Hikoi of Hope reflections
Did the Hikoi achieve anything? Yes, I think so. It was a protest about the political situation underlying unsatisfactory aspects of socio-economic life in 1998. As a protest it changed nothing re the approach of the then National Government, but it contributed to the wave of electoral support for a change of government which led to the Labour-led coalition government of Helen Clark which has been in operation since 1999. If one thing was symbolic of this effect, it was the refusal of then Prime Minister Jenny Shipley to address the final hui on the grounds of Parliament.
Ten years later, what is the current situation? Some things are worse than 1998, especially in the area of housing (even less affordable) and poverty (rising inflation in respect of food, power, and fuel damaging the value of wages and benefits). I suggest health, education, and employment are better than in 1998. So, a special challenge for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand presents itself: are we willing to take on a Labour-led government? My sneaking suspicion about 1998 is that the Hikoi moved quickly from an idea to a reality because it was a National-led government we were challenging!
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