KERRE MCIVOR
’m jolly glad that when I was MCing Massey University’s New Zealand Food Awards last week I relaxed the time limit on speeches for Food Safety Minister David Bennett.
“Feel free to bang on like a pork chop,” I said. “Depending on which way Winston goes, this might be your last speech as a cabinet minister. You may well be uber-ing to your next function.” And indeed he will be — as will most of his colleagues.
From rooster to feather duster — that’s politics. Winston Peters announced on Thursday that after negotiations with National and Labour, NZ First’s board had decided to go with Labour.
Apparently, both party leaders found out at the same time as the rest of us but surely, Parliament being the sieve it is, word of the decision had trickled out in time for Bill English and Jacinda Ardern to get their game faces on before the waiting media.
Peters said the decision was not easy and in some ways, it was sad not to see a National/NZ First Government. But too many had come to see capitalism as their foe and capitalism must regain its human face.
He said the decision was between a modified status quo or change and that NZ First’s priority was economic reform, specifically around foreign land ownership, immigration and regional development.
So the woman criticised throughout the election campaign for being too young, too inexperienced and too lacking in real life skills is now our Prime Minister, thanks to Peters and NZ First. And I’m sure we’ll be fine — despite the misgivings of some naysayers.
In the run up to the election, my NewstalkZB colleagues and I were in a round table discussion on the election campaign. We were asked for our final predictions. I called Labour, Greens and Maori — the only one of us to call a Labour-led Government.
I couldn’t have been more wrong about the Maori Party but it was more wishful thinking on my part that it would have a say than a realistic assessment.
I just didn’t want NZ First to be left holding the balance of power again.
One colleague, Larry Williams, said a Labour/Green coalition government would be disastrous for New Zealand. I don’t think that will be the case.
For all that people have low opinions of politicians, I think most want the best for the country and they are well-supported by policy wonks and public servants in Wellington who know what’s what and how things are done.
I really liked English’s social investment policy and I hope that baby won’t be thrown out with the bathwater when National vacates the ministerial offices.
I have high hopes Ardern will be a consensus-style politician rather than one driven by her own particular ideology.
Before the election she talked a great deal about the need for discussions and exchanges of ideas and of listening to people. Well, she’ll have gab-fests up the ying yang now that she is the head of a Government made up of three disparate parties.
I wish her well.
It has been a remarkable ride for the Prime Minister-elect. Vindication for those who believe in pixie dust and fairy tales.
Now it’s time for her to roll up her sleeves and get to work to start making dreams of home ownership and liveable wages come true for the Kiwis who voted for her.