The Red Flag

Happy Birthday to the New Zealand Labour Party.

Then raise the scarlet standard high
Beneath its folds, we'll live and die
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
We'll keep the red flag flying here

Lyrics: Billy Bragg / Traditional.

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On this day in 1916, smaller socialist parties and trade unions came together to form our New Zealand Labour Party. So, congratulations to all those who have, and continue to, strive under that banner to make this country a fairer place.

A proud legacy.

What a debt we owe you for pretty much every piece of legislation that has improved things for women, for families, for workers, and for supporting social change, since you came to power in 1935.

New Zealand Labour Party: 1935 election campaign - Labour's 12 points [1938. Page 12] Image: https://natlib.govt.nz/records/40716974

Here is Michael Joseph Savage’s speech on that occasion:

Think of our great leaders - Savage, Norman Kirk, David Lange, Helen Clark, and Jacinda Ardern. I can’t think of a Prime Minister from another party that can hold a candle to any of them.

Between them, they gave us much of what we cherish about our nation, despite the inclinations of this current government to undo their good work.

The welfare state, state housing, proudly independent foreign policies, our nuclear-free status, KiwiSaver, the Cullen Fund, and our responses to the Christchurch terror attack and Covid.

You’ve done us proud. Who knows, one of these days, we might even forgive you for Roger Douglas. You, that is, never him. Never him.

We malign you for not being as left as some of us would like, but you know that you must appeal to a broad crowd to win.

We complain that you don’t release policies when we would like, but you know, no matter what you put out, the coalition and much of the media will attack it, not on merit, but because you said it.

Sorry, we’re impatient, we want you back in charge - now. Much as it pains me, you’re probably right to wait.

Better Together.

I don’t vote for you, but I desperately want you to win.

Like many, you lost my trust with the neoliberals of the 80s. That anger is long gone, now I vote for the Greens because I want a more left-wing Labour government, both in terms of green issues and red ones.

I understand that some of the Greens’ policies I support are not considered “mainstream”, although as I look at the effects of climate change and the inequality in this country, I’m not sure why they aren’t.

But I want you to win. Together.

Spoiled for Choice.

Many people in countries like ours have no real choice. In the US, the Democrats are further right than our National Party; heck, they barely want gun control or universal healthcare. In the UK, Keir Starmer may as well be a Tory. You are not like them.

We are fortunate to have the option to vote for a centre-left Labour party, which I always do with my electorate vote, I don’t waste my vote, or a party like the Greens, my party vote, who will work with Labour, and push for stronger action on issues like climate change or tax reform.

The balance between centre-left and further left is in our hands, whereas in the US or the UK, they don’t even have a viable left-wing option.

As a great Kiwi once said, he wasn’t one of yours, but I reckon he’d have voted for you, “We don’t know how lucky we are.”

When I see or attend Labour events, it feels like I’m in NZ, the images of coalition party events make me feel young, and not much else does that these days!

Photo: Carmel Sepuloni, Facebook.

I see your MPs and your councillors, and they want the same things I do. It is obvious how much they care about Health, Education, workers’ rights, and people having enough to pay their bills and a roof over their head.

Your response to the actions of this government is the same as mine. I can see that it hurts you, and you hate to see what’s happening to our country as much as I do.

“Democracy doesn’t belong to the Government or prime ministers. It belongs to the people.” - Norman Kirk.

I don’t expect you to fix all the problems overnight, but I know you care, and that is a mighty improvement over this lot.

However, I have confidence that you’ll be much better at addressing the important issues than this coalition. Because you are there for people, not just a minority with money.

All of us.

All of the people in our society deserve respect.

Yes, farmers and businesspeople should be acknowledged for their contributions, but so too should our care workers, teachers, and nurses.

It makes me sick the way our government has positioned our public sector, our essential workers as a burden on the taxpayer, a cost to be minimised and not as people who look after us and help us from cradle to grave.

So, a very Happy Birthday, Labour Party. I’ll still be voting for the Greens, but it will be because I want a strongly left-wing Labour government, and in my view, that’s the best way of achieving it.

Please note that if you’re a Labour voter, I’m not trying to change your mind; you should vote for whoever you want. And I got to say that the Red team is looking mighty appealing right now, past, present, and future.

Savage, Kirk, Lange, Clark, Ardern, and Hipkins. Image: BeFunky.

Have a great Monday, folks, and a very Happy Birthday, NZ Labour.

Ngā mihi,
Nick.

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To end today, here’s our old mate Billy with The Red Flag, I imagine a few of you might know it.