Labour Eyes Parochialism (Press, 30 May 1985)

The campaign for the Timaru seat ahead of the by-election on 15 June 1985 will see the four main political parties—Labour, National, Social Credit, and the New Zealand Party—compete with diverse issues and strategies. Labour leader Mr Lange emphasised a psychological approach aimed at appealing to local sentiments, hoping to retain the seat which Labour has held for 57 years. He intends to focus on Timaru-specific issues to avoid any backlash against the Government's performance nationally. Lange has dismissed large public meetings as unproductive, opting instead for intimate discussions with constituents, recognising that Timaru residents value local identity and have a degree of scepticism towards solutions from Wellington. He characterised the electorate as self-reliant, indicating that locals are prepared to evaluate the Government’s record over a longer period rather than responding to recent difficulties such as price rises or interest rate increases. One of Labour's critical campaign messages will centre on employment, where Lange claims the Government has performed well, although he acknowledged some local migration may have affected unemployment figures. The drought's impact on local industries and the economy has also emerged as a significant concern. The local candidate for Labour is Jan Walker, a legal officer with ties to Timaru, though her views on social issues such as homosexual law reform have sparked controversy. Nevertheless, Labour maintains that she will engage with voters to represent their views in Parliament. Lange anticipates that voter opinions will be influenced more by candidates than by party affiliation, as Timaruvian voters show a preference for local identifiers over broader party loyalty. He expressed concerns regarding traditional Labour supporters possibly abstaining from voting, which underpins Labour’s grassroots approach to voter engagement. Opposition parties have different tactics, with National Party leader Mr McLay’s critical speeches likely to not resonate with Timaru’s electorate. The presence of former National Party leader Sir Robert Muldoon, who remains influential through a dissenting faction, and the potential impact of the New Zealand Party spearheaded by Bob Jones, pose further complexities to the campaign landscape. As the parties gear up for this crucial by-election, each is strategising to effectively communicate their messages while navigating the unique political climate of Timaru.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand