New Zealand’s Labour Party faced a crushing defeat by the conservative National Party led by John Key. The election sealed any political future for the current Prime Minister Helen Clark, who was seeking a fourth term. Although Clark made various accomplishments, economic recession in the agriculture exporting country was the key issue in the election. The financial crisis is at a global scale, and it seems to be changing the political landscape in many democracies as voters look for change in leadership that can navigate the country through a tough economic time.

New Zealand leader loses to conservatives – International Herald Tribune