Henare shows he’s no lollipop taking a jab for the cause
One of the most important decisions Jacinda Ardern made after the very public rule-breaking and then stepping down of Dr David Clark as minister of health, was to appoint Chris Hipkins first as health minister and then into the newly created portfolio of minister for Covid-19 recovery.
The stress of having to spend valuable prime ministerial time constantly fronting Covid-19 press conferences was significantly lessened by the Wellington-based Hipkins, who could do Covid conferences at short notice and could be relied upon to do it well.
Now that Covid pressers are less frequent events – long may that continue – and what there are now most based around the vaccine roll out, it is probably time the Government added someone else to its presser talent lineup.
Given that the Ma¯ori population has been identified by the Government as potentially requiring extra reassurance, effort and an appropriate provisioned style of healthcare, that person should be Ma¯ori.
Yesterday it may have found that person: Minister for Defence, and associate Health Minister, Peeni Henare .
Fresh from getting his Covid-19 vaccine at the Nga¯ti Toa-operated Ora Toa Takapu¯wa¯hia Medical Centre in Porirua, Henare strode to the podium at the Beehive Theatrette and performed with the right mix of reassurance and command, seamlessly blending English with reo and competently answering questions.
He seems to be the right blend of erudition, mana, gentility and an understated sense of humour.
Not bad for what was a big day out for Henare.
As mentioned, he offered himself up as a role model for Ma¯ori vaccination in the morning – getting his first dose in Porirua from the iwi health provider.
He had to sit like a roast chook in front of cameras – a radio mic gently nestled by a reporter under one wing, a needle being inserted in the other.
Some have questioned whether Henare held the mana to really carry out the message to all Ma¯ori communities.
There is genuine scepticism within Ma¯ori communities about things like governments and mainstream authority in general.
Perhaps someone outside the beltway and the establishment, a Hone Harawira, could have made a bigger splash by getting vaccinated for the cameras.
But then came the second test of the day – Henare’s presser.
If he was feeling fragile from his jab he wasn’t showing it.
He was given a gentle fricasse
by-media at his first Covid-19 1pm event. It was not as intense as some, but it is a situation where things can go horribly wrong.
We knew the Government had some Ma¯ori talent waiting in the wings.
His colleague Kiritapu Allan made an instant impact as Minister for Emergency Management during last month’s tsunami alert.
She fronted with authority – even while juggling news about what would eventually be a diagnosis of stage three cervical cancer.
In addition to its Ma¯ori cabinet ministers, the Labour Party has further untapped potential in its Ma¯ori caucus.
Much like assembling a fantasy rugby team, you wonder how the likes of the Paul Eagles (a Wellington City Council escapee), Willow-Jean Primes, or Shanan Halberts would fare if thrown the ball.
The problem for the Ma¯ori caucus – 15-strong – and for the wider swathes of Labour MPs is that the party was almost too successful in last year’s general election.
There are so many backbenchers you get the sense some will simply rot on the vine waiting for an opportunity.
After his vaccination, Henare, ever aware of the optics of his role, declined the offer of a lollipop from a bowl.
He was, he pointed out, the minister in charge of diabetes.
He should know right from wrong – he is from a political dynasty of MPs stretching back to the start of World War 1 with his great granddad Taurekareka Henare winning the then seat of Northern Ma¯ori.
It was only later after the cameras were gone that Henare said he was going to grab a lollipop.