Dr Bryce Edwards, a political commentator and former academic in the University of Otago politics department, made that comment after a Dunedin panel discussion yesterday, to evaluate the recent general election.
New Zealand had not been as hard hit by the global financial crisis as the United States and some other countries, and had largely avoided the austerity and economic problems that the US had faced, he said.
While the reaction against those economic woes had contributed to Donald Trump winning the US presidential election, the political outcome had not been as extreme in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had contributed strongly to an "incredible" change in Labour’s fortunes and New Zealand now had "the most left-wing government in the English-speaking world", he said.
Dr Edwards chaired the 1.30pm panel discussion at the Otago University campus, and also contributed to the discussion.
Associate Prof Grant Duncan, of Massey University, said New Zealand had generally been well served by the behaviour of politicians during the recent general election.
Both main leaders had performed well, "although they were quite different individuals", and had focused on key issues and policies, rather than on personalities, and on rhetoric, he said.
Dr Maria Bargh, of Victoria University of Wellington, said the demise of the Maori Party was due several factors, including the failure of some of its attempted political manoeuvres.
These included a kawenata (agreement) between the Maori Party and the Mana Party about which seats would be contested, she said.
Associate Prof Jennifer Curtin, of Auckland University, said it was not surprising that New Zealand First had formed a coalition government with Labour, because New Zealand First’s policies had only about two significant differences from those of Labour.
The panel discussion was part of the New Zealand Political Studies Association’s 50th anniversary conference, which ended at Otago yesterday.
Dr Edwards is now a senior associate in Victoria University of Wellington’s Institute for Governance and Policy Studies.
