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New Zealand’s “civil” elections appear to have provided relief for weary political supporters.
After a nasty showdown between US President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden, the world’s media turned their attention to the New Zealand equivalent debate this week.
The difference in tone between the meeting of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Leader Judith Collins and the debate in the United States was called “contrasting styles” by The Guardian.
He highlighted the compliments the two New Zealand leaders paid each other.
“I think she means well, and I think she means well, and I also think she’s a very good communicator,” Collins said of Ardern.
Ardern returned the favor by describing Collins as “very assertive in a debate.” “Damn it,” Collins replied to the laughter of the audience.
READ MORE:
* Election 2020 – Contrasting Styles and Some Substance – Five Experts in New Zealand’s First Choice TV Leaders Debate
* Live broadcast of the 2020 elections: Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins square off in The Press Leaders Debate
* Election 2020: The dates, times and details of all the leaders’ debates.
CNN described the New Zealand debate as “comparatively civilized”, with questions from moderator Patrick Gower giving the impression of “kinder and gentler” politics across the Pacific.
While the two occasionally clashed, the nasty personal attacks that horrified American viewers were absent.
Instead, the debate included a discussion about women’s dream vacations (Chatham Islands for Collins, Stewart Island for Ardern) and which tree represented them (Collins chose kowhai, while Ardern chose pohutukawa).
When Gower asked if politics should be a bloody sport, Ardern disagreed, saying it should be “fun.”
NEWSHUB / SUPPLIED
Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins square off in second leadership debate hosted by Newshub’s Patrick Gower
The New York Times called New Zealand “the relaxed parallel universe of democracy.”
“As President Trump and Joe Biden made comparisons to the dumpster fires within a train accident this week, Ms. Ardern and her opponent, Judith Collins, leader of the conservative National Party, were engaging in an intense debate with just a few interruptions (and one call at a time to “manners”), the US-based newspaper wrote.
The American debate, marred by arguments, interruptions and insults, was so unpleasant that the commission that oversees the American presidential debates says it will change the format to ensure that the remaining two meetings on October 15 and 22 are more orderly.
Collins and Ardern will meet again at The Press Leaders’ Debate, hosted by Luke Malpass and Kamala Hayman on Tuesday. It will be broadcast live on Stuff website from 7pm.
The final leaders debate will air on TVNZ on October 15.
The election takes place on October 17, while Americans vote on November 3.
