Protests interrupt a chaotic final Parliamentary session before election campaign begins

New Zealand’s 53rd parliament sat for the last time on Thursday and its members were released to go out on the campaign trail to try win back their seats. 

The election begins in earnest this weekend, with both major parties hosting campaign launches, although it has been gradually taking centre stage over the past weeks. 

During this time, the opposition parties have been rising in the polls and National has begun to act more like a government in-waiting. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins, still in office as Prime Minister, even began to pitch himself as the “underdog” when asking party supporters to chip into the campaign.

This change in fortune has helped National’s Christopher Luxon get his mojo back. 

Until July, he was a rookie politician leading his party towards a likely loss in the most winnable election it had faced in some time. 

It was not a big surprise when rumours emerged that a handful of supporters had floated the idea that his deputy, Nicola Willis, should take over. It didn’t happen, of course. 

Meanwhile, the public has been uninspired by the Chris vs. Chris show and many have changed the channel. Both the Green and Act party votes have reached the early teens.

These junior-league parties will be essential coalition partners, but may find their wings clipped without significant negotiating power. 

Luxon and Hipkins have both ruled out some flagship policies. There will be no wealth tax. No referendum to reinvent the Treaty. The Zero Carbon Act will stay. Rent controls are out.

Both major parties have pivoted towards the centre. Labour has made cuts to the public sector and National has proposed new taxes. Some suggested they form a grand coalition. 

It’s hard to imagine that happening. Hipkins ruled it out when ruling out New Zealand First. 

Ah, NZ First! Just when you think the show is over, Winston Peters walks back on stage for yet another unexpected encore.

His party has appeared north of the 5% threshold in no less than four recent polls, although it remains a few points short in Interest.co.nz’s polling average.

NZ First was winning just 4.3% of the party vote, as of August 25, according to our DIY average. It includes all public polls, but is weighted towards the most recent and reliable ones.

National and Act are commanding a comfortable lead in the average with 47% support, but the left-leaning bloc isn’t far behind at 44.5%. 

If this result was replicated on election night, it would mean a two seat majority for a National-led government with Christopher Luxon as Prime Minister.

MPs act up

Members of Parliament, particularly those on the Labour benches, seemed determined to be on their worst behaviour for the final session. 

The always-rowdy question time descended into jovial chaos, with Speaker Adrian Rurawhe being forced to intervene in almost every question. 

Luxon’s efforts to prosecute the Government's record was drowned out by heckles from Labour. 

“Bring back, Nicola,” one called out, mocking the first-term opposition leader for having less experience than his deputy. It got so bad, Rurawhe had to intervene. 

“Order! Order! Interjections—I'm going to point out a couple of people now, I think. We know the rules during when questions are being asked.” 

Grant Robertson and Megan Woods—two of the worst offenders—sat back in their seats, grinning and nodding like naughty school children. 

Peeni Henare, also a Labour Minister, was called up minutes later for yet another interjection. 

“Oh by golly, don't make me send you out on the last day—no more chances,” Rurawhe said. 

His patience was not rewarded. Two questions later Police Minister Ginny Andersen was saying she would consider charging Henare for the illegal possession of firearms. 

“Specifically, Gun No. 1,” she begins to say, as Henare lifts his right arm and flexes a muscle. 

But before the citizens of New Zealand got to learn about ‘Gun No. 2’, the speaker was back on his feet and shutting the answer down.  

“Order! I should have taken the shovel off you when I had the opportunity. No more supplementaries from the Government,” he ruled. 

But the trouble didn’t end there. Three questions later, as Climate Minister James Shaw answered a question about falling climate emissions, the house was interrupted again.

Protesters from Greenpeace threw three pink banners from the public gallery, blew on a whistle and yelled: “too many cows”. 

One banner fell in the face of Revenue Minister Barbara Edmonds who immediately tore it down, with some assistance from New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett

The scene was shortly dealt with and debate continued in a near-orderly fashion. 

When the last question had been answered, Rurawhe gave a sigh of relief: “Korōria, halleujah! That concludes oral questions for the 53rd Parliament”.