General consensus is Ardern is a winner

NEW Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1893.

It was with great pride I saw a fellow woman, Jacinda Ardern of the Labour Party, win the country’s election for a second term.

Her party won the highest percentage vote in five decades.

Ms Srdern’s strong, decisive, progressive and inclusive leadership has won through - especially in this pandemic where she has been a shining light compared to other leaders across the world.

There have only been 25 deaths in New Zealand compared with tens of thousands in other countries.

Leaders across the world should learn from her example of consensus-building, where she has sought the support of other parties in decisionmaking. She even left the Mormon church so she could support LGBT+ rights.

A leader like Adhern may never have been in this position had it not been for the introduction of proportional representation in New Zealand.

Prior to 1993 it was the first-past-the-post system which meant two parties dominated the electoral system and very often many smaller parties could not obtain seats even though they secured votes.

Once the country adopted a mixed-member proportional voting system it has become more of a multi-party system led by mostly minority or coalition governments.

This has led to consensusbuilding and even now with a majority Ardern is considering including the smaller parties such as the Greens to help form her government.

This is a lesson for us all we need to seriously look at the voting system, where often a vast majority of the electorate feel their voices are not being heard. Let’s change the system and make way for people who are truly listening to voters and represent all interests.

Coun Cath Davis, Preston Ward, North Tyneside Council