Roadside political signs sprang up all over the country this weekend after Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the election date last Friday.
The fifth round of voting under the MMP system will see New Zealanders return to the polling booths on November 8 to place their two votes.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said, “This election is about trust and upon which leader and which major party New Zealanders trust to take their families and their country into the future.”
All candidates welcomed the November 8 date for voting in their press releases.
National Party leader John Key said; “This election is about New Zealanders having the opportunity to choose a government that is focused on what matters to them.
“It is about being able to turn a fresh page and put all the political distractions and intrigue of the past three years behind us.
Green Party Co-Leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman are going Green for go.
“I hope it will be an election that’s based on policy not personal attacks,” Dr Norman said.
“With the reality of climate change and the end of cheap oil in sight the need for a strong green influence in Government is needed now more than ever.”
United Future leader Peter Dunne says the General Election provides the opportunity for a new mandate and a fresh start. “We are ready for this election and are looking forward to the campaign ahead.
“The Prime Minister says this will be an election about who you can trust—she is right.”
The Maori Party co-leaders, Dr Pita Sharples and Hon Tariana Turia, said they were pleased that the election date had finally been set and were looking forward to the election campaign getting underway.
“We were well prepared for the last election, and this time we are even better prepared and in a much stronger position,” said Dr Pita Sharples.
“We are calling on all our supporters to step forward and do whatever they can, in the interest of the nation, to help make this the most successful election possible for the Maori Party,” he said.
ACT Leader Rodney Hide today said the election date couldn’t come quick enough for him.
“Kiwis are sick of Helen Clark’s ‘Nanny-Knows-Best’ – and now unprincipled Government,” Mr Hide said.
“It’s time to dump the Clark-Peters Government. It’s time for a change. The only issue is whether New Zealand has a change of government, or a government of change.”
Rt Hon Winston Peters says New Zealand First welcomes the election announcement today and is “ready to fight for its policies the length and breadth of the country.”
All will be revealed on 8 November when pollsters head to the booths. One vote will go to the electoral candidate of the voters choice—the candidate they want to become their local MP. The second vote goes to the party the voter most wants to see represented in government.
