OPINION
Like many, I had reservations about the possible inclusion of Winston Peters and NZ First in any coalition arrangement post-election. Many of my reasons have been well traversed and need not be repeated here. Since the election there have been signs that my reservations may be unfounded. The first sign was Winston’s dinner invitation to Christopher and Amanda Luxon. This signalled to me that Winston saw Luxon as a man he could do business with.
Subsequent developments during the negotiations proved this to be correct. The final outcome that was agreed to show both parties went into the negotiations knowing they would not get everything they wanted. The fact that they both gave ground on certain issues showed both maturity and mutual respect. This is even more revealing when one considers that before the election they had little personal knowledge of each other.
It would appear Winston and David Seymour have also agreed to bury the hatchet for the good reason of providing stable government. These two, having indulged to a degree in political theatrics with each other, probably have more in common on the policy front than with National. That is another good thing to come from this triumvirate as National has been dragged more to the right than it had intended to go. While it may not please the political wing of the party, a lot of its voter base will be smiling.
I am now of the opinion that Winston has ‘come home’. The people that he had problems with in the National Party have now gone and he likes what he sees in the current crop of MPs, the direction of the party and the majority of its policies. The sharing of the Deputy PM role might seem small in the greater scheme of things but in my book it is huge. As in the media, those in politics all have an ego. The fact that Winston and David agreed to share a position they both would have wanted speaks volumes of the desire above all for a stable government.
Winston Peters and Shane Jones, in particular, have more wisdom and intelligence than the Maori Party will ever have. I had never seen an indigenous circus until last week at the swearing-in of Parliament. Watching clowns dancing around the Debating Chamber with the equivalent of feather dusters on their heads or holding a weapon of war was a less than edifying sight. These idiots are sorely in need of counselling from Winston and Shane on appropriate behaviour. Both are vessels of knowledge of both English and New Zealand (European and Maori) history. The Maori Party could learn a lot from them.
Winston’s other useful contribution is his penchant for going after the hopelessly biased left-wing media. Far from reining him in as the left is suggesting, Luxon needs to give him as much lead as possible. The government needs an attack dog and without doubt Winston is the man to fill the role.
He will make a further very good contribution as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He just has to turn up to be an improvement on the previous Minister but we all know from experience that he will do an excellent job. He is already making the right noises regarding partnerships. Fran O’Sullivan says he’s a born diplomat.
I have no doubt that Winston, Shane and New Zealand First will make a strong contribution to ensuring this is a stable government. All three parties are united on what the major goals are and how to achieve them. They are focused on improving outcomes in productivity, infrastructure, education, health and law and order among others. They are also determined that there will be better outcomes for Maori, not through separatism, but on the same basis as for everyone else.
This Government is now set to deliver the change we voted for. Despite the headwinds I believe, with Winston and New Zealand First’s commitment, it has a bright future ahead of it. Far from a ‘coalition of chaos’ it looks more like a coalition of goals and accountability. That being the case, long may it remain and succeed. In short, my reservations have disappeared.