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This course is designed to be an introduction to New Zealand politics and public policy. The course examines New Zealand’s political processes including the constitutional setting and electoral system, the roles of leaders, cabinet and parliament in decision making, issues of citizen participation in politics and parties and the media's influence in NZ politics.
This course takes political analysis up close and personal, using theories and ideas about politics and political processes to better understand one of the world’s smallest and oldest democracies, New Zealand. Political science is often described as a study of the way power is exercised in a collective struggle to achieve social goals. This course introduces students to the study of political power in the context of New Zealand. In the course you are introduced to the art, craft and passion of politics as a process of establishing our visions of the good life, and tackling difficult common problems as a democratic polis or political community. This course is then an introduction to both New Zealand government and how to conduct applied political analysis. The course aims to help students new to the study of politics, to understand both the democratic framework of New Zealand government, and how to ask deeper, probing questions about what is going on, what kind of society do we want to live in, and why? How can we achieve this collectively? At what cost (social, economic, environmental), for whom? In 2014 there is a special focus on issues concerning young voters and debates about intergenerational equity in New Zealand political processes, asset sales and opportunities for new politics.
This course aims to encourage students to revisit what we think they know about New Zealand , challenging dominant assumptions and thinking carefully, creatively, and critically about the current state of New Zealand politics and options for the future.
Bronwyn Hayward
Miller, Raymond; New Zealand government & politics ; 5th ed; Oxford University Press, 2010.
Library portalLearn Assignment Sheet Cover Academic Integrity Guidance for Staff and Students PDF document Referencing for Political Science Using EndNote for referencing Writing guides for Political Science
Essay boxes are located on the 5th floor, Locke Building, outside the POLS Office, Locke 501.
Domestic fee $670.00
International fee $2,850.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .