u/HappySauropod

Mostly the post title. I wasn't engaged in politics until Ardern was elected, so that's the first election and government I really remember directly policy wise.

I do however remember Key and English running a pretty quiet centrist government from my teenage (at the time) perspective? None of the adults in my life - even those who voted Labour - really complained about it much and the big stories seemed to be around pony tails, walk-runs, spaghetti on pizza, etc. I remember the housing crisis was an issue and that National never really acknowledged it but it didn't seem to affect day to day life so much like the cost of living does now. We passed progressive social reforms during that time too like gay marriage and I do distinctly remember Maurice Williamson's 'big gay rainbow' speech from a NATIONAL MP. I used to brag to my friends overseas that our centre-right party was to the left of Obama and how chill politics was here.

When the 2023 election rolled around these memories of my childhood were in my mind, and I expected Luxon to run another pretty centrist and boring government. I didn't vote National but I also wasn't gonna be super upset if they got into power ...and then... well... shit hit the fan and we get this crazy right-wing Trumpist cesspit.

I now think back and wonder whether politics has really gotten more right-wing and crazy over time in this country or whether it's always been this way and I was just too young to engage with the Key-English years? It just feels to me like a switch flipped at some point and everything went totally nuts, divisive, and hateful.