One of the national characteristics of New Zealanders is that we are very open and direct in our communication. While our new world directness causes frowns in the ancient precincts of Europe, where obfuscation and prevarication are the norm, I think it is one of our great strengths.
It is certainly one of the Prime Minister’s best features. From the first time I heard her speak, well before she became PM, her leadership and clear thinking were really impressive. She is quite a small woman, but with a powerful presence, enhanced further by her elevated position.
My friends on this blog have begged Jacinda not to go to Auckland, fearing a Dallas moment. I was 8 when Kennedy was assassinated, and yes, I can clearly picture where I was, mostly because of the dismay of my father as we watched our tiny (by today’s standards) black and white TV.
Jacinda was, of course, not born when Kennedy was killed. So should she take the advice of my friends, and stay away from Auckland, for fear of succumbing to violent assault from one of Bomber Bradbury’s colourfully-named splinter groups?
I think not. It won’t help her, or the country, for her to stay away. Remember when Helen Clark eschewed Waitangi? In my view it was her weakest moment. If you are going to be PM of a people, then you have to be able to stand up to all those people.
I watched the media footage at Whanganui several times. There is a shot used by Stuff that shows the protest there. The front row starts with a woman in a walking frame, another with a megaphone, two other women and four children.
The signs said things like “When we trade freedom for safety, we lose”, which, however inaccurate, is not the most disturbing of messages. Thinking back to the US Congressional attack of 6 January, where signs said “Hang Pence” etc, the protest was positively rational.
And, frankly, to view Hunterville as a threat to anything (except, perhaps, methane emissions) is pushing things a bit far.
In those towns, the threat was not to Jacinda’s safety. The key problem is the perception that Jacinda comes off worst in a street confrontation with shouting protestors. But there are myriad ways to manage that. Invite a few of the protestors for a cup of tea and hear their concerns, and give her viewpoint. Here is the PM trying to change opinions one person at a time, something many of us have been doing for weeks. Doing it on telly can only increase her mana.
My friends also say that it is only recently that Jacinda has been allocated full time security details. Well, if she has those, then they should be using the normal practice of such people: limit the threat, do in-depth contingency planning, and shield when necessary. It is not rocket science, really. Staying away might be good for security but it is terrible politics.
Jacinda must not appear to be too scared to go to Auckland. A carefully-planned visit there, beautifully scripted (and her press team undoubtedly know their stuff), going to all the important places, having her say, letting some of them have their say, fronting protestors and then dealing with them with humour, openness and her great leadership qualities would Teflon coat her for years.
Staying away from Auckland at this point, hiding away from the people, is the worst thing she can do. What if she dies, I hear you say. What if Auckland is Jacinda’s Dallas? Well, you know, there is risk everywhere. Sometimes a risk is worth taking. It is not irresponsible to have Jacinda travel to Auckland. It is her job. It is also her hometown. She should encourage a few of her own supporters (not too many, we don’t want a vaccine war in Queen Street) to walk with her.
Stand tall, Jacinda. Meet your people on their ground. Talk to them. Turn them around. Tama tū, tama ora, tama noho, tama mate.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.
I agree Dr. Liz that Jacinda should go to Auckland. Not everyone is losing their shit, that’s mainly the right wing nutjobs and the AV mobs. There is still massive support for her and it would be amazing to see that support come out in force when the PM goes to town. A big human shield of support and put the nutters in perspective.
It could be done but would take quite some organising. I’m sick of all the protest when all the Govt is trying to do is protect all of us as much as possible.
I like that GreenBus “a big human shield of support”. Warm fuzzies invoking. Simple but kiwi-as 🙂
Sinic – Women holding babies on their hips as shields, while they shout at the PM and taunt police officers, may be territory where even angels fear to tread.
We are in different worlds. You know we can’t welcome our missing in action PM in raptures here in Auckland because we’re not allowed to gather in any sort of numbers. It’s one of the many rules she sets for us or that twit, Hipkins!
Don’t comfort yourself its right wing nut jobs or AV mobs. Aucklanders in general are, politely speaking, over it, her, this government and mostly, this bloody never-ending lockdown.
You cannot possibly know what it is like to take away most ordinary freedoms for this long, listen to infuriatingly obfuscating press conferences from Ardern and her ministers for some hope of this lockdown ending only for the answer to be fudged or the can kicked down the road yet again. Not unless you are living in this city.
I thought Ardern was a fairly straight talker but the last 4 years and especially the past 80 days has shown, she is anything but straight talking.
If nothing else Covid 2 had demonstrated that our PM is just another well versed but out of touch politician, nothing more.
She is way too late to come to Auckland, it’s not the same place she abandoned 80 days ago and nothing she says means a whole lot to us anymore.
Dr Gordon suggests Jacinda asks people in for a cup of tea and a rational discussion about their concerns.
Has she ever tried having a rational discussion with a Mormon missionary? A jehovah’s Witness? A Muslim? an Orthodox Jew? people who believe the earth is flat? people who believe the Free Market benefits all the people all the time?
( I have not included people who believe space aliens are among us and are preparing the way for the interstellar invasion of winged serpents because that is real)
It reminds me of the workmate I used to give a lift to. She refused to use her seatbelt ‘ on principle’ because she did not like ‘ being dictated to’.
I pointed out that as driver I would be fined for failing to make her wear a seatbelt. Still unmoving so, in the end, I had to tell her ‘ no seatbelt, no free ride.’
( Similarly those who refuse vaccinations will expect health services to care for them when they catch Covid-19).
You cannot argue with idiots and doing so will just do your head in. Best not to waste time on it.
I fear for PM Jacinda Ardern,rightwingers like Mike Hosking are firing up the stupid and along with Ryan Bridges talking to the anti-vaxxers,some rightwing nutter reading YSB might attempt to do harm,its a worry
If it were to happen, Hosking would be the first to distance himself from blame, gutless wonder.
Bert – I’ve only ever heard Hosking once, but have obviously heard much more about him. I believe that he has become a rich boy because he is paid to be a shit stirrer, and that this is, at the very least, symptomatic of a sick little society. Furthermore, it would surprise me if he is actually a particularly happy chappie, or ever will be – tough cheese.
Applewood, Michael Hosking is a classic narcissist, nothing more. This one was fun: https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/fvq26z/poor_mike_hosking/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Sinic, the cilp tells it exactly how it is with minuscule Mike, all mouth, no evidence.
Sinic Thanks. That was funny. If he is an n, then he likely never will.be happy, so here’s hoping that he can get medical help.
Spoken like someone who has never worked overseas! In fact New Zealanders aren’t direct communicators – they will avoid hard conversations as much as possible because they’re mentally fragile. Go get a job in the UK or Aussie and see how you fare. 😉
Jacinda is endlessly divisive, manipulative and toxic for the country. Team of 5 million? Yeah Nah. She’s not welcome here in Auckland anymore and we will heckle her where ever she goes.
Jacinda is endlessly divisive and manipulative? She should be direct and not avoid the hard words?
Maybe she’s pussy footing around as she knows as soon as she tells it like it is the toughies would go crying home to mummy and daddy. She should call the anti vax mob “fuckwits.”
She should have realised there’d be no team of 5 million realising there are losers who don’t care for anyone else but themselves and because someone else is in charge they’re going to be petulant and contrary.
She should tell it like it is, that what’s toxic for the country is the arrogant arseholes who determinedly do their own things or are so dumb they believe the bullshit spread by malcontents and the ignorant. tell it like out is, that most of those who say she causes the division have made up their minds to create a dividing line and be on the other side of it to the rational and reasonable.
If she goes to Auckland, as well as her security detail, she should take a team of proctologists. There are a lot of arsehole there.
Spoken like some who was anti our PM and government well before covid hit, Nah Yeah!
Andrew, what would you know? You worked overseas in the two countries most similar to NZ, Australia and the UK. Monoglot – same language.
I worked in West Germany and France, and spoke both countries’ language as well as English. I fared pretty well, thank you. Your point?
No logic in your comment. You jump to spouting rightie propaganda about Jacinda being ‘divisive’.
Coming from a wishful thinker like you, that is a big compliment to Jacinda.
Agree with the author. Ardern has already decided to appear in Auckland early next week, so we shall see which groups turn up to protest. While some are getting their kicks out of seeing Ardern getting shutdown, I’m not sure they would actually identify with those who made the news in Northland and Whanganui.
Auckland, under lockdown, could provide a crowd disaffected with the various effects of enduring the current restrictions, and it would be their right to be heard. But, if it is more of the same from groups that have already been gathering and marching, then they will likely be dismissed by the greater public as they have previously been. Anti-vaxxers are seen as a big part of the reason we are not already at 90% double-vaccinated, not the voice of the people.
One thing that the protesters have highlighted is what the PM has been doing. The question of “Where’s Jacinda?” has been answered. She’s not holed up in Wellington, but out visiting the regions with the lowest vaccination rates.
She would be very brave to come near Auckland after the receptions she received from her last two outings.
Easily tens of thousands of people turning up to protest. Most people up here are double vaxxed and want out of this hell that has been created for them not comforting words about why they are still locked down in their homes.
I understand what the author is saying here but I respectfully disagree. I also disagree with what Joe Rogan who I respect has stated about the way Ardern has handled the “hecklers”.
I believe Ardern’s actions were prudent and also believe she should stay away from Auckland at this time. Nothing positive will come from a visit that Collins has been pushing for. There is just too much irrational emotion around. She will get absolutely zero traction with any vaccination push with that backdrop. The anti-vax movement is a different type of protestor than the type you’d normally see. They are absolutely passionately convinced everything they believe about Ardern, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the BioNTech, Pfizer vaccine is 100% correct. They are not remotely interested in reasonable, rational and respectful debate. They don’t seek answers to questions, they seek only to express angry disapproval and disrupt. The moment Ardern commences any direct communication with these protestors is the exact moment she loses. All she is doing is gifting them a platform to rant their unsubstantiated expert-novice bullshit. Why would anyone in her position entertain that reality?
There is compelling evidence that an educational campaign must now replace the vaccination push. Once that’s been completed and everyone has had the opportunity to be educated with facts instead of dangerous anti-vax garbage, we can return to a safer, less hostile and less divided Country. Everyone will understand the reality we are confronted with and why vaccine mandates for example are absolutely essential.
The Anti-vax movement can then return to the side of Brian Tamaki and continue believing Earthquakes are caused by homosexuality and how water soluble Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) will prevent them from contracting Covid.
Ms Ardern walking away from the heckler? Running away? Let’s see how a real statesman deals with press conferences. Let’s see how a professional does it. Let’s see how a real hero does it.
(Maybe it’s an artificial situation as it’s an ordered and formal setting.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU9bm13cWJw
Haha hilarious!
Agree with Liz. The PM requires effective security like any national leader in a tough situation, and she needs to appear in Auckland at supportive venues and situations. The pandemic is the closest thing to a “war footing” this country has experienced for many years, so leaders should lead.
The Nashnull lot going back to Soymun Bridges, Ms Boag, Mr (homeless man) Woodhouse, “Merv” from Manurewa, Judarth Collins and all the rest have shown they are clearly not up to it.
The knobheads above comments are not worth a tin of the proverbial–they were anti the PM long before COVID arrived.
There are a lot of people who think Ardern is part of an evil plot to establish a one world government that will control every aspect of our lives and oppress us. I take these people at their word when they say this is what they believe, although I don’t believe it myself. It only takes one person to act on this belief for something terrible to happen. We shouldn’t be risking Ardern’s life just to encourage people to get vaccinated. Why aren’t there others in the Labour government carrying some of this load? Why is everything pushed on to Ardern, just because she has a popularity factor and charisma? As has always been the case Labour has been using her to do all the heavy lifting. This verges on Prime Minister abuse.
What’s the bet, those into Ardern for not tolerating the idiot up North think Trump is God as much as anything for the way he handled the media?
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/08/politics/trump-veterans-choice-paula-reid/index.html
Well, now, that is a very depressing bunch of replies, isn’t it? Some of you have terrible views of your fellow persons! I hear Hillary C calling ‘basket of deplorables’! So the ethical question is: if it is the right thing, from the point of view of her leadership, to turn up and support the people, who are bearing a very large burden in these bad times, should she allow herself to be deterred because the people are fractious and restless, and because some, perhaps only one lone wolf, wish to harm her? As I said, I believe that there is much to be gained from this, but it seems the number of people who agree with me could hold their meeting in a phone box. Sigh.
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