Political capital: You

‘‘If I have a frustration with Labour, it’s that they could have spent more political capital than they have.’’ James Shaw doesn’t throw tantrums. This is as close as he gets to public criticism of his Government partner.

On one level, he’s just rehearsing his lines. In the election campaign the Greens will position themselves as the drivers of progressive change. The accelerator to NZ First’s brake. Between the throttle and the anchors, is the driver. In Shaw’s telling, Labour has been too cautious, too slow to change.

There are many examples of timidity. The most glaring is a capital gains tax, abandoned last year after Labour campaigned on it for three successive elections.

Much of the important work has been placed in the hands of faceless working groups.

The Government has fallen short on its promises to reduce emissions and inequality, and boost housing.

Even this month, water reforms have disappointed, with nitrogen restrictions parked. A roll-out of mandatory cameras on fishing boats, a gamechanger in protecting endangered seabirds and dolphins, has been delayed again.

NZ First claimed victory for hobbling all this policy.

In his (gentle) critique, Shaw has every right to be frustrated. An unfulfilled promise to overhaul the welfare system was the most galling failure for the Greens. Only three recommendations of more than 40 were enacted.

Metiria Turei staked her career on reforming the benefit system. Alleviating poverty was a key plank of the Greens (and Labour’s) 2017 campaign.

Now Covid-19 presents both parties with both a