How did the Great Depression help the Labour Party win New Zealand’s 1935 election?

The Great Depression played a pivotal role in the Labour Party’s victory in the 1935 New Zealand election by fueling widespread public discontent with the existing coalition government.12

During the height of the depression, the coalition government led by George Forbes struggled to address the economic crisis. While the government took measures to support farmers—such as devaluing the currency and protecting them against foreclosure—it did little to assist the unemployed. This neglect led to rioting, violence, and general dissatisfaction in towns and relief camps, creating an environment favorable to the Labour Party.12

In response, the Labour Party shifted its platform, moving away from its earlier socialist theories to adopt welfare and credit-reform proposals that appealed to a broader base. The party successfully campaigned on promises such as guaranteed prices for dairy farmers, whose exports had been slow to recover. Consequently, Labour won a significant victory in 1935, securing 53 seats and forming the first Labour government under Michael Joseph Savage.123