Political Leadership in New Zealand

Studying New Zealand political figures and analyzing the country's policies, this collection of essays investigates the role of leadership in debates about national identity, populism, immigration policy, globalization, foreign affairs, and the media.

CONTRIBUTORSMargie Comrie teaches public relations in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Massey University. Before joining Massey in 1990, she worked in the media for 18 years. She has co-edited two books on the news media, most recently What's News?: Reclaiming Journalism in New Zealand (2002). She has also written on public participation in government decision-making, communication with Maori and various public relations issues. She holds a Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury, wrote her PhD thesis on the restructuring of TVNZ and contributes regularly to National Radio's Sunday Supplement.David Capie is a lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests focus on international relations theory and conflict and security issues, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. His books include The Asia-Pacific Security Lexicon (with Paul M. Evans) and Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific (2003).Tania Domett has recently completed her MA in Political Studies at the University of Auckland; her thesis explored the politics of work/life balance policies in New Zealand organisations. In 2004, she won the Australasian Political Studies Association's award for the best student paper on women and politics. Her work has been published in the Australian Journal of Political Science. Seishi Gomibuchi holds a PhD from the University of Canterbury. His thesis examined the leadership crises in the New Zealand Labour Party between 1990 and 1996 with specific focus on Helen Clark and Mike Moore. His research interests lie in New Zealand and Japanese politics including political leadership.Barry Gustafson is former professor of politics at the University of Auckland. He is a leading political historian and biographer whose books include biographies of Michael Joseph Savage and Robert Muldoon. He is currently completing a biography of New Zealand's longest-serving postwar prime minister, Keith Holyoake. John Henderson is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Canterbury. His doctoral studies at Duke University were supervised by James David Barber, a pioneering researcher in the field of presidential leadership and character. John Henderson has produced a large number of studies on political leadership in New Zealand. He is a former director of the Prime Minister's Office.Manying Ip is an associate professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Auckland, as well as being an associate dean of the Faculty of Arts. Her most recent work is an edited book, Unfolding History, Evolving Identity (2003), which provides a comprehensive overview of the history and experience of the Chinese in New Zealand up to the present day.Elizabeth McLeay is an associate professor of political science at Victoria University of Wellington and is a member of the New Zealand Political Change Project. Her book The Cabinet and Political Power in New Zealand (1995) remains the most authoritative work on the subject. She has also written on political representation, and her most recent work is a co-edited book on the 2002 election (2003). Raymond Miller is associate professor and head of the Department of Political Studies at the University of Auckland, where he specialises in New Zealand politics, comparative parties, coalition government and political representation. His most recent books are Proportional Representation on Trial (co-author, 2002), New Zealand Government and Politics (editor, 2003), Voters' Veto (co-editor, 2004), and Party Politics in New Zealand (2005).Michael Mintrom is an associate professor in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Auckland. He has written extensively on political leadership, policy design and efforts to prompt local innovation. His most recent books are Policy