Even the Americans can see Labour's problem

I’ve been going through Bryce Edwards posting of Wikileaks NZ documents. There is an amazing amount of information and some real gems. I particularly like this one though from 23 April 2009. There is a good summary about why Labour is rooted, but the kicker is in the tail. I have posted the hear to make searching the pdf easier…and just section 9 of the cable. Emphasis added is mine.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2024

TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, NZ

SUBJECT: LABOUR DOOMED TO WANDER NEW ZEALAND’S POLITICAL

WILDERNESS?

Classified By: Acting DCM Margaret McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)….

9. (C) Even in defeat, Helen Clark continued to cast a long shadow over the future of the Labour Party, despite her generally low profile after tranferring the leadership to Phil Goff. With her departure for New York, effective rebuilding can begin, but is likely to be done slowly and without fanfare for fear of endangering the Clark legacy, which many in Labour will find difficult to let go. Most analysts agree that Labour needs an influx of new blood; however, simply promoting younger Labour Party personalities may not be enough to change voting patterns without a fundamental rethink of how some of Labour’s policies were rejected by the electorate and that a more centrist approach to governance (as National has done) may be needed. The Labour Party also tends to attract its membership from the ranks of academics, unions and government workers. National’s younger candidates, in contrast, typified the cross section of younger New Zealand professionals and middle class families — and were candidates who attracted important swing voters in urban centers where Labour traditionally had strong support. Whether Labour can field a similar broad range of younger candidates among its traditional left-of-center pockets of support is in question. The party will also need to revamp its current parliamentary list, which is replete with tried, tested, and largely defeated Labour Party stalwarts. End Comment.