Head Title:Monarch
Government Head Title:Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:Deputy Prime Minister

The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 10 December 1999 to 19 November 2008. Labour Party leader Helen Clark negotiated a coalition with Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance Party. While undertaking a number of substantial reforms, it was not particularly radical compared to previous Labour governments.

Overview

The previous government, the fourth National government, had been in power since 1990. It was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms, and was bedevilled by weakness and instability. In the 1999 general election, the Helen Clark-led Labour Party defeated the National Party easily, becoming the largest single party in the House of Representatives. Labour formed a minority coalition government with the left-leaning Alliance party, supported by the Green Party.

During its first term, the government pursued a number of reforms. The controversial Employment Contracts Act was repealed, replaced by an Employment Relations Act more friendly to unions and collective bargaining; a state-owned bank, Kiwibank, was created at the behest of the Alliance; a majority stake in the national airline, Air New Zealand, was purchased; and the public health sector was reorganised with the re-establishment of partly elected district health boards. Closing the Gaps, an affirmative action strategy targeting socio-economic inequalities between Māori and Pasifika ethnic groups and other groups, was a particularly controversial reform among right-wing National and ACT voters.[1] [2]

With the disintegration of the Alliance in 2002, Helen Clark called a snap election, even though she still had the confidence of the House. Labour handily won the election. The Alliance failed to return to parliament, although a rump returned as Jim Anderton's Progressives. Labour formed a coalition with the Progressives, and turned to the centrist United Future party for confidence and supply. This second term was notable largely for its social and constitutional legislation, with the Government establishing a Supreme Court and ending appeals to the Privy Council, decriminalising prostitution, and providing for civil unions, the latter two changes in particular supported by the Green Party and opposed by United Future. The Government was also faced in this term with the foreshore and seabed controversy. While Labour, in cooperation with the New Zealand First party, eventually resolved the legal dispute by vesting foreshore and seabed title in the Crown, a dissident Labour minister, Tariana Turia, formed the Māori Party, while on the other side of the spectrum a resurgent National Party, now under former Reserve Bank governor Don Brash, became considerably more popular. In the 2005 election, the Government was returned with a slim margin on the strength of the Working for Families assistance package and financial assistance to students, benefiting also from mistakes in National's campaign.

Helen Clark moved even more to the centre, enlisting support for her Government from both New Zealand First and United Future. Almost immediately, the Government parties became involved in a protracted funding scandal, having apparently used public money for party political purposes during the election campaign. A heavy-handed attempt at campaign finance reform later in this term also harmed the Government, which by now appeared tired and at a loss for direction, although it did succeed in implementing a wide range of social and economic reforms during its time in office.[3] [4]

In a 2000 feature article "Siege of Helengrad",[5] The Australian newspaper wrote that Clark's "uncompromisingly autocratic and pervasive leadership has seen New Zealand dubbed Helengrad".[6] In January 2008, the term 'Helengrad', "a noun used to describe the iron grip of New Zealand's prime minister over Wellington", was reported as having made Australia's Macquarie online dictionary among 85 other new words.[7]

In the 2008 election, the Labour Party lost convincingly to National, and the government was succeeded by the National Party led by John Key as Prime Minister.

Significant policies

Economic

Constitutional

Treaty of Waitangi

Treaty settlements:

Aspects of the Clark-led governments actions in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi is shown through settlements.

Social policy

The Holidays Act (2003) entitled employees to receive "time and a half" for working on any statutory holiday from 2004 onwards and provided for four weeks' annual leave from 2007 onwards.[22] However in 2016 MBIE found problems with underpayments on holiday pay due to the complex act, which had not been resolved in 2021.[23]

Health

Environment

National identity

Foreign affairs

See also: Foreign relations of New Zealand.

Appointments

The following positions were appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Government:

Governor-General

Supreme Court

With the creation of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in 2003, the government appointed the first full bench of the Court.

Acting judges were also appointed from the retired judges of the Court of Appeal:

Court of Appeal

The government appointed three presidents of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand:

History

1999 election

See main article: 1999 New Zealand general election. The Fifth Labour government was elected in the 1999 general election, after entering a coalition with the Alliance Party and a confidence and supply agreement with the Green Party. Labour managed to increase their percentage of the votes by 10.5% and won 12 more seats than in the 1996 election.[34] With this coalition in place the Labour Party returned to government for the first time in nine years, and Helen Clark became New Zealand's first elected female prime minister.[35] The 1999 election was Labour's first successful MMP election.

2002 election

See main article: 2002 New Zealand general election. The 2002 election was held a few weeks before the Parliamentary term elapsed.[36] This had only occurred twice before in New Zealand's political history, in 1951 and 1984.[37] The Government cited the collapse of the Alliance Party, with whom they had entered a coalition in 1999, as the reason for the earlier date. The Alliance Party had split after Jim Anderton, their leader, left to form the Progressive Coalition Party.[38] However, some critics believe that Labour could have continued to govern for the remaining few weeks. They say that the election was called early to capitalise on high opinion poll ratings before they could be undermined by a potential softening in the New Zealand economic performance.

After initial polls indicated Labour might win enough seats to govern alone, a feat that had never occurred under MMP in New Zealand, they won 41.3% of the vote and 52 seats. Although this was an improvement on their results in the 1999 election, it was not enough to govern alone, and Labour entered a coalition with the Progressive Coalition Party, and a confidence and supply agreement with United Future. Labour's success was highlighted by the National Party's demise, as they accrued a record low 20.9% of the vote.

2005 election

See main article: 2005 New Zealand general election. After initial doubt as to what date the election would be held, 17 September was the chosen day.[39] After falling behind National in the initial opinion polls, Labour fought back to obtain 41.1% of the vote. Although this was a 0.2% decrease from the previous election, it still saw them sit ahead of National by 2%. The 2005 election saw a dramatic fall in the success of the minor parties. New Zealand First and United Future each won less than half of the percentage of total votes they achieved in 2002. In order to reach the required majority, Labour entered confidence and supply agreements with New Zealand First and United Future. This was in addition to a coalition agreement with the Progressive Coalition Party, of whom only Jim Anderton obtained a seat.

The newly formed Maori Party accrued four seats.[40] After only being formed in 2004 as a result of the controversial Foreshore and Seabed Act, they oversaw a successful campaign based on a critical assessment of Labour's record with Maori issues. Their success was highlighted by the decline of ACT New Zealand, who won two seats, and the Progressive Coalition and United Future, who each won only a single seat.

Election results

The table below shows the total party votes for Labour and parties that supported the Labour-led government. For more details of election results, see the election articles.

width=95%
ElectionParliamentSeatsTotal votesPercentageGain (loss)Seats wonChangeMajority
199946th1201,066,61851.64%align=center-66align=center-6
200247th1201,150,91156.65%+5.01%69+39
200548th1211,152,73550.65%align=center-6.00%61align=center-81

Notes

Prime minister

Helen Clark was Prime Minister from when the government was elected in 1999 until it was defeated by the National Party in the 2008 elections.

Cabinet Ministers

See main article: Cabinet of New Zealand.

PortfolioMinisterPartyStartEnd
Prime Ministerbgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Deputy Prime Ministerbgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Agriculturebgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Progressive19 November 2008
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritagebgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Attorney-Generalbgcolor=Labour28 February 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour20 March 2006
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Broadcastingbgcolor=Labour23 February 2001
bgcolor=Labour27 March 2001
bgcolor=Labour15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Commercebgcolor=Labour15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour21 February 2004
bgcolor=Labour21 December 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Consumer Affairsbgcolor=Alliance23 February 2001
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 May 2003
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour2 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Customsbgcolor=Alliance23 February 2001
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Defencebgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Economic Developmentbgcolor=Alliance19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour2 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Educationbgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Energybgcolor=Labour21 December 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour21 March 2006
bgcolor=Labour3 May 2006
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister for the Environmentbgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour27 July 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Fisheriesbgcolor=Labour26 February 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Progressive19 November 2008
Minister of Foreign Affairsbgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=NZ First29 August 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Forestrybgcolor=Labour15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Progressive19 November 2008
Minister of Healthbgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Housingbgcolor=Labour12 May 2003
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour5 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour21 February 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour11 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour13 November 2000
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Justicebgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Labourbgcolor=Labour26 February 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour5 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour28 June 2000
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=United Future19 November 2008
Minister for Social Welfarebgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour27 July 2007
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister for Sportbgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister for State Owned Enterprisesbgcolor=Labour21 December 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Statisticsbgcolor=Labour13 November 2000
bgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour15 October 2004
bgcolor=Labour21 December 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour5 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Tourismbgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister of Tradebgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
bgcolor=Labour15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour26 February 2004
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour21 March 2006
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Treasurerbgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiationsbgcolor=Labour28 February 2005
bgcolor=Labour31 October 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008
Minister for Womenbgcolor=Alliance15 August 2002
bgcolor=Labour19 October 2005
bgcolor=Labour5 November 2007
bgcolor=Labour19 November 2008

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Piercy. Gemma. Mackness. Kate . Rarere. Moana . Madley. Brendan. 2017. Investigating commentary on the fifth Labour-led government's Third Way approach . New Zealand Sociology. 32. 1. 51–75. University of Waikato Research Commons.
  2. Humpage, Louise (2006). "An 'inclusive' society: a 'leap forward' for Maori in New Zealand?". Critical Social Policy 26 (1): 220–242.
  3. The state of our nation 1999–2007 – some facts . New Zealand Government . 30 January 2007 . 9 January 2011.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 4 May 2012 . 24 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224150851/http://www.issa.int/Observatory/Country-Profiles/Regions/Asia-and-the-Pacific/New-Zealand/Reforms2 . dead .
  5. News: Dore. Christoper. 21 October 2000 . Sec. Features-->. Siege of Helengrad. Weekend Australian. Australia. 25.
  6. James. Colin. August 2003. A farm girl, discipline and her helicopter. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081014084733/http://www.colinjames.co.nz/management/Management_Clark_03Aug.htm. 14 October 2008. 2008-06-09. dmy-all. Management Magazine.
  7. News: Squires. Nick. 10 January 2008. Australians add new words to dictionary. The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 May 2010.
  8. Web site: Income tax rates. 8 October 2014. 5 November 2019.
  9. Web site: Budget 2008 – Tax Changes. 22 May 2008. 24 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150325233409/http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2008/taxpayers/01.htm#personal. 25 March 2015. dead.
  10. Web site: PM welcomes fisheries scholarship Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  11. Web site: New Zealand School Curriculum launch Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  12. Web site: More Funding for the Treaty 2U exhibition Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  13. Web site: PM gives formal apology to Te Arawa Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  14. Web site: Formal apology to Te Uri O Hau Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  15. Web site: Waitangi Day commemorative fund Beehive.govt.nz . 2024-03-12 . www.beehive.govt.nz . en.
  16. PM welcomes fisheries scholarship. 2001. Retrieved from:https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-welcomes-fisheries-scholarship
  17. Book: A History of New Zealand . Keith Sinclair . Keith Sinclair . 1959.
  18. Katherine Forbes . Paid Parental Leave Under (New) Labour . . 34 .
  19. Web site: Child Poverty Monitor: Technical Report . Child Poverty Monitor . 2015 . 21 December 2015.
  20. Alison McClelland & Susan St. John . Social policy responses to globalisation in Australia and New Zealand, 1980–2005 . . 2006 . 41 . 2 . 177–191 . 10.1080/10361140600672428 . 153508078 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110818004134/http://homes.eco.auckland.ac.nz/sstj003/McClelland%20St%20John.pdf . 18 August 2011 .
  21. A Policy of Honesty: Election Manifesto Pledge Fulfilment in New Zealand 1972–2005 . . Nathan P. McClusky . 2008 . PhD.
  22. Web site: Timeline . . 13 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602092156/http://www.lhp.org.nz/LHP/Timeline.html . 2 June 2010 .
  23. The Post (Wellington) 23 February 2021 page 18
  24. Web site: Social Policy Evaluation and Research Committee (SPEAR) . Monitoring the Impact of Social Policy, 1980–2001: Report on Significant Policy Events . Occasional Paper Series, Resource Report 1 . Stephen McTaggart . December 2005 . 5 November 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310152816/http://www.spear.govt.nz/documents/publications/significant-policy-events-report.pdf . 10 March 2016.
  25. Web site: Budget Speech and Fiscal Strategy Report 2000. Cullen. Michael. 2000. The New Zealand Treasury.
  26. Web site: Looking Back to Look Forward: How welfare in New Zealand has evolved . Jane Silloway Smith . 1 August 2010 . 13 June 2011 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726184433/http://www.maxim.org.nz/index.cfm/policy___research/article?id=2152 . 26 July 2011 .
  27. Web site: "Interest-free" student loans for borrowers living in New Zealand . . 5 November 2019 .
  28. Web site: The Kyoto Protocol . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 16 July 2007 . 1 January 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120305162952/http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Treaties-and-International-Law/03-Treaty-making-process/2-National-Interest-Analyses/0-Kyoto-Protocol-Part-I.php . 5 March 2012 .
  29. "Singapore signs Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand". History SG. 13 November 2000.
  30. Chapman, Paul. "New Zealand scraps air force warplanes". The Telegraph. 9 May 2001.
  31. Brooker, Jarrod (27 May 2006). "NZ forces on way to East Timor". New Zealand Herald.
  32. Young, Audrey. "Joint task force in Tonga this afternoon". New Zealand Herald. 18 November 2006.
  33. "NZ refused to send troops to Iraq for war 'it didn't believe in'". TVNZ. 7 July 2016.
  34. Alvey. James. 2000. The 1999 Election in New Zealand. Review – Institute of Public Affairs 52. 1. 17–18.
  35. Web site: Helen Clark NZHistory, New Zealand history online . nzhistory.govt.nz . en. 23 May 2018.
  36. Geddis. Andrew. 2004. The General Election in New Zealand, July 2002. Electoral Studies . 23 . 1. 149–55. 10.1016/s0261-3794(03)00036-2.
  37. Web site: Our Elections Through History . 20 July 2017. New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2018.
  38. Book: Vowles, Jack. The Politics of Electoral Systems. Oxford University Press. 2005. Gallagher. Michael. New York, United States. 303. Mitchell. Paul.
  39. Geddis . Andrew . 2006. The General Election in New Zealand, September 2005. Electoral Studies . 25 . 4. 809–14 . 10.1016/j.electstud.2005.12.005.
  40. News: Research papers. 24 May 2018. en.
  41. Web site: Government and Greens sign formal co-operation agreement . New Zealand Government . 26 August 2002 . 9 July 2016.