Labour Names Review Team

Labour’s New Zealand Council has appointed Bryan Gould as Convenor of its post-General Election Review. He will be joined on the Review Team by Hon Margaret Wilson, Stacey Morrison and Brian Corban.

The Review Team will be responsible for the production of three reports – one on the 2014 General Election campaign, the second on the longer-term perspective, and the final one on the governance and operations implications for the Party. They will be assisted and advised in producing the first report by Pete Hodgson and Gaylene Nepia, who will act as lead consultants, with similar arrangements for the other reports. The work of the whole initiative will also be supported by a team of expert advisers, including two from progressive parties overseas, and by practitioners in qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The General Election Review will be completed in time for Labour’s scheduled New Zealand Council meeting on December 7th 2014, and it is intended that the second part of the Review – on Labour’s longer term political positioning and performance – will be completed by the end of February 2015. Submissions are open from today, and both members and non- members of the Party are welcome to apply. Details are on the party website www.labour.org.nz/review, and emailed submissions can also be sent directly to review@labour.org.nz.

Bryan Gould said today,

“My colleagues and I are privileged to undertake this important task. We see it as an opportunity for the Labour Party to take a long, hard look at itself, with a view to learning and applying lessons, providing an effective opposition, and preparing for government in 2017. We look forward to hearing not only from those who voted Labour in 2014 but also from those who decided not to. We want to set a course that will allow Labour to reconnect with the majority who want to see a fairer society and a more productive and sustainable economy. If this is done, not only will the Labour Party benefit, but an alternative government ready to take up office will be good for our democracy.”

LABOUR PARTY REVIEW

AGREED TERMS OF REFERENCE

To complete, for report, consideration and decision on recommendations initially at the NZ Council meeting on December 7th 2014, the following Review managed in three parts:

1. A qualitative and quantitative review of Labour’s 2014 General Election campaign, including preparation from the 2011 General Election onwards, led by an analysis of the 2014 results and incorporating:

party and electorate vote variance;

electorate and hub performance, including enrolment, persuasion and turnout;

the targeting approach;

list and electorate candidate selection and performance

Maori and sector strategies;

volunteer management and activist training;

campaign finance – income, expenditure, cost-effectiveness;

digital campaign;

messaging formulation and communication of policy and campaign messages (including the “Vote Positive” brand);

performance in and relationship with the media;

Party and Caucus organisation;

Leadership and management of the campaign;

relationships with other parties and

any other significant matters which are identified in the course of consultation.

2. A qualitative review of Labour’s political positioning and performance, and the manner in which it is presented going forward in the light of the results of the 2008, 2011, and 2014 General Elections, to include the environment and context in which we now find ourselves; to be informed by what progressive political parties have done overseas, and what New Zealand political parties have done, in comparable situations; and how party alignment in MMP-style jurisdictions has changed over time.

3. The implications of the agreed recommendations for Party institutions, structures, accountabilities and operations, including governance, an integrated three year campaign plan leading to the 2017 election, Caucus priorities and activity, communications, resource allocation, policy development, internal communications and discipline, fundraising. Through all this work to achieve sustained modernisation.

Labour’s Review Team

BRYAN GOULD

Bryan Gould was a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar who had a career in the UK as a diplomat, Oxford Law don and television journalist. He was elected as a Labour member of the House of Commons, directed Labour’s 1987 election campaign and challenged unsuccessfully for
the British Labour Party leadership in 1992. He returned to New Zealand 20 years ago as Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University and currently chairs a number of public sector bodies. He has published a number of books on politics and economics.

Professor MARGARET WILSON

Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Waikato. Former Member of Parliament 1999 – 2008. Held several Ministerial appointments including Attorney-General, Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. Former Speaker New Zealand Parliament 2005 – 2008. Positions held include that of Director of the Reserve Bank, Law Commissioner, Foundation Dean, Waikato Law School, President of the New Zealand Labour Party. Appointed Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.

STACEY MORRISON

is a broadcaster across radio and television of more than twenty years experience who also works as an advocate particularly for Māori and charity interests. She is an ambassador for the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation, a Water Safety NZ Ambassador, and Council member for Family Planning NZ. A mother of three and foundation member of a community group to build Māori-speaking families, Stacey has been involved in strategic planning and Māori language revitalisation at an iwi and corporate level.

BRIAN CORBAN CNZM, QSO, M.A.(Hons), LLB, Distinguished Fellow IOD,FNZIM

is a professional company director, lawyer, business and community leader. He received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for services to the community and the Queens Service Order in 1993 for his services to New Zealand broadcasting. He has served on the boards of a wide range of companies and community organisations at a local, regional and national level. He has experience in successfully leading companies through restructuring and change including in the television, telecommunications, transport and electricity sectors. He has been the chairman of TVNZ, Radio New Zealand, Genesis Power Ltd and West Auckland Trust Services. He is also the Chairman, a Director and Joint Proprietor of Ngatarawa Wines Limited with his cousin Alwyn Corban. He is involved in a number of community organisations, including as a trustee of the West Auckland Hospice Foundation Trust and Chairman of the Corban Estate Art Centre. He is chairman of the Melanesian Mission Trust Board and also an advisory board member of the Anglican Church of Melanesia which operates in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

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