Hon. David Cunliffe, Labour MP for New Lynn has today announced he will run for election as leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.
“In my role as a local MP and a Labour Party spokesperson, I’ve travelled around New Zealand and found that everything we as Labour people believe in, everything we’ve fought for, is being threatened.
“Over the past days, I have been talking to colleagues, supporters and family. There is a strong sense that now is the time for a new beginning for a united Labour and for New Zealand.
“Their view is that I have the experience and ideas to bring together a party and a government that provides a strong, clear voice for fairness, inclusion and prosperity to be shared by all.
“I also believe that we can still be the best, the smartest, the most beautiful and most decent place in the world to live and to raise a family. Those values are my basic motivation and are why I am putting my name forward today.
“I refuse to be part of a generation that doesn’t take responsibility for the loss of the Kiwi dream or that is failing to build a strong and fair society.
“I cannot stand by and let our kids become part of the first generation to do worse than their parents in this country. My vision is for the Labour caucus and party to rise and join with our communities to build a strong and just New Zealand, a New Zealand where our finest traditions of ‘a fair go’, our precious environment and a peaceful, principled society get a new beginning.
“I am looking forward to meeting with, and listening to, Labour supporters about their dreams and aspirations over the next few weeks and I am ready to play my part in making sure those aspirations are realised.”
