This seems like the right thread to ask: what the heck is going on (or not) with NZ Labour? Way behind the three-term government and not a single opinion poll in almost a decade has shown them in the lead. Or is it just down to NZ having a thing for keeping governments in power for ages?
John Key is a very competent person who hasn't really angered anyone. Plus Labour was more competitive with the centrist vote during Helen Clark(Helped by the really smooth economy during most of her tenure).
John Key came along and capitalized on the GFC to get into power and has been barely popular enough ever since to keep ruling. He's quite centrist as well and did help pass a law allowing same-sex couples to marry despite half of his party being in opposition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Definition_of_Marriage)_Amendment_Act_2013Also he did implement a lot of Environmentalist policies due to it being popular in the county.
Also there hasn't been much issues in New Zealand recently. Tax decreases and Privatizations that were done under a Labour Government in the 80s(Rogernomics) is a sealed issue.
And John Key has a mild personality which is hard to campaign against, unlike with Abbott and John Howard.
Also a Labour government deepened on the greens and the anti-immigration/economic left, NZ first. which was quite repulsive to moderate voters.
Plus the economy is still growing.
So unless the economy goes into recession again or voters get tired of John Key eventually. Labour will be out of power until then.
