Ardern Labour — progressive transformation + COVID elimination (NZ 2017-2023)

Doctrine — stated goals and content

Progressive-Labour programme styled as "transformational" — framed around a wellbeing economics paradigm (Wellbeing Budget 2019 replacing pure-GDP fiscal targeting), ambitious social-housing build (KiwiBuild 2017, which underdelivered against its 100k-home target), binding net-zero legislation (Zero Carbon Act 2019), Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018, and a Māori-co-governance turn (Māori Health Authority, Three Waters reform). Monetary-policy framework broadened to include employment mandate (2018). COVID-19 elimination strategy from March 2020 produced one of the OECD's lowest mortality rates but also a sharp fiscal and monetary expansion and 2020-23 house-price surge. A proposed capital gains tax was ruled out in 2019 under NZ First pressure. Labour won a single-party majority in 2020 (65/120 seats, first under MMP). Approval collapsed through 2022-23 amid inflation, housing, and crime salience; Ardern resigned January 2023. Coherence line: progressive-wellbeing framing constrained by coalition veto (no CGT) and reversed wholesale by the successor coalition.