Summarised by Centrist
In “Gen Z in da House”, Thomas Cranmer (real name Philip Crump) says the “trend of young tyros defeating experienced performers’ was seen throughout the election”. Not only did Labour stalwart Nanaia Mahuta get taken down by Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, but several others like Tākuta Ferris, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel and Tamatha Paul beat far more senior opponents.
This young generation is going to have an influence on the House and the country’s political discourse, Cranmer says.
According to Cranmer:
“The self-described kōhanga reo generation promises to be vocal and controversial. To borrow Rawiri Waititi’s phrase, they represent the ‘unapologetically Māori’ perspective that he and his co-leader, Debbie Ngawera-Packer championed over the course of the last government.”
Cranmer says co-governance isn’t good enough for the younger and more radical MPs from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens.
There’s every indication the leftwing is ready to “rark it up” in the words of Green co-leader Marama Davidson.
