Anna Conder
As Wellington approaches this next mayoral election, voters face a critical choice about the city’s future leadership. Among the candidates, Andrew Little – a veteran Labour politician with decades in New Zealand’s political establishment – is a stand out. But his long career, including his central role in the pandemic response and his alignment with key figures such as Jacinda Ardern, Helen Clark, Ashley Bloomfield and Chris Hipkins, and his alignment with Tory Whanau (Green-Labour alliance), who has overtly vocalised that she has passed her mayoral batten to him, raises serious questions about the kind of governance Wellington will see under his leadership.
A Labour Insider at the Heart of Pandemic Leadership
It is Andrew Little’s post-political background and connections that are of concern here. He served as the minister of health during the lead-up to the pandemic and remained an influential figure within Labour’s leadership throughout the crisis. His tenure helped shape the health system and policy frameworks that Director-General Ashley Bloomfield later operated within. As the Labour Government rolled out strict lockdowns, vaccine mandates and border controls, Little was part of the inner circle setting the tone for a response that prioritised control and compliance – sometimes at the expense of openness to public concern, transparency and individual rights.
Meanwhile, Andrew Little, along with Helen Clark and her globalist influence, Jacinda Ardern’s political leadership, as ex-president of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), and Chris Hipkins’ operational management of pandemic policies, formed a tightly knit leadership web. This tight-knit group advanced a narrative of crisis management heavily in step with international agendas and pharmaceutical interests and sidelined dissent and downplayed vaccine injury concerns. Little’s role as a senior Labour figure connects him directly to these decisions.
Wellington’s Deep State Dynamics
Local politics in Wellington have long been characterised by entrenched political networks and a culture of bureaucratic influence. Incumbent Mayor Tory Whanau is viewed by some as part of this establishment, maintaining policies that reflect central government priorities rather than grassroots community needs and interests.
Andrew Little’s mayoral bid suggests a continuation of this pattern. His deep ties to the Labour Party and the pandemic leadership team indicate a governance style that may prioritise party loyalty and centralised control. For voters seeking genuine change, accountability and a break from the status quo, this should be a red flag.
What Voters Should Consider
The pandemic exposed huge vulnerabilities in New Zealand’s governance – where public health became intertwined with political control, open debate was often discouraged and the people more often than not were propagandised and dictated to. Leaders like Little were integral to this approach. Currently, as Wellingtonians decide who should steer their city forward, they must ask:
- Will the city benefit from another figure deeply embedded in national political machinery?
- Or is it time to elect leadership that values transparency, community voices and genuine accountability?
Conclusion
Of concern is Andrew Little’s long-standing role within Labour’s leadership and his role in the pandemic response that places him firmly within the ‘deep state’ dynamics critics warn about. Wellington deserves leadership that listens, learns from past mistakes and breaks the cycle of centralised control masked as crisis management.
Voters have the power to demand this change. The upcoming election is an opportunity to move beyond the shadows of pandemic politics and build a more open and responsive Wellington.
