Politics in the Pub: New Plymouth Edition

A week ago the election was shaping up in exactly the way to which we’ve become accustomed over the past decade: the Labour Party, plagued by infighting, was relying on the Greens to prop up the left-wing vote to add at least some credibility to what was going to be an inevitable loss. Now, after Jacinda Ardern’s dramatic takeover of the Labour leadership—and turmoil in the Green camp—it is Labour who are in the ascendant. Who even knows how National will react? There have already been more twists and turns in this campaign than in your small intestine, and the election is still seven weeks away.

As the parties continue to jostle for position, VICE is making its way around the country, sampling the beers and political opinions found in our nation’s pubs as the country decides what to make of our dear leaders. Today it is the turn of New Plymouth’s Ms White’s Beer Garden.

Jesse, 27
Brewer

What’s so great about New Zealanders?
That’s a real hard one. I live here, I guess? Without getting emotional, just to live in a beautiful place.

Do the politicians actually give a shit about you?
I hope so, I think so. Some of them do.

What election issue is the most important to you?
Poverty. It’s just such a big gap, such a massive gap between impoverished people and us lucky, wealthy ones.

Time for word association. I say something, and you say the first thing that comes to mind. First up: Jacinda Ardern
Vibrant.

Working mothers
Good stuff.

Benefit fraud.
Absolutely nothing came to mind.

James, 26
Engineer

What makes Kiwis special?
I suppose I like to think we’re a bit more down to earth than other people. That’s about all I can come up with right now.

Do the politicians actually care about you?
Some of them.

What election issue are you concerned about most?
To me, it’s probably the growing inequality between different social groups. I think we should be coming closer together rather than spreading apart. That’s my biggest issue anyway.

Jacinda Ardern
New.

Working Mothers
Green Party.

Benefit fraud
The Green Party leader. What’s her name?

Amy, 20
Duty Manager

Can you define what being a New Zealander means to you?
I think we’re a very small but proud country. I think we’ve got a really cool, strong sense of who we are as New Zealanders. You get that vibe that everyone’s there to help. I work in hospitality and we have a lot of foreigners and everyone’s like, oh my gosh, it’s so easy to meet people. Everyone’s so willing to help you out, to put you up, to help you get a job, to find what you need, and I think that kind of shows who we are. We’re a beautiful country and a pretty cool people.

What are you thinking about ahead of the election?
What I wish is for them to push more on environment and for that to be a little bit more of a stronger issue. I want them to be talking about more ways we can be sustainable and pushing for a cleaner future because it is the biggest issue right now.

Do politicians care about people?
I do think they care about us; I’m not a hater of politics. Each party has its thoughts on what needs to be pushed the most, but to answer that question I do think they care about us. Especially being the younger generation—we’re the ones carrying it forward.

Jacinda Ardern
New beginnings.

Working mothers
Strong.

Benefit fraud
Probably happens too much.

Eloise, 21
Retail Manager

What does it mean to be a New Zealander?
You care so much—it’s such a great society. My favourite thing about New Zealand is how much you hate littering. Coming from England—it’s just a huge dump—in New Zealand if she dropped like that napkin six people would yell at her. I think that’s so rad.

What’s on your mind about the upcoming election?
I don’t follow politics at all. That’s my biggest issue: I know nothing about it.

Do you think politicians care about you?
I think a politician and politicians are different things. Like, a politician would care about another human being, but politicians as a group don’t care about human beings as a group. In my eyes, it’s a business. It’s kind of like they’re selling themselves. I deliberately don’t follow politics because I think it’s bullshit. There are so many issues that New Zealanders especially are screaming about, like the level of suicides in young men is so insane—it’s the highest in the world, and they’re making cuts to Lifeline. The environment is going tits up and no one really cares, and it’s kind of like we’re all screaming about different things and we just brush over it. Nah, I don’t think they give a fuck and that’s totally fine. I don’t care about them either.

Jacinda Ardern
No idea who that is.

Working mothers
Strong people.

Benefit fraud
So so bad, and so much of it.

Ryan, 28
Builder

What does it mean to be a New Zealander?
I don’t know. I just love being a New Zealander and coming from a great country.

Do politicians care about you?
I hope so. Probably not.

Biggest issue you would like to see addressed in the election?
Don’t know much about it, so probably nothing? Change for the future, the long-term future.

Jacinda Ardern
Fresh.

Working mothers
All I can think of is good.

Benefit fraud
Shocking.

Follow Sophie on Twitter.