A well-recognized politician in New Zealand, Andrew Little, is thinking of stepping into the public arena once again, this time aiming for the mayoral position of Wellington. The former leader of the Labour Party and powerful union head is considering a new chapter following his 2023 detour from active politics, sparking speculation about new leadership in the city.
From Union Powerhouse to Parliament Hill
Little transitioned into politics after being the first executive officer of the Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union, the largest union in New Zealand. This experience helped him hone the skills of advocacy and negotiation, which came in handy while serving in Parliament. He entered the political realm in 2011 and quickly made a name for himself as a fiery member of the Labour Party.
A Turbulent Leadership and a Pivotal Handover
Little’s time as the Leader of the Opposition, one of the most important positions in the New Zealand parliamentary system, was from 2014 to 2017. He led the party for the first part of the 2017 election campaign until, for contentious reasons, he decided to hand the lead over to Jacinda Ardern just seven weeks into it. This decision changed everything for Ardern, allowing her to rise to the position of prime minister and fundamentally shifting New Zealand’s political landscape.
Ministerial Portfolios: Health, Justice, and Others
After Little served on Labour’s cabinet after the elections, he filled in numerous critical cabinet posts. In particular, he was also the Minister of Health during the turbulent times facing the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw major changes in the health sector, including the highly controversial abolition of 20 District Health Boards into two new entities, Health New Zealand and the Maori Health Authority.
Little also held other important ministerial portfolios like Minister for Treaty Negotiations, Defence, the Security Intelligence Service, Justice, and Immigration, which showcased the breadth of his influence across different areas of public policy.
Controversial Issues: Bad Politics
Little’s political chapter is marred with controversial headlines. The most public and contentious case was over a breach of defamation concerning statements he made before parliament alleging a donation was made to the National Party. Separately, he was also under fire for a supposed attempt to bring college students during political campaigns to help him, dubbed an ‘intern’ system. This backfired due to complaints regarding the conditions these volunteers were allegedly subjected to.
Wellington’s Next Chapter: A Political Veteran’s Return?
In consideration of union and government affairs, Andrew Little’s potential entry into the Wellington mayoral race comes with a big degree of experience and political insight, as his being paired with the order adds a whole new element to the competition. The impact of his decision could dramatically reshape the race, compellingly reigniting contention around the city’s future trajectory.
The little political saga in scope with the burnished Wellington mania remains on hold as New Zealand, and the entire region, will have to wait until a decision is made on whether Little decides to run for mayor or not.
