The New Zealand Government is in crisis, the fabled stability the media have been foisting on New Zealand for months, comparing it in every favourable light they can muster by interviewing their keyboards after the constant stream of direction comes down from the ninth floor following the regular strategy meeting to map out the next moves. Seymour and Collins have it sussed, sure they make mistakes but in the absence of the power that emanates from being on the treasury benches, that is always on, as they not only have to make a plausible policy as an alternative they must also react to the increasingly bizarre uttering coming from a now clearly disunited senior administration bunch of misfits. Signalled unequivocally yesterday when Hipkins shot from the “lip” over Auckland holiday scenarios only to be shot down soon after over the front lines by the Deputy PM and his still possible leader.
Three occasions in two days saw a beleaguered leader totally gobsmacked that not just a very few citizens might protest she was expecting from the carefully orchestrated walkabout and photo ops to deliver for the evening propaganda fables did not turn out so favourable and instead of hoards of the adoring, some inescapable images of serious protest were dominating the scenes. In first Northland where she pulled the “you are not accredited” card out to counter a question she could not answer, closing down the stand up and moving it to a controlled environment. then another public walkabout and standup were cancelled “due to security concerns” first in Wanganui and later Hunterville.
That bold dignified young mother replete with her child on her hip being hassled by the Stasi in Northland as they tried to minimise embarrassment for HRH could become the man in front of the Tank in Tiananmen square as the image of the downfall of Ardern and her Marxist attempted overthrow of NZ democracy.
The worms have turned and the glitter is coming off, she is under pressure and it increasingly shows. The totally contrived BBQ Photo was an easily identifiable fraud, the control knobs (on the BBQ, not standing around) were all in an OFF position, the saussies were raw and her posed hand could not have been that near to a hotplate grasping the tongs. Here is hoping she is never pictured sans Raiment as it will not be pretty.
I understand there is a scheduled NZLP talkfest this weekend and it will consider the transition from Ardern when she takes the gap, that scenario also will not be pretty as the now elevated Maori Caucus will not hand over their recent considerable gains in power back to the Unions and the Members might just as well head on home as no-one wants to hear from them.
Imagine if you will how entertaining a Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham type broadcasters could be tearing this mob of incompetents apart on a Daily basis, then the SLG would actually understand what pressure was.
No Minister 
GD – not sure if you saw it but last night was Alan Jones last night. He will be doing podcasts apparently but I missed how you catch up with them.
Shame because he delivered some very good stuff but, I suppose the poor bugger deserved a break – after all he is in his early 80’s. .
PDM he has been replaced by Piers Morgan.
They offered him other time slots but naturally he resigned.
Great man great institution. Nobody but nobody can hold a candle to him in NZ, including Mike Hoskins.
Tova would be a tiny piece of annoying dog shot on his boot, in fact she would be getting the great man coffee and asking what else would keep him happy.
Rossco – I didn’t see who was taking over.
Some sort of international syndication from who ever owns the channels I guess ,but at 80, plus health scares it was probably time to go.