Party Politics in New Zealand.

• Author: Bellamy, Paul
• Position: Book Review

PARTY POLITICS IN NEW ZEALAND

Author: Raymond Miller Published by: Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2005, 286pp, $49.95.

There has been a lack of a specialist text on contemporary New Zealand political parties and the party system, an absence that Raymond Miller seeks to address. This book provides an historical and contemporary analysis of New Zealand parties. It examines the impact of recent political and electoral reforms, and reassesses the party system along with the role and influence of parties.

The book is organised around two central themes. Firstly, the transition from a two-party system to a multiparty system is examined. Secondly, the decline of party membership and activism is explored along with the role of parties in this decline.

Chapters are organised thematically. The book first outlines participation and the party system. Part two focuses on the development of the party system and its operation under proportional representation. Part three examines how parties organise. More specifically, party organisation, membership, activism, funding, and candidate and leader selection are outlined before leaders are assessed. Part four examines how parties compete. Here ideology and policy, the modern campaign, representatives, and parties in power are studied. Finally, the conclusion evaluates the future of participation and the party system. Miller conclusion that the future shape of the party system is as uncertain today as it was when the mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system was first introduced, but that New Zealand will retain its strong tradition of representation and government by party.

The book provides an excellent analysis of New Zealand parties under both the 'first past the post' and MMP electoral systems. Party politics are examined through the use of a wealth of evidence, both of an historical and contemporary nature. For instance, the development of parties in the late 19th century and the establishment last year of the Maori Party are covered. Domestic coverage is supplemented by reference to parties abroad, such as in Britain and the United States.

Of particular interest is the study of parties in power (Chapter 11). The impact of coalitions on parties is assessed, and past coalition governments are reviewed...