In a backhanded kind of way, Labour MP Kiri Allan has endorsed Dr Reti to revive a National caucus on life support. From my own perspective, like Kiri Allan, I believe the answer to National’s leadership woes is right in front of them. Reti is their silver bullet, their hidden weapon in plain sight. He is yet to make himself available but he has not said no.
However, when something is as clear as the nose on your face, you can be sure it will go right past the National party caucus who will be too busy squabbling amongst themselves and who are probably not astute enough to ask the man to stand.
Choosing either Luxon or Bridges will just continue the infighting. Reti is non partisan (a rarity in politics). He would calm the storm. And as a Maori who advocates for need not race to inform public policy, like health, he would be at ease dissecting Labour’s radical ideology.
Luxon has been squeamish on his Three Waters portfolio to dip his toe in issues of Maori control of water and He Puapua, the elephant in the room, which must be addressed by the new leader.
Kiri Allan suggested in a NZ Herald article that it may be time to call the good doctor, Shane Reti. It was a case with her article that if you blinked you missed it. Fortunately, I copied the link, as nek minute, it was gone, setting something of a record for the life of an article on the NZ Herald website.
I see Ardern’s influence all over this Houdini act. The article was advocating for Reti for leader, which would be a massive threat to Ardern and her clown show. (Why Key, fixated with Luxon, can’t see this is a mystery.) Allan may be on the naughty step sometime soon, particularly as she hints he will win back Whangarei.
Here are her main points endorsing Reti.
“A Party on Life Support”
The National Party is at war within its own ranks and every battle needs a paramedic. The rise of Reti came as no surprise. The doctor was a clear choice as No. 2, being the only health professional in the caucus during a global pandemic is significant especially when it’s going up against a majority government.
Social Media Points to Reti
We asked commenters on our Te Ao Facebook page if Reti should stay on as leader of the National Party and 60 per cent said yes.
While he doesn’t come with quirky oneliners, raised eyebrows, or a big Twitter following, Reti is considered and calm, a calm that’s necessary for the war that is National’s internal politics. Shane Reti was the first Maori to claim the Whangarei seat (although washed away in the red tidal wave that wiped out the 2020 elections). Reti is hard to frazzle, he’s likable, his patients find him trustworthy, and his colleagues actually like him – something that seems to be a rarity in the party.
My diagnosis is the party now requires a steady pair of hands and the Doc has them. In fact, they’re so steady he’s been using them to vaccinate people across the Northland region. He has been vaccinating, testing, and informing people across Te Tai Tokerau for months. If his loyalty to the party and Judith isn’t enough, his integrity showed through today, and if on Tuesday that isn’t enough to put the reins into some of the country’s most trusted hands then maybe it’ll be enough for him to win back Whangarei.”
NZ Herald