If National wins ...

[winner69]

How about a balance on religious grounds as well to get Labour truly representative.? They could go a third Christian, a third Muslim and a third atheist. Whadda y' reckin eZ?

To be really representative a certain %age should be homeless

[elZorro]

To be really representative a certain %age should be homeless

I'm not sure what the issue is here. Within reason, Labour want their MPs to look like a cross-section of NZers. They don't specify that they want that across the intellectual or wealth spectrum as well.

I don't know Rohan Lord, but if he's a first-time candidate for Labour, trying out in a strongly blue seat, he should never have expected to get a high list ranking the first time around. One of the local electorate's Labour candidate tried out in a blue seat in 2014, earned his stripes and is now the candidate in a remotely winnable seat, plus although he's a white middle aged male with a family, he's high on the list. He could conceivably get in on Labour's list. He has also promised to have a go at the same seat in the next election. So that's what any political party is looking for, a real effort, and yes, that'll cost in time and possible other income.

Most parties know how to spot tyre kickers, it's not a perfect process but it's democratic.

[fungus pudding]

I'm not sure what the issue is here. Within reason, Labour want their MPs to look like a cross-section of NZers. They don't specify that they want that across the intellectual or wealth spectrum as well.

But eZ, there is no need to specify those details. It's quite obvious that a true cross section of the population will cover different races and religions, the homeless etc, along with a smattering of dwarves. You can't be truly representative on just a few cherry picked criteria.

[artemis]

But eZ, there is no need to specify those details. It's quite obvious that a true cross section of the population will cover different races and religions, the homeless etc, along with a smattering of dwarves. You can't be truly representative on just a few cherry picked criteria.

Might be better to choose candidates based on the degree of inequality, since that is a major issue for Labour. Although, as pointed out in relation to Oxfam's recent report, among the poorest in the world are Harvard Law students with massive student loans.

[BlackPeter]

I'm not sure what the issue is here. Within reason, Labour want their MPs to look like a cross-section of NZers. They don't specify that they want that across the intellectual or wealth spectrum as well.

I don't know Rohan Lord, but if he's a first-time candidate for Labour, trying out in a strongly blue seat, he should never have expected to get a high list ranking the first time around. One of the local electorate's Labour candidate tried out in a blue seat in 2014, earned his stripes and is now the candidate in a remotely winnable seat, plus although he's a white middle aged male with a family, he's high on the list. He could conceivably get in on Labour's list. He has also promised to have a go at the same seat in the next election. So that's what any political party is looking for, a real effort, and yes, that'll cost in time and possible other income.

Most parties know how to spot tyre kickers, it's not a perfect process but it's democratic.

I think we all understand the hard yards some people need to go to be successful in politics. The question is just - why is it easier for females and people with a darker skin to get a good place on the Labour list? For some reason it looks like a less stringent rule set applies to them.

The issue is that the Labour party is discriminating against capable white males. Nothing more and nothing less.

[dobby41]

I think we all understand the hard yards some people need to go to be successful in politics. The question is just - why is it easier for females and people with a darker skin to get a good place on the Labour list? For some reason it looks like a less stringent rule set applies to them.

The issue is that the Labour party is discriminating against capable white males. Nothing more and nothing less.

The issue is that this is one disaffected persons opinion.
Who's to say (apart from Rohan) that he is more capable than those higher on the list - maybe they have already done harder yards?

[BlackPeter]

Hmm ... did you had a look at the list at all? Just remind me of the hard yards Kiri Allan (place 20) or Willie Jackson (place 21), Ginny Andersen (place 27) or Marja Lubeck (place 31) have done for Labour? Sure - Willie Jackson belongs to the left wing red socks ... and used to play formerly for the losing Alliance, but the others? How do they deserve that much higher places on the list unless it is all about race or sex? And hey, there are plenty others - just have a look at the list:

http://www.labour.org.nz/list

[elZorro]

Hmm ... did you had a look at the list at all? Just remind me of the hard yards Kiri Allan (place 20) or Willie Jackson (place 21), Ginny Andersen (place 27) or Marja Lubeck (place 31) have done for Labour? Sure - Willie Jackson belongs to the left wing red socks ... and used to play formerly for the losing Alliance, but the others? How do they deserve that much higher places on the list unless it is all about race or sex? And hey, there are plenty others - just have a look at the list:

http://www.labour.org.nz/list

It's also related to gathering votes and networking/liaising with those making the list decisions, being involved in regional jobs for the Labour Party over a few years, not just jumping into an electorate candidacy. Has the candidate proven they can work with a wide range of people? Very important for the actual job of being an MP.

The general public might not have heard of them, but those high up the list will have been working on that position for a few years.

[fungus pudding]

It's also related to gathering votes and networking/liaising with those making the list decisions, being involved in regional jobs for the Labour Party over a few years, not just jumping into an electorate candidacy. Has the candidate proven they can work with a wide range of people? Very important for the actual job of being an MP.

The general public might not have heard of them, but those high up the list will have been working on that position for a few years.

What a brilliant selection method. Have the Labour big-wigs ever considered selecting those most suitable as an MP? No? Thought not.

[elZorro]

What a brilliant selection method. Have the Labour big-wigs ever considered selecting those most suitable as an MP? No? Thought not.

Should they be able to just buy their way in, like Trump (and John Key) did? I think you've taken leave of your senses, FP.