The heat is on in New Zealand elections as country is fast approaching the election day of 17th October. Political parties and leaders are making tall claims and counter claims to undermine each other and showing all sort of rosy pictures to lure the voters. The latest poll surveys have indicated that a lot has changed in a matter of few weeks and its not going to be a cake walk for the ruling Labour Party. It may not be a cake walk for any other party either but if Labour’s dream of ruling with a clear mandate is looking tough now.

The latest One News- Colmar Brunton poll surveys are still giving Labour just enough seat to get a clear majority at 48 percent which is down 5 percent from previous survey results while National Party has maintained its previous tally at 31 percent, down only by 1 percent. The biggest gainer in last 4-5 weeks has been the Act Party who are now happily sitting at 7 percent, up by 2 percent and they could play the king maker replacing NZ First who are now showing their lowest ever performance, sitting at 2 percent votes. Jacinda Ardern’s charisma has not diminished much and she is sitting at the top with 54 percent votes as preferred Prime Minister as compared to her closest rival Judith Collins of National Party at 18 percent, down 2 percent from the previous polls. NZ First Party not only seem to have been losing grounds, but they are one again caught up in controversies regarding some unaccounted donations made to the party. Winston Peters’ party gets into trouble once again near the election time when questions are being asked and enquiries are being made by the Serious Fraud Office to which Peters has taken an offence. Though SFO has cleared all NZ First MPs or any office bearer from any direct involvement or any charges but has charged two people with obtaining by deception after an investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation.

A High Court judgement has ruled against New Zealand First saying that due to the significant public interest in the New Zealand voting, public is being informed during an election campaign about criminal charges of serious fraud against people or organisations related to political parties. Winston Peters finds this act of SFO during election time as a bias against one political party i.e. New Zealand First. He says its just unfair, its not right and its not within their rules. Though SFO may have exonerated the Party or all MPs and its members but certainly has done the damage by creating an impression of a criminal act. He claims that the intent and timing of the investigation are of harmful nature and has certainly tainted party’s image. After the disclosure, National Party on the other hand has announced that if elected to form government they will double up the funding to SFO from $12.7 million to $25 million a year and also change its name to Serious Fraud and Anti-Corruption Agency. National leader Collins also said to increase the powers of SFO including the ability to compel witnesses and suspects to answer questions asked to them without the right of silence. The right of silence has been massively abused in New Zealand during several investigations in the past which has prevented the truth from being unearthed.

I think, as we approach a little closer to the actual election date the people of New Zealand should expect few more surprises from two major rivals as well. Nationals finance spokesperson Paul Smith’s fiscal deficit goof up of $5 billion hole has put party in an embarrassing situation twice but the Business Confidence being at 19 years low is not a happy situation for Labour Party either. Let us watch out for what is coming next.

-Yugal Parashar