Kiwi Conservatism

At least one country is responding to the financial crisis by moving to the right, not the left. New Zealand voters have just ousted the longstanding Labor regime and elected a government led by the conservative National Party; the free-market ACT party will be part of the governing coalition. Which is not to say the new administration will always pursue pro-market policies. The London Times reports that Prime Minister-elect John Key, a wealthy former currency trader, is "expected to implement tax cuts and extra spending." A Bushian/Keynesian combination.

I was tickled at how the Times explained the concept of "New Zealand" to its readers:

John Key's conservative National Party easily won power in New Zelaland, known internationally for its pristine environment and as the backdrop to the "Lord of the Rings" movies.