Obama Takes Early Lead in New Zealand General Election

Perhaps reflecting the fatigue of younger Kiwi citizens with local politics as well as their impressionable TV viewing habits, 10 year olds at the Manurewa swimming pools stopped National Leader John Key in his tracks when he asked them if they knew about the big election on 8 November.

"I'm going to vote for Obama," he was told.

No word from the Obama campaign yet on whether or not they'll be contesting the New Zealand General Election some 4 days after the US one. ACORN is said to be sending representatives to register new voters at the Manurewa pools.

While their parents may not be too enthusiastic about New Zealand becoming the 51st state - some would claim Australia was accorded that honor about 7 years ago - they might be more interested in a free trade agreement with the United States so that they have one just like Australia's.

General Election - Voter Participation in New Zealand

With the enrollment deadline approaching this Wednesday, 93 percent of eligible voters are enrolled for New Zealand's General Election on 8 November.

In the 2005 election, voter participation was 81 percent of all those enrolled, with 82 percent participation in the general electorates and 67 percent in Maori electorates.

Voter participation in the 2002 and 2005 elections was sharply down from the average 90.3 percent in the period between 1946 and 1999 and may indicate a greater malaise in the New Zealand electorate.

By comparison, voter turnout in US Federal elections averages only 50-55 percent of eligible voters. Compulsory voting has been required in Australia since 1924 resulting in voter turnout averaging 95 percent of eligible voters in modern national elections.

New Zealand - US Antarctic Death Investigation

A New Zealand coroner in Christchurch holding a hearing into the death of Australian scientist Dr Rodney David Marks at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on May 12, 2000 has found that the scientist died as a result of acute methanol poisoning.

The coroner concluded that Dr Marks may have mistaken the methanol for ethanol obtained from lab sources. Moonshine is suspected of being produced at the South Pole station and this too could have been contaminated with methanol.

The coroner highlighted the frustrations of New Zealand police in investigating the death without proper cooperation from US authorities who share in the operation of the South Pole base. He faulted the base's doctor for failing to diagnose the methanol poisoning, for failing to investigate needle tracks on the deceased's arm and not conducting "certain diagnostic tests".

Further hampering the NZ police investigation was the difficulty of obtaining evidence from US authorities, their failure to preserve or photograph the scene of death and to take statements from staff.

The coroner recommended the New Zealand government explore ways to improve cooperation with the US in conducting death investigations in the Antarctic.