Editing Politics of New Zealand (section)

==Political culture==
{{See also|Human rights in New Zealand|Corruption in New Zealand|Culture of New Zealand#Attitudes}}

Political change in New Zealand has been gradual and pragmatic, rather than revolutionary.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Levine |first=Stephen |title=Political values – New Zealand politics and political values |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/political-values/page-1 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> The nation's approach to governance has emphasised [[social welfare]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Levine |first=Stephen |title=Political values – The fair society |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/political-values/page-4 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> and [[multiculturalism]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Phillips |first=Jock |title=The New Zealanders – Multicultural New Zealand |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/the-new-zealanders/page-13 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=20 May 2015}}</ref> which is based on [[Immigration to New Zealand|immigration]], social integration,<ref name="political values">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Levine |first=Stephen |title = Political values – Values and political change |url = https://teara.govt.nz/en/political-values/page-7 |encyclopedia = Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=20 June 2012 }}</ref> and suppression of [[far-right politics]],<ref>{{cite news |last = di Maio |first = Matteo |title = As the rest of the world slides further right, New Zealand is a haven of liberal politics |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-liberal-politics-democracy-a8442561.html |access-date=15 December 2018 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=11 July 2018 |language=en }}</ref> that has wide public and political support.<ref name="political values" /><ref name="Geddis2016">{{cite journal |last1=Geddis |first1=Andrew |title=Parliamentary government in New Zealand: Lines of continuity and moments of change |journal=International Journal of Constitutional Law |date=January 2016 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=99–118 |doi=10.1093/icon/mow001|doi-access=free }}</ref> New Zealand is regarded as one of the most honest countries in the world, and it was ranked first in the world in 2017 for [[Corruption Perceptions Index|lowest perceived level of corruption]] by the organisation [[Transparency International]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2017#table |title = Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 |date=21 February 2018 |access-date=14 August 2019 }}</ref> [[Democracy]] and [[rule of law]] are founding political principles in New Zealand. Early [[European settlers in New Zealand|European settlers]] believed that traditional British legal principles (including individual [[Title (property)|title]] to land) would be upheld in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last = Levine |first = Stephen |title = Political values – Enduring political values |url = https://teara.govt.nz/en/political-values/page-3 |encyclopedia = Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=20 June 2012 }}</ref> The nation's history, such as the legacy of the British colonial rule evidenced in the [[Westminster system]], continues to have an impact on political culture, despite New Zealand's [[Independence of New Zealand|political independence]].<ref name="Geddis2016"/> {{As of|2021|alt=As at 2021}}, New Zealand is identified as a "[[Democracy Index#Definitions|full democracy]]" in the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]]'s [[Democracy Index]].<ref name="Daly2021">{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Michael |title=New Zealand rated world's second most democratic country by Economist Intelligence Unit |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/127741812/new-zealand-rated-worlds-second-most-democratic-country-by-economist-intelligence-unit|access-date=19 February 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=10 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The country rates highly for [[civic participation]] in the political process, with 82% [[voter turnout]] during recent elections,<!--As of 2020 election--> compared with the {{abbr|OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}} average of 69%.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Zealand|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/new-zealand/|publisher=[[OECD Better Life Index]]|access-date=6 June 2022|date=2020}}</ref> 

Human rights remain a central focus in New Zealand politics, with a strong commitment to ensuring the protection and promotion of individual freedoms and equality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eap/136003.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324230732/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eap/136003.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 March 2010|title=New Zealand}}</ref> However, the [[New Zealand Human Rights Commission]] asserts there is clear evidence that [[structural discrimination in New Zealand|structural discrimination]] is a real and ongoing socioeconomic issue,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hrc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HRC-Structural-Report_final_webV1.pdf/ |title=A fair go for all? Rite tahi tätou katoa? Addressing Structural Discrimination in Public Services |date=2012 |publisher=Human Rights Commission |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140330134905/http://www.hrc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HRC-Structural-Report_final_webV1.pdf/ |archive-date=30 March 2014 |access-date=22 July 2023 |page=50}}</ref> exemplified by Māori overrepresentation in the criminal justice system, comprising 45% of convicted individuals and 53% of those imprisoned.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cornish |first=Sophie |date=1 May 2022 |title=Māori even more overrepresented in prisons, despite $98m strategy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128306867/mori-even-more-overrepresented-in-prisons-despite-98m-strategy |access-date=22 July 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Justice |url=https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/key-initiatives-archive/hapaitia-te-oranga-tangata |access-date=22 July 2023 |website=www.justice.govt.nz}}</ref> Political redress for historical grievances is also ongoing {{see below|{{section link||Māori politics and legislation}}}}.

Since the 1970s, New Zealand has shown a more socially [[cultural liberalism|liberal]] outlook.<ref name="political values" /> Beginning with the [[Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986|decriminalisation of same-sex sexual activity]] in 1986,<ref name="political values"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Homosexual law reform |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/homosexual-law-reform/homosexual-law-reform |publisher=New Zealand History Online|website=nzhistory.govt.nz|access-date=15 December 2018 |date=14 June 2016}}</ref> successive governments have progressively increased the [[LGBT rights in New Zealand|protection of LGBT rights]], culminating in the [[Same-sex marriage in New Zealand|legalisation of same-sex marriage]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gattey |first1=Megan |title=How same-sex marriage has changed New Zealand |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/98893126/how-samesex-marriage-has-changed-new-zealand |access-date=15 December 2018 |date=16 November 2017 |work=Stuff}}</ref> In 2020, the [[Abortion Legislation Act 2020|Abortion Legislation Act]], which fully decriminalised [[abortion in New Zealand]], was supported by members across all parties in Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abortion Legislation Bill passes third and final reading in Parliament |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/412087/abortion-legislation-bill-passes-third-and-final-reading-in-parliament |access-date=30 March 2020 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=18 March 2020}}</ref>

The idea of serving as a moral example to the world has been an important element of New Zealand [[national identity]]. The [[New Zealand–South Africa relations|opposition to apartheid in South Africa]] in the 1970s and 1980s,<ref>{{cite web |title=Apartheid |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/protest-apartheid |publisher=New Zealand History Online|website=nzhistory.govt.nz |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> protests against [[France and weapons of mass destruction|French nuclear testing]] at [[Moruroa]] atoll in the 1970s, and popular support for New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy in the 1980s {{see below|{{section link||Modern political history}}}} are manifestations of this. From the 1990s New Zealand's anti-nuclear position has become a key element of government policy (irrespective of party) and of the country's "distinctive political identity".<ref name="political values"/>

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File:Hiroshima Day Activist 2014.JPG|An [[anti-nuclear movement|anti-nuclear]] activist hands out peace cranes in [[Wellington]]. New Zealand's foreign policy is often symbolised by its anti-nuclear stance.
File:Auckland pride parade 2016 14.jpg|Commemorating the 30th anniversary of [[Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986|Homosexual Law Reform]] at the 2016 [[Auckland Pride Festival]]
File:Hikoi-foreshore.jpg|A ''[[hīkoi]]'' protest outside [[New Zealand Parliament Buildings|Parliament Buildings]] over the [[foreshore and seabed controversy]], 2004
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