So it comes to this, the task now will be to highlight and fight against any slow incremental advances to the right that this extreme government introduces. I say extreme because New Zealand has gifted a majority to National and ACT. 5 ACT MP’s is a scary thought. One Roger Douglas, a full front bench of Privatising Tories and half a puppet Prime Minister. Oh God what have we done.

9 years of social justice, workers rights, strong public services and stable leadership is over and I wait with baited breath to witness what havoc can be unleashed in these first 100 days. I encourage everyone with left leaning tendencies to come together to starve off any attempt by our conservative government to take us back to the grim days of the last National government.

Now is the time to unite to ensure this government is held accountable for anything that takes us backward, and challenge Key for his ‘brighter future’ rhetoric. This one term government (if that) will be severely restricted by so many New Zealanders embracing the many achievements of the past 9 years, and will suffer dearly for any attempt to undermine these. Helen Clark has left a huge legacy in New Zealand and it is up to us to defend such advancements.

As a member of Young Labour and a proud left-wing activist I realise the huge task that is ahead of me and others in my position. I care deeply about this country and its people and I refuse to allow the last 9 years of good government to be torn apart by the new radical right wing government.

There will be a range of issues that will come up in the next few months and throughout National’s single term in government; Young Labour will have a huge role to play in these issues. Already we know

that a referendum on Section 59 is going to occur. There will be a lot of contention around changes to Electoral Finance Act and the probable referendum on MMP, which will involve a lot of work for the left for our voices to be heard. National’s workers rights policies are a joke and the 90 day bill and restriction on union access will be toughly fought against. National axing of the RMA and changes to the ETS will sure to stir a lot of passion from the left. And we don't know if the National Party is going to relook at Voluntary Student Unionism.

It will be an interesting time ahead for us, but we still have our voice, and Young Labour has tons of amazing, creative and dedicated activists. At the moment a reflection on the sadness of defeat is understandable but we have good people, which is one of the reasons I'm proud to be in the Labour Party.

So it comes to this, the task now will be to highlight and fight against any slow incremental advances to the right that this extreme government introduces. I say extreme because New Zealand has gifted a majority to National and ACT. 5 ACT MP’s is a scary thought. One Roger Douglas, a full front bench of Privatising Tories and half a puppet Prime Minister. Oh God what have we done.

9 years of social justice, workers rights, strong public services and stable leadership is over and I wait with baited breath to witness what havoc can be unleashed in these first 100 days. I encourage everyone with left leaning tendencies to come together to starve off any attempt by our conservative government to take us back to the grim days of the last National government.

Now is the time to unite to ensure this government is held accountable for anything that takes us backward, and challenge Key for his ‘brighter future’ rhetoric. This one term government (if that) will be severely restricted by so many New Zealanders embracing the many achievements of the past 9 years, and will suffer dearly for any attempt to undermine these. Helen Clark has left a huge legacy in New Zealand and it is up to us to defend such advancements.