Published by Victoria University Press, Moments of Truth: The New Zealand General Election of 2014 includes perspectives from a wide range of contributors including political party leaders and campaign managers, media and political commentators, pollsters, consultants and academics.
It tells the story of an election campaign characterised by tumult and confusion ranging from the controversy around Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics and the televised ‘moment of truth’ involving Kim Dotcom, whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, to the resignation of Cabinet Minister Judith Collins, Labour Party leader David Cunliffe’s apology for being a man and the National Party being sued by an American rap star.
The new book was launched by broadcaster Kim Hill at The Backbencher in Wellington to a gathering which included many of the contributors to the book and those who played central roles in the 2014 election.
Victoria University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Frazer Allan said the book is a fine testament to work by Victoria University’s political scientists and represents intellectual leadership from the University and its political science and international relations programme.
“It is also a work that carries on the enormously valuable publishing contribution being made by Victoria University Press, whose contribution to scholarship and to New Zealand studies has been enormous and remains indispensable to the national life of the country.”
Moments of Truth features chapters from representatives of all the parliamentary parties and contributions on technology and social media in the 2014 general election campaign. The accompanying DVD provides a brilliant (and entertaining) visual record of the election and significant events surrounding it says Professor Levine.
Staff from Victoria University’s School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations have been producing books about New Zealand’s general elections since 1987, and this is the tenth book in the series. The two previous books, Key to Victory and Kicking the Tyres, were launched by Prime Minister John Key, who has a chapter in Moments of Truth providing his own personal perspective on the 2014 campaign and election.
Moments of Truth is available in bookshops and can also be ordered from Victoria University Press.