I’m very happy with the local body election results in Wellington – everyone I voted for got in – but less impressed nationwide.
There has been a general lurch to the right. It seems the electorate is unhappy that both a world wide pandemic and the broad and thorough consultation process they demanded has resulted in slower progress on promised infrastructure changes than they’d like. Also, you still get the feeling that climate change remains an inconvenient truth to many people, who would rather vote for self interest and let the future take care of itself.
Anyway, that’s my take. Next year’s general election will certainly be interesting.
The other elections that have been fraught with controversy, and not for the first time, is the one for bird of the year. The kakapo has been withdrawn from competition, as the organisers are worried the fat parrots are too charismatic and may win for the third time, which is unfair for the multitude of small, drab and un exciting birds that make up the majority of our native flock.
Last year I voted for New Zealand’s only cutlery themed bird, the Royal Spoonbill, but we ended up losing handily to a bat, of all things. Another miscarriage of justice.
This year I think I will vote for the morepork, as when I took the dogs for a late night perambulation around the cemetery next door just now after a boozy girl’s night out, the morepork with its familiar call which gives rise to its Maori name Ruru, was the only bird in evidence. The more rowdy kakas and tuis are obviously all tucked up in bed at this late hour. Lightweights.
