Prime Minister to open conference on general election

A December conference hosted by Victoria University of Wellington will reflect on the 2014 New Zealand general election campaign.

The Beehive Government Office in Wellington

Organised by Victoria political scientists Professor Stephen Levine and Dr Jon Johansson, the conference will bring together the leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament. They will be joined by journalists, independent commentators and academics, who will consider various features of the election campaign and its consequences. 

The conference will be opened by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon John Key, who will be introduced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon David Carter.
 
Victoria University has been holding post-election conferences since 1987 but, Professor Levine notes, this is the first time that an incumbent Prime Minister has spoken at one of them. “We are especially delighted that Prime Minister John Key will be opening the conference with his personal view on the election and the campaign, the significance of his success in winning a third term, as well as his thoughts about his legacy to New Zealand looking towards the future.”

Other conference speakers include Rt Hon Winston Peters; Listener political columnist Jane Clifton; veteran journalist Colin James; well-known political scientists Professor Nigel S. Roberts and Dr Therese Arseneau; and respected pollster Stephen Mills. 

Previous post-election conferences held by Victoria University have led to a series of published books, including The Baubles of Office in 2005, Key to Victory in 2008 and Kicking the Tyres in 2011.

Dr Johansson says: “These Victoria post-election conferences, and the books that follow them, are a tradition of our programme and make a valuable contribution in documenting New Zealand's elections.”

The 3 December conference is being held at Parliament in The Legislative Council Chamber and The Grand Hall. Pre-registration is required.  

To register: 

For registration enquiries or a conference programme:
Conference administrator Pennie Gapes on 04-463 7403 or pennie.gapes@vuw.ac.nz

What: Post-election conference
When: 3 December, 8.45am–4.45pm
Where: Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington