On 16 October, a crowd gathered at Unity Books Wellington for the launch of Back on Track? The New Zealand General Election of 2023. Edited by Professor Stephen Levine, this is the thirteenth in a series of election books dating back to 1987, which have become an institution. Many of those who contributed chapters were there on the night, and we heard from publisher Fergus Barrowman, Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul and Professor Levine himself. Here is Stephen's speech.

Stephen Levine signing books after the launch

I’d like to begin with an appreciative welcome to all of you; family members, friends, colleagues, former students, parliamentary interns, and, of course, some of the book’s authors, several – Nigel Roberts, Stephen Church, Claire Timperley, Lara Greaves – veteran contributors to previous books in this series; others – Natalia Albert, Sophie Trigger, Eden Roberts, Jacqui Van Der Kaay – first-time participants.

Many thanks to Unity Books for hosting the launch, and to Tamatha Paul for her very gracious launch speech for a book in which, thanks to Nigel Roberts’ photographic skills, she makes a cameo appearance, her photo to be found on page 225.

Putting together a book like this is a ‘team sport’, the book itself the gold medal. I thank all those on the team – the publisher, Fergus Barrowman and Craig Gamble, for their ongoing support; Kyleigh Hodgson, copy editor extraordinaire, for the many improvements that she made to the manuscript, her ‘Midas touch’ elevating the quality of everything she touches; and, of course, each of the authors, for their splendid contributions.

So: a book has been published – something to celebrate!

And – something else to celebrate! – unlike just about everything else it hasn’t gone up in price! It’s available for the same price as the previous book in this series, published three years ago!

This book, Back on Track?, is the latest in our series of books providing multiple perspectives on a New Zealand election and what it says about how our politics are conducted.

A book such as this is ultimately about us, about New Zealanders, characters in an ever-expanding narrative about what kind of country we are to have. At the same time we are also the book’s author, as it falls upon us, collectively, to say what kind of story will be told in these chapters – whether it is a story of retreat or advance, as we strive to build a country of which we can all genuinely feel, in the words of the parliamentary prayer, appreciative of the ‘blessings which have been bestowed on us’ as we seek to move towards a society even more secure, more peaceful, more just, more prosperous, more equal, than the one we have inherited.

Beyond those values, this book offers multiple opportunities to see what it is like to ‘experience’ politics, many of the authors – party leaders, candidates, journalists – caught up in an election campaign, with all that that involves. What was it like to win a seat from a sitting MP? Read Brooke van Velden’s chapter: see what it took; how much time, and dedication – how many weekends – went into that effort. What was it like to be a candidate for a smaller party, here in Wellington, doing one’s utmost, raising issues, knowing that winning the seat was beyond your grasp, but knowing, too, that the effort was important? Read Natalia Albert’s chapter.

What was it like to have the responsibility – the assignment – of organising and moderating a TV leaders’ debate – nothing pre-recorded; all live TV – how to go about it? What effort, what emotions, went into preparing for that evening? What did it feel like, prodding the two leaders, getting them to answer the questions you and your team had drawn up for them? Read Paddy Gower’s chapter.

And what was it like to be a journalist, traveling around the country with party leaders, being there, with them, as they moved from one town to the next, from one food stop and speech venue to the next, observing their behaviour, and voters’ responses – seeing individuals hoping to be prime minister ask people for their votes, from one day to the next. Read the chapters from Radio New Zealand’s Katie Scotcher and from Newstalk ZB’s Sophie Trigger.

This is, in every respect, if I may say so, a book worthy of your interest, for it is inconceivable that you will not learn much from it, no matter how much you may already know about New Zealand politics and the 2023 election. I know this in terms of my own experience, reading for the first time the chapters submitted by the book’s authors, with much to fascinate, and a good deal to enjoy.

This book is interesting, informative, thought-provoking, exceptionally well-written, and intermittently entertaining. There are high points and low points from 2023, ‘scandals’ of one kind or another, tracked with dedication and skill by Jacqui Van Der Kaay. Personalities, policies, promises; causes and consequences, repercussions and ramifications – all found in a book documenting events now past, but with insights for today’s politics and tomorrow’s challenges.

There are also some unexpected items: – this is the first New Zealand election book ever to include a section entitled “Space: The Final Frontier” – a book for Star Trek lovers – New Zealand, with its own Minister for Space!

It is sometimes said that ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’. A book’s cover is that first impression. To Chris Slane, cartoonist par excellence, goes the credit – for the front cover and spine – this book’s first impression, an especially good one.

But there is, of course, with a book, a second chance to make a first impression – by opening the book… looking inside.

I hope that this book will reach all those who, if they but knew about it, would open it to look inside, and find its contents compelling.

So, as this is a ‘launch’ – as when we celebrate a good ship going off to sea for the first time – I give a salute to those who built it; hope it won’t sink; and cheerfully send it on its way.

Thank you very much.

Fergus Barrowman opens the speeches, with Tamatha Paul and Stephen Levine 

Back on Track? The New Zealand General Election of 2023 (RRP $50) is available from all good bookshops and here on our website.