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OPINION: As the world burns, we have held together. New Zealand should be proud of the choice, regardless of the outcome, writes Laura Walters.
It’s hard to stop looking at Belarus. The idea that a devious thug could refuse to step down in 2020 is inconceivable.
Watching people demand genuine democracy, it is possible to feel at the same time a surge of pride in those who refuse to surrender and nausea at the police batons raining down on unarmed protesters.
It is difficult to comprehend a reality in which two passionate and capable women can compete to become Prime Minister of New Zealand, while Belarusian women politicians are being told to “get back in the kitchen.”
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* Election 2020: Ousted Nelson MP Nick Smith to reflect on what’s next
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* Election 2020: win or lose, it’s a Maori Party ‘revolution’ – former leader
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* Election 2020: How the world reacted to Jacinda Ardern’s landslide victory
* Election 2020: ‘We will be back’: National’s tumultuous period in Opposition ends with Judith Collins parting words
In a place that feels a little closer to home, the stage is set for an unacceptable election result. When Donald Trump exaggerates electoral fraud and says voting by mail is flawed, he knowingly fuels mistrust in democratic systems, and the faith of his population is already shaky.
Add in Covid-19, paranoia, and conspiracy theories and it’s no wonder we live in an increasingly polarized world.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Labor Party leader Jacinda Ardern said Aotearoa was “too young to lose sight of other people’s perspectives.”
But in 2020, as the world burns around us, the kiwis have stuck together.
We have flocked to exercise our democratic right by voting early and often, and we have made clear what we expect from our political leaders.
As Advance NZ and the Public Party have shown, New Zealand is not immune to conspiracy theories and we know we can do dirty politics, especially around election time.
But the polarization we see around the world has not penetrated New Zealand in the same way.
“Elections are not always good for bringing people together, but they also don’t need to separate each other.”
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Jacinda Ardern called for a “mandate to speed up” in her victory speech after Labor’s landslide victory.
When Jacinda Ardern delivered her victory speech, she spoke about ruling for all New Zealanders.
“We live in an increasingly polarized world. A place where more and more people have lost the ability to see the point of view of others.
“I hope that in this election New Zealand has shown that this is not who we are, that as a nation we can listen and debate. After all, we are too young to lose sight of other people’s perspectives, ”he said.
“Elections are not always good for bringing people together, but they don’t need to separate each other either.
“And in times of crisis, I think New Zealand has shown it.”
We have seen this throughout the election campaign and again on election night.
That doesn’t mean there was no politicking, some stretched truths about taxes and child poverty, or some ignorant remarks on the election campaign.
But in large part there was mutual respect.
Both Ardern and Judith Collins debated politics rather than personality, no matter how different their views were. Even Winston Peters and David Seymour behaved with dignity throughout the campaign proper.
When Collins delivered his award speech, he did so politely.
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National Party leader Judith Collins awards the 2020 election to Jacinda Ardern and the Labor Party in a crushing defeat for her party.
“I think it is an outstanding result for the Labor Party.”
Instead of looking for excuses or blaming, she was thoughtful. He thanked supporters, volunteers, staff, and MPs for their loyalty and hard work, and apologized to those who would not return to Parliament for not delivering the party vote they needed.
“Even though tonight has been a very difficult night for all of us, and the campaign a very tough one, three years will pass in the blink of an eye. And I tell everyone: we will return ”.
When Judith Collins may have sought excuses or insults, she was courteous and thoughtful in defeat.
Speaking of his life outside of Parliament, Ardern says he wants to keep changing politics.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Jacinda Ardern, in her victory speech, said that the elections did not have to destroy the country.
“I want young people to look at this place and say that positive things can be done and that it doesn’t have to be about throwing mud.”
The first US presidential debate between Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden showed the mud in full swing. It showed us exactly what we don’t want to become.
During a small but significant moment in the leaders’ final debate, Collins and Ardern were asked what they wanted to say to each other.
They both used it as an opportunity to show compassion and common empathy, when they could have gone a different path.
Ardern thanked Collins for his speech in the House after the March 15 terror attack. She said it was sincere and authentic: “I found it particularly powerful.”
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins at the final leaders debate.
Collins recognized the weight Ardern brought to her position as Prime Minister.
“Anyone who takes over as Prime Minister has to put their heart and soul into it, and Jacinda has been doing it, and I think that’s a really good thing.”
These are the kinds of responses the Kiwis would have expected from the two main leaders. But it is not the response that we would have expected from many other politicians around the world.
We expect more from our policy, so we get more.
We expected more from our leaders in the wake of March 15, and we expected more through Covid-19.
In this year’s elections we expected more than division and mockery, and we will continue to do so.
