New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is keeping her cannabis referendum voting intentions to herself, despite pressure from newly installed National Party leader Judith Collins to come clean on the issue.
Ardern’s Labour Party does not have an official policy position on which way to vote in the referendum and their leader is determined to keep her own views to herself so she can implement the result from a neutral position.
She said: “My vote is as good as my neighbour’s vote and equal to theirs. I do want to be able to maintain the position that should people vote in favour or oppose, I can then be seen to objectively facilitate that happening.”
Collins’ National Party will vote against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill in the September 19 poll.