POLS102 Aotearoa New Zealand Politics – Introduction

Overview

The study of institutions and processes of the New Zealand political system. Particularly the formal structure of government, political parties and interest groups, the citizen and political participation.

POLS102 is designed to educate you about New Zealand politics and get you thinking more about some of the major debates it involves. The paper will teach you about the way things work (like the voting system), about what the major institutions are and what they do (like Parliament), and about New Zealand’s political history. It will also encourage you to think critically about public policy, political parties, politicians, elections, social and political inequality, media, and to discuss major policy issues such climate change, student fees and debt, and New Zealand’s foreign policy.

About this paper

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Eligibility

The study of Politics at 100-level does not require any specific previous study. An interest in national and international affairs is an advantage.

Contact

politics@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Associate Professor Brian Roper

Paper Structure

POLS102 has lectures which are recorded, with power point slides available on Blackboard. There is a requirement to attend lectures.

Textbooks

Janine Hayward (ed), 2021, New Zealand Government and Politics, Seventh edition, Oxford University Press.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will:

• Know what government is and how it works.
• Develop an awareness of the wider social and economic context.
• Engage with theoretical perspectives that explain why governments do what they do.
• Learn about New Zealand's political past.

Timetable