ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Mike's Minute: The political wars have begun

Author
Mike Hosking,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Jan 2020, 10:26AM

Mike's Minute: The political wars have begun

Author
Mike Hosking,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Jan 2020, 10:26AM

Marama Davidson, as we told you yesterday, announced she is giving the Auckland Maori electorate of Tamaki Makaurau another crack.

She's stood the last two elections and lost to Labour, and whether this year is any different will be interesting.

Peeni Henare is under fire over Whanau Ora, and the seat covers Ihumatao, which according to some has a deal done and dusted. Or at least that's what they told us over a week ago. But interestingly given what Winston Peters said on this show, nothing yet, and nothing before Waitangi Day.

But Davidson, of course, is one of those that supported the occupation. In fact she was one of the more ironic sights at the height of the protest.

She was down there with her fellow green hand wringers, the ever earnest Golriz Ghahraman and Chloe Swarbrick, demanding the government sort the issue out. Perhaps they were so swept up in the emotion of the event, they forgot they were the government or at least, pretty much, part of it.

So how many are there in the seat that see things the way she has? And therefore does her support this time round increase?

Either way, although it's her right to stand, the Greens aren't famous for winning electorates. In fact outside of Jeanette Fitzsimons all those years ago in Coromandel, they haven't won any. So why take on your coalition partner and make it harder for yourself?

And that’s before we get to the swipe she took at Shane Jones and New Zealand First over his handling of Pania Newton, the protest organiser who he seemed to dismiss, also on this show, with an off hand insult.

Such an insult the obligatory open letter got sent by your usual array of academia and activists, calling him a bully and demanding an apology. I hope they're patient, because it ain't coming.

And then of course the Jones and James Shaw clash over meat, climate change, our diets, and saving the world by eating less steak.

So all in all the Greens are lining themselves up as forceful opponents against those they are supposed to be mates with, and running the country with.

This, of course, goes to show just what a fraud the whole thing is. Yes, the Greens and Labour get along okay, but New Zealand First is increasingly the odd one out. It's not a natural fit or anything close to it.

And that is where this year potentially gets a bit pear shaped especially given there isn't a poll going that has New Zealand First above five percent.

They need to campaign hard, and that's where the fractious nature of this whole foe set up is going to truly get exposed.

Davidson has started it, you wait till August, gloves will be off and all the stuff they’ve kept hidden until now , will be part of a political blood bath.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you