Heather du Plessis-Allan: A tough start to the year for the new Government

Author: Heather du Plessis-Allan,
Publish Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2024, 4:56PM

Looks to me like it’s a tough old start to the year for the new Government.

This is basically day one of the news year, the TV news shows were back this morning, most of the big radio shows are back today- and what are we all talking about?

The big hui at Turangawaewae at the weekend, and the unexpectedly big Māori opposition to the Government's Māori related policies.

And it's not a one-off, there is more to come.

We've got Ratana on Wednesday, Waitangi Day in a couple of weeks, that's a run of stories about how grumpy the coalition Government is making some Māori.

And that is not how the Government will be wanting to kick off this year.

Generally, Governments like to start the year giving the impression they’re winning, they're doing things for you, they're announcing some stuff they're gonna get stuck into this year, gloating over a good bounce in the polls over summer and capitalising on us still feeling good.

Basically, they want to be able to set the tone and have it be a positive one, rather than have it set for them on day one with a negative tone.

I suspect - I could be wrong - but I suspect this is not a blip. I suspect this is how it’s going to be for the next few months on and off.

David Seymour is planning to introduce that Treaty Principles bill by May this year, that's gonna get hairy.

The media are quite hostile to the new Government, and apparently so is the Wellington Public Service, judging by yet another leak of a justice paper about the Treaty Principles bill.

Perfect timing- the day before the big hui.

The question is- how much do you and I, the voters, care about it?

If National can show they’re cracking the cost of living crisis, well that’s more important to most voters.

But getting that message out when everyone’s talking about grumpy huis? Well, that’s gonna be tough

Tough old start to the year, I'd say.

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