1. You put her in power in 2017 when Labour had 37% of the vote compared to National’s 44%, just because of your early 90’s grudge against National leader, Bill English, and a Nat you claimed leaked to the public your pensions ripoff.
  2. You stood by in 2018 when she banned oil and gas, which has basically fucked our nation and nothing that Shane Jones can do is ever going to bring them back
  3. You were mute during most of the lockdowns and vax passport shit – until 2023 , which was, of course, an election year.

Ok, TBF his stance on that last was no different to National and ACT. Even so, the following is just his usual gall.

Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Roberston, and Ayesha Verrall have all colluded and decided to decline to give evidence at the COVID-19 Royal Commission public hearings.

The ‘Podium of Truth’ has become the ‘Podium of Evasion’. These former ministers do not want to sit in a public hearing and answer the hard questions that every New Zealander deserves to know. If ever there was a definition for “a different kind of ‘abuse of’ power” this is it.

New Zealand First demanded a second inquiry to ensure there was public accountability for the decisions made during the pandemic. These former Labour ministers are undermining the entire action and purpose of the inquiry to avoid public scrutiny.

The Royal Commission has stated today that “the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant event that affected every New Zealander…we remain of the view that the public being able to see former ministers questioned about those decisions at a public hearing of a Royal Commission of Inquiry would significantly enhance public confidence in our process.”

Those former Labour Ministers have shown they care nothing about public confidence, and worse, are treating the entire public with distain (sic) and contempt.

Well, you’d know Winston; you’re entire political career has been one of, “treating the entire public with distain (sic) and contempt“, and yes, he really did spell “disdain” wrong.

The Royal Commission has stated that the refusal of former ministers, in this case, to attend the public hearing is a refusal to answer questions in a public hearing.

Those former ministers were at the heart of decisions that affected hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Cost livelihoods, careers, businesses, connection with families, and had a disastrous effect on the economy and future of our country – yet they refuse to be held to account.

The public deserve an answer about why they are refusing to be held publicly to account.

I’m reminded of Danyl McLauchlan’s old blog, The Dim Post, with his 2008 take on Winston in Crisis:

  • Monday 2:00 PM: Hires two identical twins as press secretaries, one of whom always tells the truth while the other always lies.
  • Tuesday 9:15 AM: Storms down press gallery corridor, bursts into Audrey Youngs office, slams door shut behind him and then breaks down and cries like a little girl.
  • Wednesday 11:30 AM: Announces to press conference that he will explain everything but in doing so will be forced to reveal the secret surprise ending to Battlestar Galactica. Political media beg him to remain silent.
  • Thursday 6:35 PM: Notifies Speaker Margaret Wilson that he is officially changing his alignment to Neutral Evil.
  • Friday 10:30 AM: Recieves report back from Department of Statistics confirming that proportion of New Zealanders with IQ below 90 is still greater than 5%. Laughs heartily. Tells rest of country to go fuck themselves.