NZ outbreak forces Ardern to postpone election for four weeks
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delayed the New Zealand election until October 17 after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland.
New Zealand was set to go to the polls on September 19 until the countryās first community outbreak in 102 days.
However, Ardern has chosen to defer the poll by four weeks, responding to calls from the opposition and her deputy Winston Peters.
āI want to ensure we have a well run election that gives voters all the information they need ā¦ and delivers certainty for the future,ā she said in Wellington on Monday morning.
āI do need to provide certainty, a sense of fairness and a sense of comfort to voters to ensure them that this will be a safe election.ā
The Labour leader first announced September 19 as the date for a general election back in January.
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However, the surprise return of the virus to Aotearoa on the day before the Parliament was due to be dissolved led to an 11th hour review of the poll date.
The Auckland outbreak has infected 49 people and prompted Ms Ardern to send the countryās biggest city into lockdown.
Opposition leader Judith Collins, Peters and one-man party ACT have all campaigned for a delay to the poll.
Collins also says a delay would be both āright and fairā, the latter suggesting Ardern is benefiting politically from increased visibility during the outbreak.
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Peters, a politically astute campaigner first elected in 1978, has argued an election in the current environment would suppress turnout and his ability to woo voters.
āVoters need to be able to hear from all political parties about their COVID response and other policies. That is fair,ā he said.
āBut until Aucklandās alert level comes down the playing field is hopelessly compromised.ā
Ardern said Peters did āabsolutely notā force her hand, saying she consulted all leaders of parliamentary parties without revealing her view.
āIt would be entirely inappropriate for this decision to be based on anything that could be seen as political partisanship,ā she said.
Ardernās decision means parliament will return on Tuesday and be dissolved on September 6.
Early voting will begin on October 3.
-AAP
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