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RNZ News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Samoa election: Political parties make big promises on health, welfare and economy
FAST's La'auli Leuatea Polataivao, SUP's Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, and HRPP's Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo: RNZ Pacific / FAST Party / Samoa Uniting Party / HRPP With campaigning well underway for Samoa's general elections, registered political parties have been announcing their policy platforms. Voters are being courted with manifestos that promise free public healthcare, cash payments for families, job creation schemes, and major infrastructure investments. According to Samoa Electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley, seven registered political parties will contest this year's election. Among them are the ruling FAST party, its offshoot Samoa Uniting Party (SUP), the long-standing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and four others: Samoa Labour Party (SLP), Samoa National Democratic Party (SNDP), Samoa Democratic Republic Party (SDRP), and the recently formed Tumua ma Pule Reform Republican Party (TPRRP). Out of the seven political parties, the three largest contenders are HRPP, FAST and SUP. FAST, under leader La'auli Leuatea Polataivao, launched its manifesto in Savai'i earlier this month. The party says its policies reflect a strong focus on social welfare and economic revitalisation: HRPP lead by Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi was the first to launch its manifesto campaigning on financial support and significant infrastructure proposals. The party has the longest list of policy promises including: As part of the broader Poverty Alleviation Project, complements the Cost of Living Allowance and Pension Ensuring Lasting Empowerment for the Golden Age initiatives, with a total investment of $210m. SUP, a newly formed party led by Fiame Naomi Mata'afa after her ejection from FAST, is promoting itself as a people-first party focused on continuity and reform. Its manifesto includes: The Samoa Labour Party, led by Fa'aolesa Katopau Ainu'u, is targeting employment and trade. The party is proposing: The Tumua ma Pule Reform Republican Party, is led by former public servant Molio'o Pio Molio'o. Its platform promises: Two parties, the Samoa National Democratic Party and the Samoa Democratic Republic Party, had not released formal manifestos at the time this article was published but remain registered to contest the election. The official campaign period which began 14 July concludes 24 August, with advance voting to open 27 August and polling day set down for the 29 August. According to the electoral office, there are 102,000 registered voters who will elect 51 members of parliament. An amendment to Samoa's Electoral Act in 2013 introduced a 10 percent quota for women members of parliament. The so called floating seats - because new seats are created if elected representatives do not meet the quota - became the centre of a constitutional crisis and numerous legal battles over the balance of power at the last election after the results produced a tie. The impasse was broken only after an independent candidate joined the FAST Party camp but even then the transition of power dragged on for months. *All currency is in Samoan Tala. ( WST1 = NZ$0.59 )
RNZ News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Amanda Masono eyes Atolls seat in Bougainville's election
Amanda Masono Photo: Facebook / Amanda Masono The Bougainville elections, which happen once every five years, are underway. The [ writs were issued last week, candidate nominations have now finished, and campaigning will be getting underway for voting over the first week of September. It will be an interesting poll for Amanda Masono, who came into parliament in 2020, winning one of the three seats reserved for women, North Bougainville. But this time around she is contesting the Atolls seat, campaigning alongside men, in a seat that her late father once held. RNZ spoke to Masono and began by asking how the previous five years had gone for her. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) AMANDA MASONO: I think, yes, there's been some challenges, but more of them, which is, getting to know the people and trying to deliver to their expectations. Overall, generally try to support my government in ensuring that we prepare for independence for Bougainville. So yes, I've decided to recontest this election to get in for a 2025 to 2030 government. DON WISEMAN: When you say you've got your sights set on independence for Bougainville, what do you think you have achieved in the past five years, down that road? AM: Personally, I've been involved with negotiations between the national government and ABG (Autonomous Bougainville Government) in terms of the consultations after the referendum has been conducted. And now with the moderation talks with the PNG government, I've been personally involved with that team. For me, it's being in the process and getting to contribute to ensuring that Bougainville gets its independence. On the ground, internally, as member for North Bougainville, we've worked really hard in terms of implementing the independent strategy motion that was passed by our House when we came into parliament. We, as North Bougainville women, I went on to support our community governments and North Bougainville women to develop a strategic plan, which we recently launched. It's called North Bougainville Women and North Bougainville Community Government Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030, where it is a blueprint that guides all community governments to make sure that they are assisted in mobilising resources to continue developing their community governments as we prepare for independence. DW: Let's say we're talking in five years. Where do you think Bougainville will be by 2030. where would you like Bougainville to be by 2030? AM: I believe I'd like to see Bougainville independent by then and exercising some of the sovereign powers and functions that are still with PNG, particularly in terms of the fisheries, because under the Bougainville Peace Agreement there is this arrangement for the benefits from the fisheries to be shared. But Bougainville has not really received what is supposed to be given to it. Read more: I'll say that this election is very critical to ensuring we have a government that is elected to make sure it realises the independence for Bougainville because how we're going, the leaders on the ground have already made a bold statement that by 1 September 2027, we should be independent. So everyone is working towards that, and I believe by 2030 we should already be exercising some of those powers and functions to enable us to really contribute meaningfully and head to independence. DW: Yes, but to a large extent, it's not Bougainville's decision, is it? These plans could be stymied by Port Moresby. AM: Yes, yes, that's That's right, but Bougainville gan really is also working on its independent constitution. It's already established the Bougainville Constituent Assembly to, you know, debate its constitution, and from what we've passed last house, our preparation should not be - what should I say? When we established the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, there was this work done to ensure that, like while we are working, we also organised that, you know, ratification will come from PNG government. But with that unnecessary delay from the other side, our leaders are pretty determined on ensuring that we prepare ourselves internally, and whether the results are ratified or not, it is not PNG's decision to make, as long as we are prepared for that internally. For me, that's what I'd like to say about the ratification process. DW: You have been holding one of the three seats reserved for women, but you're not going to be doing that in this coming election. You're throwing your hat in one of the open seats. It's a fairly fraught thing, isn't it? So how do you think you'll go? AM: For Bougainville, in the current House, there's two women who came from the single constituencies. For us, I came into the reserve seat, so this time, I intend to contest the Atolls seat. I know it will be a bit challenging for me because it's not as straightforward as a woman's reserve seat I will have. I am going up against - most of them are male candidates - but I believe that at such a time as this, I am more than capable to be that voice, that adults' conscience, it needs right now.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Rape advisor Emily Hunt's abuser jailed after 10-year fight for justice
The government's former rape adviser has said she is "incredibly relieved" her abuser has been imprisoned after a decade of campaigning for justice. Christopher Killick, 45, was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday after being convicted of harassing Emily had previously pleaded guilty to voyeurism after filming Ms Hunt naked in a hotel room in 2015 while she was Hunt said "it only took 3,706 days of me fighting" for Killick to "finally get a jail sentence"."It's remarkable, I'm really pleased that somebody listened," she continued."For the time that he is in prison, I will know that I am safe. And for that, I am incredibly grateful." Case dropped Killick was initially arrested on suspicion of rape in London in 2015 after Ms Hunt woke up naked in a hotel room with no recollection of how she had got there. She said she'd been drugged and raped but police dropped the case due to a lack of evidence. Killick has always denied Hunt waived her right to anonymity in order to pursue a case against Killick. Her persistence led to a change in the law, allowing police to charge him with voyeurism after they discovered he had taken a 62-second video of her in the hotel room. Hunt was awarded an OBE for her campaign work. Killick pleaded guilty in 2020 and was given a 30-month community order and fined £2,000, and was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Hunt directly or the sentence, Killick – who stood as an Independent parliamentary candidate in a by-election in Hartlepool in 2021 – continued to July 2021 and February 2023, he breached the restraining order by repeatedly tweeting about Ms Hunt. In March 2023, he received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The restraining order was also July 2024, he breached the order again, by tweeting about Ms April 2025, while waiting to be sentenced for that offence, he breached the order was finally imprisoned this week, swearing at the judge shortly before he was sentenced. Judge Michael Maher, speaking to Killick, said that "each breach, looked at individually and collectively, represents an unwavering persistence on your part"."The blunt point is this, Mr Killick, you just won't give up. But Ms Hunt won't give in. My God, she has demonstrated great courage in relation to you. Your obsession speaks for itself."Emily Hunt, who now lives in the US, told the BBC that Killick's behaviour was the consequence of a "failure of the criminal justice system, where there are no consequences to breaching court orders". "He was arrested then released, more than than once."Ms Hunt served for two years as an independent adviser to a rape review conducted by the Ministry of Justice but resigned in 2023 citing a lack of will to improve the experience of rape victims by the last Conservative government. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
These five factors are how Zohran Mamdani took New York by storm
Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary is the outcome of a campaign that will be pored over, with elements replicated not just in America but anywhere left-wing politicians and movements are looking to break through. His surprise success vindicates the politics, message and strategies of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders , offering a blueprint for the Democratic Party on how to win. In a city seemingly allergic to progressive mayors, how did he do it? You can't spell campaigns without Camps, an acronym I use when describing effective contemporary political campaigning. Camps stands for consistent, authentic, motivational, positive and simple. [ This man could be just what the American left needs Opens in new window ] Consistent: Mamdani's political record may be short but it is consistent. His consistency is linked to his values. If you don't actually hold values, if they shift with the wind, if they're at the whim of market research and polling, then you are exposed as disingenuous. Mamdani didn't win despite his solidarity with Palestine , he won because of it. He has shown up for undocumented immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community when many Democrats are attempting to park progressive values because they're scared of the right or because – as is the case with Keir Starmer 's leadership in the UK – when you scratch centrism, right-wing positions emerge, betraying both substance and voter bases. Mamdani did not need to change who he was or dilute his message, because his consistency demonstrated his values and integrity. READ MORE Authentic: Mamdani did not seem fake, generic, awkward or detached. He came across as real. 'Outsiders', or just newcomers, are refreshing because they're novel. Voters want people they can relate to, who aren't focus-grouped into blandness, and who don't talk like ChatGPT. In contrast, the attacks against Mamdani were inauthentic, especially accusations of anti-Semitism, which he dismantled with patience and clarity. He also didn't shirk authentic emotion when expressing how upsetting the Islamophobic attacks on him were. Motivational: Mamdani's campaign was a masterclass in creativity, messaging, design, connection and energy. Above all, it was motivational. Motivational campaigning is about generating a sense of enthusiasm that tips over into inspiring people into active participation. In practical terms, he motivated tens of thousands of canvassers to knock on more than a million doors. Contemporary campaigning must nail both digital and old-school strategies. Mamdani's communication on social media was natural, and not forced or cringeworthy. But what was phenomenal was his campaign's capacity to build a highly-organised grassroots movement that was documented and broadcast online. This feedback loop built a motivational story. When you're seeing a compelling story unfold through your phone, when you're feeling momentum grow in a way that feels inspiring, you're more likely to get involved. When campaigns become movements, they take on an energy of their own. Everyone who participated in this grassroots movement can rightly claim to be part of the story. Positive: Positive campaigning isn't just about channelling a vibe or a message, it must be a demonstration. Mamdani didn't attack competitors with shared values. In fact, he moved to endorse them. This was mature, pragmatic and refreshing. A standout demonstration of positivity was collaborating with his competitor, Brad Lander. Left-wing unity over left-wing purity tests wins every time. Andrew Cuomo ran a negative, low-energy, entitled and fear-based campaign, gifting Mamdani the contrast of positivity. Mamdani constantly foregrounded people power. Simple: Simplicity is about policy. Mamdani's policies were easy to understand and memorable. He campaigned on affordability and the cost of living. His platform was simple: New York is too expensive; here are some policies that will lower costs and make life easier. His policies were tangible: city-owned stores to lower the cost of groceries; free buses (the majority of New Yorkers don't own cars); rent freezes for up to one million people; tripling the number of affordable housing units; free childcare. To fund much of this, he plans to raise corporate tax to 11.5 per cent, along with a millionaire tax of 2 per cent on the wealthiest 1 per cent. The latter drives many rich people crazy of course, but that doesn't matter in campaigning terms when you're drawing votes from the unaffected 99 per cent. [ 'The capital of capitalism': New York's old brigade plot how to stop the rise of Zohran Mamdani Opens in new window ] Ultimately, the so-called conventional wisdom collapsed. He has shown that money doesn't necessarily win campaigns; the billionaire class can be beaten; young people will get involved and vote when they're inspired; name recognition and dynastic power doesn't always matter, and scare tactics can fail. Traditional media narratives urging the status quo be maintained were ineffective because traditional media is no longer hegemonic, and most people under 40 get their information and analysis from ideologically partisan alternative media, which has become the new mainstream. [ Finn McRedmond: Ireland needs its own Joe Rogan, someone to question liberal orthodoxies Opens in new window ] The Democratic Party now has a choice. It can continue to double down on failed strategy, or take notes. Meek centrism cannot movement-build, coalition-build or counter right-wing authoritarianism. It can't engage working-class people and young people. That's just not a compelling story to tell or sell. What can be a compelling story is left-wing populism rooted in economic justice and communicated by interesting candidates.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Wichita City Council candidate taped campaign material in City Hall. Can she do that?
In our Reality Check stories, Wichita Eagle journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Story idea? tips@ LaWanda DeShazer, a candidate for the open District 1 seat on the Wichita City Council, posted — then deleted — a campaign video she taped in City Hall. The taping violated a city policy that prohibits any type of campaigning inside city-owned buildings. The video was taped on June 4 and posted on Facebook later in the week to promote DeShazer's campaign launch event that weekend. While it was being taped, a Wichita Eagle reporter saw a member of City Hall staff ask DeShazer to not tape inside the building. The video had been deleted by Monday morning, after the event and after an Eagle reporter questioned DeShazer about it. 'There's a lot of new people running for office. … We don't know these nuances,' DeShazer said. Democrats crowd into race for open Wichita City Council seat. Who's running? The city said the policy that prohibits campaigning on public property has no enforcement mechanism. 'The City focuses on education and we would share the policy with candidates,' city spokesperson Megan Lovely said. A separate state statute prohibits campaigning in city-owned buildings through means of distributing literature and campaign materials unless other candidates have the opportunity to do so. But it doesn't explicitly prohibit filming campaign material on city property. People found in violation of the state statute are subject to a $500 fine or a month in jail. DeShazer said she thought her video being filmed in City Hall was OK after current District 1 council member Brandon Johnson posted a video shot outside McAfee Pool endorsing another candidate, Joseph Shepard. Johnson was wearing a city of Wichita shirt in the video. 'The endorsement video featuring Councilmember Brandon Johnson was filmed outside McAfee Pool, a city-operated entity. In doing so, we remained in compliance with both the Wichita City Code and City Policy #20,' Shepard said in a statement. 'Our filming respected these guidelines. We ensured there was no disruption to pedestrian or vehicle access and remained outside the facility's fence line.' Johnson backed Shepard's statement, saying Shepard reviewed city code before filming the endorsement video. 'It is unfortunate that Ms. DeShazer is suggesting that because she did not follow municipal code and Council policy, that one of her opponents did the same,' Johnson said in a statement. 'The fact that he and his team went the additional steps of reviewing guidelines is yet another reason he should be the Council Member for District 1.' Chris Pumpelly, who's also running for the seat, said he didn't find the video to be inappropriate since DeShazer is a private citizen. But he added already-elected officials must be held to a higher standard. 'The voters of District 1 are smart enough to know the City isn't endorsing a candidate in this race, but it's important as an elected official to make that line VERY clear in all your actions,' Pumpelly said in a statement to The Eagle. Other candidates in the crowded race to replace the term-limited Johnson are Aujanae Bennett and Darryl Carrington. A primary election is set for Aug. 5, with the top two candidates moving forward to the general election on Nov. 4. DeShazer said more education should be provided to candidates about campaigning when they file. 'I'm not trying to violate rules because I want to make things better for people, not worse,' she said.
