OPINION
It’s not every day a new MP makes such a splash in the House on debut that veteran journalist Audrey Young declares his offering to be the best maiden speech she has heard in her 30 years in the business, with mutterings around the press gallery and beyond of big things ahead for the rookie MP.
Everyone was talking about James Meager, the new National MP for Rangitata. Coming first and delivering with such power and impact, his speech upstaged our new PM. But he needn’t worry – Winston did that too (also no worries).
Meager’s speech set the tone. It introduced the new National-led coalition Government that prides itself on promoting personal responsibility and the value of hard work. He boldly challenged the opposition, saying what we all think, but which the media, still in the grief stage of Labour’s loss, never addresses.
He’s read the room right. Baring your soul can be effective on the right occasion. Kiri Allan is an embarrassing example of when it is not, but the media wept with her and continue to give her full (taxpayer-funded) coverage.
So…
You would think it would be timely for Meager’s local rag, the Timaru Herald, to lead the following day with coverage of their new favourite son and newly crowned MP putting Timaru in the spotlight with his unforgettable debut speech and promise of great things to come.
Sadly this was not to be.
Stuff rules the regional newpapers with an iron fist, obviously. Had this been a Labour MP (highly unlikely) you can bet the story would have led. Instead, it was relegated further down on the side in a list with the other less-important stories of the day.
Nothing to see here.
Political commentator Adam Pearson, on Newstalk ZB, at least talked about getting public support back with more balanced coverage. But isn’t this just talk and virtue signalling? Newstalk ZB news still refers to terror group Hamas as ‘militants’ and uses ‘surprise’ attack instead of ‘terror’ attack…and TV news coverage is hopelessly one-sided. So, I don’t have a lot of hope.
Jason Walls, for all his bluster and pronunciation blunders, gets credit for calling out Mahuta for her insipid ‘normalising’ of the 7 October atrocity (which plumbed the depths of depravity) and he does not recoil from realism and uses appropriate language when reporting.
But then our euphemistic media use ‘water-related incident’ for drowning to dumb down the reality and extra special treatment for Hamas, which the media try to wrap in cotton wool for public consumption.
Winston Peters, as new foreign minister, has put a few politicians and media right on this subject, bringing balance and realism to his narrative. The dramatic and emotive outbursts of Damien O’Connor and Golriz Ghahraman playing dress ups, to name only two, illustrate why the socialists are better on the opposition benches.
In his opening speech, Peters covered everything, including settling a few scores with the media and radical politicians across the floor. It appears our new PM was amused and amazed at his eloquence, humour and cheek. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, so I do not think we have to worry about anyone stealing anyone’s limelight.
The three coalition leaders will simply play to their strengths, despite the media’s best efforts to create mayhem and division out of this unique political match up.
Luxon’s calm temperament and sunny disposition are great attributes for the position he is in. Peters can say what Luxon would get lambasted for, so he can let him rip and then say ‘It’s just Winston being Winston.’
That way the issue gets out there, warts and all, and Peters is quite happy to own it and elaborate any time the media dare to raise it! He and Seymour are more than capable of scrapping with the more radical elements of the political left, including the media that insist on covering and supporting their separatist and other woke views.
This leaves Luxon to be ‘prime ministerial’ and focus on more mundane stuff like getting New Zealand back on track!
David Seymour adds balance by being the more serious one of the three. He is driven, clever and covers controversial topics with flair. His quick mind and wit will see few political opponents or the media surpass him. I can’t wait.
Francesca Rudkin did a great interview with James Meager on her show at the end of the first parliamentary week. I was tempted to text and enquire if Meager was hurt the Timaru Herald virtually snubbed him. Humble man that he is, he probably does not expect accolades but I imagine deep down he might have been a little disappointed.
I look forward to 2024 with great deal of hope and anticipation.