NZ Politics Daily: 12 April (liberation)

There’s a lot of very good coverage in the media and blogosphere of the Labour Party’s MMP list and the fall out over Damien O’Connor’s controversial outburst. The debate has very quickly shifted into an analysis of Labour MP demographics and what I regard as the party’s obsession with ‘identity politics’. I put forward this analysis yesterday in a number of media interviews, but today I’ve elaborated on the argument is a lengthy post on my blog liberation, entitled, Labour’s 2011 party list – the triumph of identity politics. But there are plenty of other diverse points of view on the matter, and I’ve included them in the document below. Claire Trevett weighs up the diversity of Labour’s caucus - O'Connor's apology only goes so far. Tim Watkin’s Pundit post is well worth reading –Labour's list not diverse enough... and lessons from '93, and Rob Salmond provides a good counter to arguments that identity politics rule the Labour Party – Self-serving malcontents and a gaggle of garbage. And Phil Quin nicely suggests we all skip the argument and look to Labour’s other problems - Labour’s Problem is NOT too much diversity (or too little). [Continue reading below for a full list of the highlights of NZ Politics Daily]

Below are the internet links to all the NZ politics material from the last 24 hours that are either informative, insightful, interesting or influential. This list and the links are taken from a fuller document, NZ Politics Daily, which is emailed out, Monday to Friday, to various researchers, academics, journalists, MPs and so forth. The document is purely for research purposes only, and if you would like to be on the subscription list, please email: [email protected]

Labour list fallout

Bryce Edwards (liberation): Labour’s 2011 party list – the triumph of identity politics

John Armstrong (NZH): Dreadful timing not the least of foot-in-mouth MP's sins

Audrey Young (NZH): Goff half-hearted in 'gay gaggle' response

Claire Trevett (NZH): O'Connor's apology only goes so far

Vernon Small and Martin Kay (Stuff): Labour MP Damien O'Connor admits gay comment 'stuff up'

TVNZ: MP to face caucus over ‘gaggle of gays’ comment

NZPA: Labour MP apologises over gay comments

Newstalk ZB: Green MP calls for Goff to apologise

Newstalk ZB: O’Connor apologises for remarks

TV3: O’Connor has apologized, let’s move on – Goff (and VIDEO)

Editorial (NZH): Unambitious list keeps fresh talent in check