What: New Generation Politics in Aotearoa New Zealand Seminar Series - March to June 2010

When: 4.10-5.30pm

Where: Stout Research Centre 12 Waiteata Road, Kelburn

For a full programme and more details see http://www.victoria.ac.nz/stout-centre/about/events/current-seminars.aspx

Seminars are open to the public. For further information please contact the Stout Research Centre on (04) 463 5305 or email stout-centre@vuw.ac.nz

Seminar Series - March to June 2010

Time: 4.10-5.30pm

Location Stout Research Centre
12 Waiteata Road
Kelburn
Wellington

Programme

24 March
Metiria Turei, Green Party Co-Leader in Conversation with Maria Bargh, Te Kawa a Māui, Victoria
Metiria Turei will consider whether there has been a genuine generational shift in both representation and in how politics is done. If so, what kind of transformation are we looking at, what might it mean for party political tribalism, and crucially, will anything really change?

31 March
Robbie Shilliam, Political Science & International Relations Programme, Victoria
'Black Aotearoa'
In 1979 a London based Black theatre group toured the north island of Aotearoa New Zealand, visiting community centres and marae. The troupe was known as Keskidee, named after a small Guyanese bird that is known for its resilience, and consisted of Black British, Afro-Caribbean, African-American and African performers including a trio of Rasta musicians called Ras Messengers. The collectives in Aotearoa New Zealand that organized the tour were called Keskidee Aroha. I seek to sketch out the shape of the colonial stage upon which Keskidee played, and assess the type of translations that are prompted when (post-) colonized subjects speak to each-other rather than directly addressing the colonizer. I use this episode as a way to try and explore alternative imaginings of the place of Aotearoa New Zealand in a global colonial past and present.

21 April
David Shearer, MP for Mount Albert

28 April
Elizabeth McLeay, School of Law, Victoria
'Politics as a Vocation: the Ethical Complications and Implications'
As New Zealand politics has become professionalized, and becoming a parliamentarian has become a full-time occupation for most MPs, problems have arisen around the issues of ethical behaviour and job entitlements. In this presentation I discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by MPs, ministers, and democracy itself. I illustrate the discussion with examples.

5 May
Jon Johansson, Political Science & International Relations Programme, Victoria
'The Shifting Sands of Generational Politics: Transitional Interregnum?'
In this seminar Jon will traverse the major themes of the generational analysis of contemporary politics outlined in his recent book The Politics of Possibility. Various dimensions which underpin the idea of new generational politics will be discussed, with particular reference to our last generational shift in 1984 and the discussion will then turn to contextualise the new generational credential of Prime Minister Key and his government.

12 May
Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga
'Issues for New Zealand and its Politicians in Tomorrow's World'
We live in a rapidly changing world. What issues does New Zealand face as we move into the future? And where will the ideas come from to solve them? Simon Bridges MP will examine these questions and also ask whether politicians in dealing with the issues and ideas we will have in years to come will behave any differently from politicians in days gone by. In particular are politicians becoming less ideological and more interested in 'what works' as some suggest and how do the issues and ideas differ depending on where you come from in the political spectrum?

19 May
Hilary Pearse, Political Science & International Relations Programme, Victoria
'Political Party Adaptation to Non-majority Government'
Political parties in Westminster-derived democracies are typically accustomed to single party majority government. However, parties in a number of these countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, have had to adapt to prolonged periods of minority and/or coalition government. This seminar compares the adaptation of the New Zealand Labour Party to the experience of the Liberal Party of Canada and Fianna Fáil in Ireland to develop an analytical framework for party adaptation to non-majority government.

26 May
Fiona Barker, Political Science & International Relations Programme, Victoria
'Making Auckland Greater? Debating Maori, Pacific and “Ethnic” Representation in the SuperCity Governance Structures'
This year’s transition to Auckland’s new “super city” governance arrangements are being accompanied by controversy over how Maori, Pacific and “other ethnic” populations should be represented on the new Auckland council. The presentation will discuss how the political decisions on ethnic seats, advisory boards and other mechanisms have unfolded. I will then discuss what the current debate about Auckland may mean for broader understandings and contestation of formal political representation of Maori and other minority ethnic populations in New Zealand.

2 June
Kate McMillan, Political Science & International Relations Programme, Victoria
'The Electoral Referendum 2011: the Options and their Likely Electoral Consequences'
In 2011 New Zealanders will have the opportunity to vote in a binding referendum on the electoral system. As a first step they will be asked whether they wish to retain MMP or change to an alternative system. If they wish to change they will be asked which of four alternative systems would be their preference: First-Past-The-Post; Preferential Vote; Single Transferable Vote; and Supplementary Member. If a majority vote for change in 2011, a follow-up referendum will be held in 2014 between MMP and the most popular alternative. In this seminar I will examine the four options offered as alternatives to MMP, assessing their ability to meet a number of democratic criteria, and look to the experiences of other countries that use one or more of the proposed alternatives. I will also examine Germany’s experience with MMP and modifications made to that system since its introduction there.