Was Jacinda at the right venues this weekend?

pn185

I think Jacinda was at the wrong venue this weekend. 

And Tim Watkin, Newshub Nation production executive and Dan Corin, Q+A presenter really do have a case against her. 

She  was  scheduled to appear on their programmes on Sunday but due to what was said to be a diary oversight, she cancelled and instead fronted up to a public meeting of  the faithful  in Auckland with  Deputy PM Winston Peters and Greens leader James Shaw.


A public display of unity was very much needed after a week or more of apparent disunity. The pity is that it came as the expense of the two important TV appearances. 

The Auckland meeting was a credible display of unity stressing 12 shared principles.

" We are three parties each with it own policies and priorities,"  she said. It is not surprising differences will sometimes be aired in public.  Things have to be worked though.  Peters, defending his position, said he was not the tail wagging the dog, and Jacinda interjected, "And I'm not the dog."

12 priorities

Jacinda said the 12 priorities will drive the Government's long-term direction.

She says it's (the coalition) the first of its kind since the introduction of MMP, and sets out "a comprehensive set of priorities across a wide range of economic, social and cultural areas and agreed to by all parties that are part of the Government".

"This plan represents our shared vision and priorities - Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens," she said at AUT University in Auckland. "It establishes the foundation for the Government's work and includes issues of particular importance to each of the parties which are supported by all of them."

The 12 priorities, together referred to by the Government as "Our Plan", are: 1. "Grow and share New Zealand's prosperity more fairly" 2."Support thriving, sustainable regions" 3. "Govern responsibly" 4."Transition to a clean, green carbon-neutral New Zealand" 5. "Ensure everyone who is able to is earning, learning, caring or volunteering" 6. "Support healthier, safer and more connected communities" 7."Ensure everyone has a warm, dry home" 8."Make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child" 9."Deliver open, transformative and compassionate government" 10."Build closer partnerships with Māori" 11. "Value who we are as a country" 12. "Create an international reputation we can be proud of"

Nothing new. But this is where the coalition parties agree. It is when the principles  are being turned into policies that we have -- and can-- expect differences.

In what was reported as a spiky interview with RNZ's Kim Hill  this morning  Winston downplayed the talk of friction within the Coalition. He said the right balance had been struck between the interests of  parties and Government, and Jacinda was "definitely at the helm." 

The meetings she missed

But if its principle 9,  delivering  open, transformative and compassionate government, is to be seen by the public,  Jacinda cannot afford to miss another Nation or Q+A invitation.  She has already missed three. Tim Watkin said he was "appalled" at her non-appearance on Nation. No PM had broken a scheduled interview in his eight years presenting

What needs to be understood by  the public -- and even more so by those in charge of Jacinda's diary--  is that these TV programmes are unique.   They are worlds apart from the likes of Hosking's  talkback  and similar shows.   They expect intelligent, reasoned arguments from those participating who are listened  to with respect  and questioned hard on major  issues facing the country. 

As Tora O'Brien reflected on Jacinda's non-appearance on Nation:  She needs "to speak to people through shows like this."    

I couldn't agree more.

--ACW