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New Zealand goes to polls on November 8

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on Friday called a general election for November 8, hoping to win a fourth straight term in office despite being dogged by economic recession and political scandal.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 22:59 September 12, 2008
  • Gulf News

Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on Friday called a general election for November 8, hoping to win a fourth straight term in office despite being dogged by economic recession and political scandal.

Clark's Labour-led minority coalition, which has been in power since 1999, has trailed the centre-right National Party for the past year, and is currently 13 percentage points behind.

"This election is about trust," Clark told a news conference.

"It is about which leader and which major party we New Zealanders trust our families' and our country's future with."

But Clark's nine years in office could be her Achilles' heel, with opposition National leader John Key pushing the message with voters that it's time for a change of government.

The main issue will be the economy. In its May budget Labour unveiled a NZ$10.6 billion (Dh25.9 billion) package of personal tax cuts over the next four years, starting from October 1.

Tax package

The National Party has promised its own package of tax reforms, but has withheld the details until the start of the election campaign.

Clark said sustainable use of resources and environmental issues would be major planks of Labour's campaign, but it would also roll out major social and economic policies.

Climate change will also be a focus with the New Zealand government.

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