Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 19, 2008 Cheshvan 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:18 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
New Zealand victorious National Party leader John Key (AP)
Last update - 18:53 18/11/2008
Jewish and conservative, New Zealand's elected PM promises change
By Sefi Krupsky and The Associated Press
Tags: New Zealand, John Key 

New Zealanders chose a multimillionaire former foreign currency trader on Saturday to lead them through the global financial meltdown, handing longserving left-wing Prime Minister Helen Clark a crushing election defeat.

Conservative leader John Key invoked Barack Obama's catchcry of now being the time for change in his victory speech, and even joked that he wouldn't match the U.S. President-elect's promise of a new dog for his kids.

Both comments were a sign of how far Obama's win - broadcast live on television just a few days before New Zealanders voted - has reverberated.
Advertisement
Key's conservative National Party easily won power in the South Pacific's largest country, known internationally for its pristine environment and as the backdrop to the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

"Today, New Zealand has spoken, in their hundreds of thousands, and they have voted for change," Key told supporters at a packed victory celebration in the country's largest city, Auckland.

New Zealand's farming export-dependent economy fell into recession early this year, and Key said the worldwide downturn is the most immediate problem for the country.

"The global financial crisis means that the road ahead may well be a rocky one," Key said. "Tomorrow, the hard work begins."

Key, like Obama, is 47 years old and belongs to a minority group in his country. Key's mother, Ruth Lazar, is a Jewish immigrant from Austria and is considered an active member of New Zealand's Jewish community of about 5,000.

Key has been less than forthcoming about his positions regarding Israel, but stresses in interviews that he is a friend of Israel and wants to visit Jerusalem. Members of the Kiwi Jewish community point out that Key took part in Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations, and has donated to Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem.

Key has promised a more right-leaning government than Clark's, which for almost a decade made global warming a key policy issue and led the international condemnation of scientific whaling.

In a country where the environment is a mainstream political issue, Key has vowed to wind back Clark's greenhouse gas emission trading scheme to protect businesses from financial losses, and to reduce red tape that he says will entangle infrastructure projects, such as dams, due to environmental concerns.

Clark had wanted New Zealand to become the world's first emissions-neutral country.

Seeking a historic fourth term that would have pushed her rule past a dozen years, Clark accepted responsibility for a crushing loss by quitting as Labor's leader - effectively retiring to obscurity.

She blamed a "time-for-a-change factor, and that took us out with the tide" for the election loss.

"So, with that it's over and out from me. Thank you New Zealand for the privilege of having been your prime minister for the last nine years, Kia ora Tatou," she said, reciting a farewell in the indigenous Maori language.

Key will not need the support of the indigenous Maori Party, which won five seats but will not hold the balance of power. He said he would reach out to the Maori Party anyway and seek their support in Parliament.

During the campaign, Clark accused Key of having a hidden right-wing agenda, which he denied.

Allies within Key's coalition indicated they would try to squelch a hard-right agenda.

"The last thing New Zealand needs now with a new government is an outburst of extremism," said United Future Party leader Peter Dunne, who is aligned with the Nationals and has been offered a ministerial post.

Also notable was a rise in the vote for the Maori Party, which won one more seat for a total of five, but two short of its target.

Foreign affairs and trade policies are unlikely to change under Key  including the long-standing ban on nuclear-powered ships entering New Zealand ports that has rankled its U.S. military ally.

New Zealand's small number of troops doing reconstruction work in Afghanistan will remain. New Zealand has no troops in Iraq.

Related articles:
  • New Zealand gov't, Jewish leaders denounce graves desecration
  • The Disraeli saga
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Iran arrests blogger
    Hossein Derakhshan admitted to spying for Israel, claims Iranian Web site.
    Peace through sport
    Jewish and Arab youngsters are finding common ground through Hand in Hand.
      1.   Congratulations! Time to renew relationships between our two 23:42  |  Aubrey 08/11/08
      2.   Jolly good show, New Zealand....! 23:53  |  Stephen. Jr. 08/11/08
      3.   Change is in the air 00:01  |  x-ray 09/11/08
      4.   Maybe NZ Will Be Visitable 00:35  |  Brad 09/11/08
      5.   new zealand election result 00:38  |  peter bolot 09/11/08
      6.   New PM for New Zealand-bye bye Clark 00:43  |  Rich 09/11/08
      7.   Good luck to the Kiwis 00:44  |  Michael J 09/11/08
      8.   Change 01:50  |  Motic 09/11/08
      9.   There has never been a 02:39  |  kiwi girl 09/11/08
      10.   If #4 kiwi girl is upset ... 03:21  |  Aussie Michael 09/11/08
      11.   New leadership in New Zealand. What does this mean for Obama? 05:55  |  Maureen Ann 09/11/08
      12.   this guy knows NOTHING 06:38  |  VIPER 09/11/08
      13.   #7, KIWI GIRL, don`t listen to michael 06:41  |  VIPER 09/11/08
      14.   john key`s mother 06:52  |  shimon 09/11/08
      15.   #7 Kiwi girl - very ignorant 07:01  |  Adrian de Klerk 09/11/08
      16.   clark has gon HUZZAH!! 07:05  |  Adrian de Klerk 09/11/08
      17.   Jewish pm 07:56  |  ted heath 09/11/08
      18.   he`s only the third Jewish PM of New Zealand 08:46  |  myrta 09/11/08
      19.   what`s the fuss about religion? 09:07  |  Maya 09/11/08
      20.   another conservative 10:36  |  Sameer 09/11/08
      21.   jews in New zealand 10:59  |  Pinchas 09/11/08
      22.   To # 13 VIPER 11:07  |  Michael J 09/11/08
      23.   another country gone to hall 11:49  |  raymond deane 09/11/08
      24.   # 19 maya 12:02  |  Axel 09/11/08
      25.   there`s always one... 12:06  |  kiwi boy 09/11/08
      26.   U.S. Goes LEFT... NZ goes RIGHT! 12:25  |  samy 09/11/08
      27.   samy - some context 12:40  |  kiwi boy 09/11/08
      28.   YES! 12:41  |  ATLAS 09/11/08
      29.   To Michael J #22 14:09  |  NotConfused 09/11/08
      30.   Genesis 1:28 14:34  |  Dav 09/11/08
      31.   Samy #26 14:49  |  Michael 09/11/08
      32.   Another Zionist gets in to power. 15:37  |  Labhras 09/11/08
      33.   I´m start to like New Zealand, now the jew haters in there 15:52  |  JP 09/11/08
      34.   JESUSALEN 16:32  |  cristian 09/11/08
      35.   To Labras, condolences 17:21  |  CM 09/11/08
      36.   Another Labhrass Message Posted 17:28  |  Tex 09/11/08
      37.   New Zealand 18:22  |  The Teacher/Instruct 09/11/08
      38.   Samy 20:19  |  Connie 09/11/08
      39.   Kosher Kiwi 01:45  |  Maria 10/11/08
      40.   #24 01:48  |  Maya 10/11/08
      41.   this guy knows NOTHING - I will definitely listen to Michael 01:48  |  Eve 10/11/08
      42.   #22, MICAEL J, the pot calls the kettle black 02:16  |  VIPER 10/11/08
      43.   Glad that the he is a conservative 02:36  |  Political observer 10/11/08
      44.   Bravo for NZ, I predicted the hate comments of "anti-Zionists" 15:10  |  Noam 10/11/08
      45.   New Zealands` first Jewish Prime minister 16:31  |  Kiwi Jack 10/11/08
      46.   kiwi girl 20:10  |  Victoria 10/11/08
      47.   John Keys 22:00  |  Philip Innes 10/11/08
      48.   KIWI Girl Most Kiwis not aware? Only the ignorant ones 02:55  |  PETER SM 11/11/08
      49.   To # 42 VIPER 11:18  |  Michael J 11/11/08
      50.   First NZ Consulate in Israel? 15:47  |  leven5 11/11/08
      51.   good that a jew has been elected 17:24  |  a jew 12/11/08
      52.   NZ is not a conservative country 08:43  |  Isis 13/11/08
      53.   Get it right! 23:10  |  Lyn of Tawa 15/11/08
      54.   John Key not a minority 12:16  |  Tim 18/11/08
     Read & React
    MI Chief: U.S. can halt Iran nukes via dialogue
    Responses: 65
    Report: Abbas asked Olmert to free Barghouti as goodwill gesture
    Responses: 60
    Fayyad: Settlement building will destroy the peace process
    Responses: 51
    Peres: Syria knows benefits of peace deal with Israel
    Responses: 49


    More Headlines
    20:06 Iran aims to launch nuclear plant in 2009
    00:09 Settler rabbi: State of Israel is an enemy of the people
    21:43 Israel outraged at UN remarks urging end to Gaza blockade
    21:18 Iranian blogger who visited Israel arrested for spying
    22:28 Alperon's sister: Whoever killed Ya'akov, the same will be done to his children
    22:43 Peres in U.K.: Syria knows the benefits of a peace deal with Israel
    23:14 U.S. paper: War on terror must include war on terrorists' cash
    23:18 Palestinian, Israeli kids find peace on basketball court
    18:53 Abbas said to ask Olmert to free Barghouti as goodwill gesture
    18:53 Report: Suspected Lebanon spy made frequent visits to Israel
    18:53 MI Chief: U.S. can halt Iran nuclear program with dialogue
    18:53 IDF Home Front links Ashdod up to rocket-warning system
    18:53 Egyptian court bans natural gas exports to Israel
    19:44 Haredi man jailed for causing death of infant son
    18:53 Israeli diamond trader murdered in Johannesburg
    18:53 Palestinian PM: Settlement building will destroy peace process
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dan Boutique Jerusalem
    New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online!
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved