2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

New Zealand party leadership election April 2024 April 2022 2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 100px legislative no 2008 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 2008 2013 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 2013 2011 12 13 yes 34 New Zealand Labour Party members of the New Zealand Parliament18 members needed to win Caucus File:David Shearer 2009 (cropped).jpg David Shearer New Zealand Labour Party Mount Albert ≥18 File:David Cunliffe, 2008 (cropped).jpg David Cunliffe New Zealand Labour Party New Lynn <18 Leader Phil Goff David Shearer The 2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 13 December 2011 to choose the thirteenth Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. A Deputy Leader and a senior and a junior whip were also elected. Following the Labour Party's loss in the 2011 general election, leader Phil Goff and deputy leader Annette King resigned, prompting the leadership election, which was conducted as a secret ballot of the Labour caucus. David Cunliffe, David Shearer and David Parker stood for the leadership, and Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson contested the deputy position. Cunliffe and Mahuta ran as a ticket. During the campaign Parker pulled out of the race and endorsed Shearer. Shearer and Robertson won the votes for their respective positions. Chris Hipkins and Darien Fenton were chosen as the senior and junior whips, respectively. Background alt=|thumb|left|upright|The leadership election followed Phil Goff's resignation as party leader. At the 2008 general election, the Fifth Labour Government, led by Helen Clark, was defeated by John Key's National Party. Following Clark's election-night resignation,http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10541911 Cullen follows Clark out of Labour leadership Nicola Shepheard The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 9 November 2008 8 July 2014 Phil Goff was unanimously elected as the party's leader, with Annette King as deputy, and Darren Hughes and Steve Chadwick as the senior and junior whips, respectively.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0811/S00156.htm Labour elects Phil Goff as new leader New Zealand Labour Party 11 November 2008 22 December 2011 The party lost more support in the 26 November 2011 general election; its popular vote dipped to 27% – its worst-ever result under the mixed-member proportional representation systemhttps://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/world/phil-goff-to-step-down-as-nz-labour-leader-after-election-slump/news-story/a9512e85bf4eeabe965090aa3f269659 Phil Goff to step down as NZ Labour leader after election slump Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press The Australian News Corp Australia 27 November 2011 2011-11-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20111127215721/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/world-politics/phil-goff-to-step-down-as-nz-labour-leader-after-election-slump/story-fn9hkofv-1226207279384 subscription live 15 September 2013 – and its number of MPs was reduced from forty-three to thirty-four. On 29 November 2011, Goff and King announced their resignations, effective 13 December.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/6053384/Labour-leadership-battle-Goff-quits Labour leadership battle: Goff quits The Dominion Post Fairfax New Zealand 29 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111202054914/http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/6053384/Labour-leadership-battle-Goff-quits 2 December 2011 21 December 2011 live dmy-all New whips also had to be chosen because Rick Barker (who replaced Hughes as the senior whip in April 2011, following Hughes leaving Parliament)http://www.3news.co.nz/Rick-Barker-takes-over-as-Labours-chief-whip/tabid/423/articleID/205547/Default.aspx Rick Barker takes over as Labour's chief whip 3 News MediaWorks New Zealand 5 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123148/http://www.3news.co.nz/Rick-Barker-takes-over-as-Labours-chief-whip/tabid/423/articleID/205547/Default.aspx 14 July 2014 21 December 2011 dead dmy-all and Chadwick were not re-elected to Parliament.http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6045644/Labours-list-of-casualties-features-stalwarts Labour's list of casualties features stalwarts Stuff.co.nz (Fairfax New Zealand) 28 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153817/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6045644/Labours-list-of-casualties-features-stalwarts 24 September 2015 21 December 2011 live dmy-all Candidates Former Cabinet ministers David Cunliffe (MP for New Lynn) and Nanaia Mahuta (Hauraki-Waikato) ran as a ticket for the leadership and deputy leadership, respectively. Former minister and list MP David Parker and 2009 Mount Albert by-election winner David Shearer were candidates for the party leadership, and Wellington Central representative Grant Robertson sought the deputy leadership. Shane Jones considered standing for the deputy leadership, but in the end did not run. Parker stated his preference for Robertson as deputy leader.http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6060236/Labours-three-Davids-to-hit-the-road Labour's 'three Davids' to hit the road Stuff.co.nz (Fairfax New Zealand) 30 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120101131640/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6060236/Labours-three-Davids-to-hit-the-road 1 January 2012 21 December 2011 live dmy-all Shearer did not indicate a preferred deputy.http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/attachments/docs/horizon-research-labour-leadership-survey-0812.pdf Labour leadership preferences 11 8 December 2011 Horizon Research PDF 6 September 2013 Shearer was viewed as unlikely to win the election; Claire Trevett of The New Zealand Herald originally expected that only Cunliffe and Parker would run for the leader's role,http://www.odt.co.nz/source/apnz/188589/labourleadership29 Parker edges ahead of Cunliffe in leadership race Otago Daily Times Allied Press 29 November 2011 Claire Trevett 26 August 2013 and The Dominion Post Vernon Small wrote that "Mr Shearer's bid is seen as a way to lift his profile".http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/6058327/Who-is-backing-whom-in-Labour-battle Who is backing whom in Labour battle? Vernon Small The Dominion Post Fairfax New Zealand 30 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131215061112/http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/6058327/Who-is-backing-whom-in-Labour-battle 15 December 2013 26 August 2013 live dmy-all Political commentator Bryce Edwards said that Cunliffe was the more appealing candidate to the public, and described Parker and Robertson as "sort of Phil Goff clones".http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769539 'Charismatic' Cunliffe people's choice for Labour Claire Trevett The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 29 November 2011 26 August 2013 Campaign Labour Party president Moira Coatsworth stated that the leadership contest would be a "robust contest of ideas", and suggested to the party's caucus that a series of meetings with party members be held around New Zealand.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10770054 David, David or David? Would-be leaders hit the road Claire Trevett The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 1 December 2011 22 December 2011 These were held from 6 to 11 December in six major cities—Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland. The party membership was then encouraged to give feedback to the party caucus, who would vote in the election.http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/92681/labour-leadership-candidates-focused-on-meetings Labour leadership candidates focused on meetings 4 December 2011 Radio New Zealand 22 December 2011 On 30 November Cunliffe, Parker and Shearer were interviewed by Mark Sainsbury on the current affairs programme Close Up. The television show held a text message poll in which viewers voted for their preferred leader of the party. Over 7,500 people took part; Shearer received 50% of the support, Cunliffe 31% and Parker 19%. The following day, Parker pulled out of the leadership race and put his support behind Shearer.http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/parker-drops-backs-shearer-labour-leadership-4585338 Parker drops out, backs Shearer for Labour leadership One News Television New Zealand 1 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111203060825/http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/parker-drops-backs-shearer-labour-leadership-4585338 3 December 2011 21 December 2011 live http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/shearer-wins-battle-three-davids-poll-4583409 Shearer wins battle of the three Davids – poll One News Television New Zealand 30 November 2011 22 December 2011http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1112/S00009/david-parker-withdrawing-from-labour-leadership.htm David Parker withdrawing from Labour leadership David Parker David Parker (New Zealand politician) New Zealand Labour Party 1 December 2011 22 December 2011 Shearer and Cunliffe were interviewed by Guyon Espiner on political talkshow Q+A on 4 December. During the interview, both candidates indicated their support for the introduction of a capital gains tax, which was a key part of Labour's tax policy during the 2011 general election campaign.http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5290069/Goff-hits-back-at-tax-critics Goff hits back at tax critics Daniel Adams Waikato Times Fairfax New Zealand 15 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131215043552/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5290069/Goff-hits-back-at-tax-critics 15 December 2013 15 December 2013 live dmy-all Both also disagreed with the 2008 Employment Relations Amendment Act (90-day workplace trial), and wanted New Zealand to invest further in research and development; Shearer mentioned striving for a more green economy.http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/david-shearer-cuniffe-transcript-4588650 David Shearer and David Cuniffe transcript Q+A Television New Zealand 4 December 2011 15 December 2013 On 9 December, Horizon Research released a demographically-weighted survey which found that 35.4% of adult New Zealanders supported Shearer's bid for the leadership, and 19.9% backed Cunliffe.http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/195/public-back- Public back Shearer over Cunliffe for Labour leadership Horizon Research 9 December 2011 6 September 2013 Outcome and aftermath Shadow Cabinet of David Shearer The election took place on 13 December 2011 and comprised a secret ballot of the thirty-four Labour caucus members, meaning a candidate had to receive the support of eighteen MPs to win. Shearer was elected the party leader, Robertson the deputy leader, Chris Hipkins the senior whip and Darien Fenton the junior whip.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6131308/David-Shearer-elected-as-Labour-leader David Shearer elected as Labour leader The Dominion Post Fairfax New Zealand 13 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120112062947/http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6131308/David-Shearer-elected-as-Labour-leader 12 January 2012 22 December 2011 live dmy-all http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/12333906/high-flyer-hipkins-new-labour-chief-whip/ High-flyer Hipkins new Labour chief whip NZ Newswire 13 December 2011 Yahoo! News (Yahoo!) https://web.archive.org/web/20120425113054/http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/12333906/high-flyer-hipkins-new-labour-chief-whip/ 25 April 2012 22 December 2011 live dmy-all Upon election, Shearer stated, "I am a fresh face for Labour and I represent a fresh start for New Zealand."http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1112/S00081/david-shearer-new-labour-leader-presser-audiovideopics.htm David Shearer New Labour Leader Scoop 13 December 2011 22 December 2011 Both One News' Espiner and 3 News reported that Shearer received about twenty-two of the thirty-four votes for the leadership position;http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/labour-s-new-leader-i-m-up-job-4632281 Labour's new leader: I'm up to the job One News Television New Zealand 13 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130906102024/http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/labour-s-new-leader-i-m-up-job-4632281 6 September 2013 22 December 2011 live dmy-all http://www.3news.co.nz/Shearer-routs-Cunliffe-for-Labour-leadership/tabid/419/articleID/236418/Default.aspx Shearer routs Cunliffe for Labour leadership 3 News MediaWorks New Zealand Duncan Garner 13 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131215043229/http://www.3news.co.nz/Shearer-routs-Cunliffe-for-Labour-leadership/tabid/419/articleID/236418/Default.aspx 15 December 2013 8 September 2013 dead however, Coatsworth stipulated that the election was secret and that she was the only person who had access to the ballot papers, which were destroyed.http://www.3news.co.nz/Secret-caucus-ballot-will-stay-secret/tabid/419/articleID/236391/Default.aspx Secret caucus ballot will stay secret 3 News MediaWorks New Zealand 13 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120129234254/http://www.3news.co.nz/Secret-caucus-ballot-will-stay-secret/tabid/419/articleID/236391/Default.aspx 29 January 2012 22 December 2011 dead dmy-all Robertson and Jacinda Ardern publicly supported Shearer,http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10771210 Shearer v Cunliffe: Which way Labour's MPs are voting Claire Trevett The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 6 December 2011 8 September 2013http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772186 Labour leadership hopefuls The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 10 December 2011 6 September 2013 and Carmel Sepuloni backed Cunliffe.http://www.3news.co.nz/Vicious-scrap-over-Labour-leadership/tabid/419/articleID/236258/Default.aspx 'Vicious' scrap over Labour leadership 3 News MediaWorks New Zealand Patrick Gower 12 December 2011 6 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130906103317/http://www.3news.co.nz/Vicious-scrap-over-Labour-leadership/tabid/419/articleID/236258/Default.aspx 6 September 2013 dead On 19 December, Shearer announced a reshuffle of the Labour front bench—Parker replaced Cunliffe in the finance portfolio and number three ranking, Ardern took the number four spot as social development spokesperson, while Cunliffe moved down to number five and gained the economic development portfolio. Clayton Cosgrove (number six) became responsible for state owned enterprises and commerce, Jones (number seven) took regional development and fisheries and Mahuta (number eight) picked up education.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10774155 Labour reveals new front bench Claire Trevett The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 19 December 2011 22 December 2011 Shearer himself took the science and innovation portfolio, while Robertson was made environment spokesperson.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10774269 Shearer gives team a year to shape up Claire Trevett The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media 20 December 2011 22 December 2011 References 40em Labour Party leadership election, 2011 2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election