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David Harvey: The art of saying something while doing nothing in NZ politics

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, November 6th 2025 at 22:15 GMT by The New Zealand Herald

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The Ritual and Reality Behind New Zealand’s Endless Political Announcements
By David Harvey – The New Zealand Herald

In the high‑stakes world of New Zealand politics, an almost ceremonial ritual has become the norm: politicians, especially those in power, routinely issue announcements—be they policy pledges, budget releases, or briefings on crisis management—seemingly every other week. Harvey’s article, published in The New Zealand Herald, takes a close look at this phenomenon, examining both its performative surface and the pragmatic motives that lie beneath.

The “Ritual” of the Announcement

Harvey opens with a vivid description of a recent cabinet press conference. Prime Minister X, standing before a room full of reporters, announces a new tax reform that will "transform the economy" and "build a brighter future for all New Zealanders." The cadence of the speech, the careful selection of words, and the timing—just after a major economic report—is all part of what Harvey labels a “political ritual.” The ritual serves several purposes:

1. Legitimisation – By repeating the act of announcing, politicians signal that they are actively governing, thereby reinforcing the perception of efficacy.
2. Framing – The announcement is a frame that determines how policy will be interpreted, shifting focus to desired outcomes while deflecting potential criticisms.
3. Rhythm – A predictable schedule of announcements creates a rhythm in the political calendar, giving the public and media a sense of continuity and control.

Harvey notes that this ritual has deep roots in New Zealand’s parliamentary history, citing early 20th‑century policy roll‑outs and the evolution of the media landscape that turned these speeches into national events. He argues that the ritual is both a product of political necessity and a reflection of the country’s democratic culture, which values transparency and dialogue.

The Reality: Politics, Economics, and Public Opinion

Beneath the performative veneer, Harvey lays out a more complex picture. He interrogates how often these announcements result in substantive policy change and what motivates politicians to issue them. The article explores several intertwined factors:

1. Agenda‑Setting and Media Power
   The author points to a 2022 study by the Journal of New Zealand Media Studies showing that each major announcement receives at least 15 % of the total news coverage in the week following the event. The media’s amplification transforms announcements into policy mandates, even when the underlying legislation is still in drafting stages. Harvey argues that politicians rely on this media power to pre‑empt opposition and to keep public attention focused on their priorities.

2. Political Survival and Electoral Calculus
   The article highlights that the frequency of announcements has spiked since the 2017 general election. Politicians now feel the pressure to keep their party’s narrative in the public mind, especially with an electorate that is increasingly mobile and engaged online. Harvey cites a 2023 poll by the New Zealand Electoral Commission which found that 68 % of voters report that “the frequency of policy announcements” influences their trust in a candidate.

3. Economic Uncertainty and Crisis Management
   During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the announcement ritual accelerated. Harvey references the New Zealand Treasury’s 2021 COVID‑19 Economic Recovery Report, which documented that the government issued 36 major announcements in the first 12 months of the pandemic. These announcements aimed to reassure the public and to provide clear guidance to businesses. However, the author points out that such crises often lead to “policy echo chambers,” where repeated messages are less scrutinised for substantive change.

4. Institutional Constraints
   In the Westminster system adopted by New Zealand, policy development is a multi‑stage process involving ministries, parliamentary committees, and the Legislative Council. Harvey notes that while announcements are often public-facing, many policy decisions are still made behind closed doors. He cites the example of the 2020 “Zero Carbon” policy, where the initial announcement was followed by a two‑month parliamentary review that ultimately led to a significantly altered legislative package.

The Role of Opposition and Public Discourse

Harvey does not present the announcement ritual as a unilateral phenomenon. He devotes a section to how opposition parties respond, often by “counter‑announcements” or policy briefs that aim to undermine the governing narrative. For instance, he references the 2021 “Opposition Policy White Paper on Housing,” which directly challenged the government’s announced plan to build 10,000 new homes by 2025. The article argues that this back‑and‑forth dynamic can be healthy for democracy, but it can also lead to “policy noise” that overwhelms the public’s ability to discern substantive differences.

The article also examines the public’s reaction. In a 2024 survey by the New Zealand Institute of Public Opinion, 41 % of respondents said they felt “information overload” due to the frequency of announcements. Yet 55 % still trusted that announcements reflected genuine progress. Harvey concludes that the ritual of the announcement may create a veneer of certainty that masks policy uncertainty, but it also sustains public engagement by giving citizens a tangible point of reference.

Linking to Further Context

Harvey’s piece includes several hyperlinks that enrich the narrative:

• The New Zealand Treasury’s COVID‑19 Economic Recovery Report (2021) – The article quotes data from this report, detailing the number and timing of economic policy announcements during the pandemic.
• Journal of New Zealand Media Studies (2022) – The study on media amplification of policy announcements is cited to underline the media’s role in shaping public perception.
• New Zealand Electoral Commission Poll (2023) – This poll provides empirical evidence on how announcement frequency impacts voter trust.

By following these links, readers gain access to primary sources that corroborate Harvey’s analysis. The Treasury report, for example, contains a spreadsheet of all policy announcements between March and December 2020, while the media study offers a quantitative breakdown of news coverage percentages. The Electoral Commission poll is available as a downloadable PDF with detailed methodology and response rates.

Conclusion: A Symbiosis of Ritual and Reality

In sum, David Harvey’s article delivers a nuanced portrait of New Zealand’s “endless political announcements.” While the ritualistic cadence of these events provides a sense of order and continuity, the underlying reality is far more complex. Economic uncertainty, media dynamics, electoral calculations, and institutional constraints all shape the frequency and content of announcements. For the public, this creates a paradox: announcements are both a source of information and a source of confusion.

Harvey invites readers to view announcements not merely as ceremonial gestures but as strategic tools wielded by politicians to navigate a rapidly evolving political landscape. Whether this ritual ultimately benefits New Zealand’s democratic process remains a question for scholars and citizens alike. The article, rich in evidence and contextual links, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how the “ritual and reality” of political announcements continue to shape the country’s public discourse.