The events of the melt down on the world stock markets and the ensuing economic crises have overtaken the general election in New Zealand. At present opinion polls vary enormously from giving National a 3% lead over Labour to 18% respectfully. Quite clearly volatility is building up within society.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has called the general election for November 8thhoping to win a fourth term . The general election date was of no real surprise as it was the much predicted date being the penultimate date with which the government could go to the country . The problem for the Labour Party is that it is well behind in the various opinion polls which give the National Party between 8% and 18% lead over the Labour Party. With such a lead in the opinion polls the Labour Party is most likely to be defeated.
Finance Minister Michael Cullen announcement that the Labour coalition government was immediately tightening the country's overseas investment rules with regard to stopping strategic assets falling into foreign ownership was an initial setback to the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in its attempt to take over Auckland Airport: the country's international gateway.