You are missed! This is the second week in a row that you’ve not fronted for your usual Monday morning slot on the AM show. Please come back. We need to farewell you properly and give you an appropriate send off. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Of course, it’s probably better to say our goodbyes on election night when we can recount your achievements. Hugs, headscarves and bringing out the baby when times are tough. And oh boy, have those times been tough! Honestly, if you choose to throw in the towel ahead of the election no one would blame you. We would even thank you.
COVID-19 has much to answer for, but it was your lockdowns that slammed the coffin lid on NZ tourism, with its best mate, hospitality, on life support. We thank you for your gracious funding of the 14 day compulsory quarantine keeping it alive.
Jobs, jobs, jobs. Clearly it’s been a struggle making headway on your promises. Even before lockdown your government took unemployment completely in the wrong direction as shown in a graph Kiwiblog produced last October.
Since lockdown over 200,000 people are on the dole and that number can easily double, or worse, when the wage subsidy ends just after the election — which is very convenient timing isn’t it?
We also thank you for keeping the ugly dog of poverty at bay with your financial handouts. Out of interest, what is your plan for economic recovery? How are we going to pay back the huge debt? Understandably, your capable team of three — Robertson, Hipkins and Woods — have their hands full. And on that score, you may sleep easy because Judith Collins had competent ministers left over after doling out her portfolios with excellent candidates waiting in the wings to fill a vacancy should an incumbent stuff up. It will comfort you to know the job of running the country will be spread over more ministers under Collins’s watch.
Media made much of the Nats’ quick leadership turnover, saying it proves the party is in disarray. They certainly were but I disagree that they are now, and I am sure that you do too. The Nats finally got it right (they were desperate) by appointing Judith Collins, their most talented leader in waiting. Thank God!
You should not listen to media pundits who claim Collins is too right wing for traditional conservative voters because it was the party that walked away from the centre right, conservative voters grudgingly trudged off to Act and New Conservative, grumbling their disappointment.
The National Party left its roots and eased across into centre left territory, earning the nickname Labour Lite. Judith Collins’s appointment as leader changed this and she dragged them back to centre right. I hope this section of Collins’s maiden speech at parliament some years ago brings the same warm glow of hope to your heart as it does to mine.
I have a vision for New Zealand. I have a vision that recognises and supports business, as well as New Zealanders at every level of society, that encourages opportunity, that celebrates success, and that rewards hard work – a New Zealand that will grow.
I stand for one standard of citizenship for all, for one justice system for all, for one country, and for one sovereignty.
Conversely, I do not stand for political correctness. I do not stand for dividing this country-my country, our country – along the lines of race.
The caucus that appointed Collins recognised they had lost the centre right voter support and Collins was the obvious leader to take them back. She cements the move back to centre right, not, as some knuckleheads proclaim, far right.
You really should thank the Nats for giving you back the left. It was a kindness really, and we know how you value kindness. The left is now all yours because really it makes no sense to have both main parties vying for the same space. Thank Judith Collins for this generous gift to the Labour Party so that she can return the Nats to their founding principles.
You can take heart that the economy will be in capable hands with a financial recovery plan, meaning you can safely hand over your most important mission of ending child poverty. National ministers will be falling over themselves to gain the kudos for fixing this long-standing problem. Obviously, you were distracted by more important issues such as the Christchurch massacre, COVID and numerous fashion shoots.
When you took up the very challenging role of prime minister it was with the secret knowledge of a new life unfolding, your daughter Neve. I sincerely wish you the very best in your new role which hopefully allows more time with her. Neve will do more to brighten your life than politics ever could.
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