Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago
Former Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is retiring from politics and has taken up the role of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago.
Robertson, speaking to media, thanked his family in the Labour Party, saying he wouldn’t have entered politics without the party.
He also thanked Kiwis for the six years as a minister and 15 years as an MP. He highlighted his “friend” Chris Hipkins, saying it was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do to tell Hipkins he was thinking about moving on.
I knew Grant from my University days, he was the President of ASPA when I was Editor of the Auckland University magazine.
He ended up as Finance Minister, I went on to co-host a podcast with Damien Grant.
I’m still not sure who won.
Grant has served his nation with due diligence and genuine aroha.
His leadership alongside Jacinda’s to put human lives before Death Cult Capitalism during a once in a century global pandemic will be respected by history even as the present has embittered itself against the Covid protocols that saved 20 000 lives!
Economically, his response to covid was far faster than many other Governments and he took unemployment down. He started to rebuild a hollowed-out neoliberal state and was prepared to look after everyone over Covid rather than just let the virus sort it out.
As well as Jacinda’s and James Shaw’s legacy, Grant’s still lacks the courage and conviction of his real political values and caution and incrementalism are disappointing features they all share.
His crowning achievement would have been the wealth tax that could have seen every Kiwi getting $10 000 tax free. That Chippy killed it off and that David Parker isn’t being lined up as Grant’s replacement highlights how deep that caution is inside Labour and that whoever replaces Chippy is finally going to have to have big visions and the ability to implement them.
Grant leaves behind an honourable legacy.
Enjoy Otago University Comrade, they are lucky to have you.
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Robbo was definitely not the worst of politicians, just trapped in a neo Blairist Caucus. Still remember when Labour actually ran a leadership contest roadshow rather than appointing, and he just lost out to Andrew Little by a tiny margin via a union affiliate vote–NZDWU. The TV news showed Grant and Jacinda in a corridor looking very glum.
He acted quickly during COVID, too quickly perhaps by giving COVID money to employers rather than administering it through IRD. But the fact is, NZ is over run by self employed, small employers and SMEs so no doubt he figured that would be the way to get buy in for border closeures and lock downs from torys and tradies.
David Parker and Robbo’s wealth tax would indeed have been something to celebrate.
Best of luck in retirement to him.
The Labour parties gain is now Otago’s loss.
Totally agree. These “Big Three” who saw NZ through the worst medical crisis this country faced since the “Spanish” Flu epidemic of 1919, along with the countless others, saved tens of thousands of lives here, and provided a beacon for other countries to follow, something certain other countries failed to do. Grant’s cautiousness ultimately let many reformers down, with the failure to capitalise on the post-covid popularity and unprecedented majority win at the election. The missed opportunity to radically shift the tax burden away from poor and middle income earners, undo the rampant rental housing rip off, close the income/wealth gap, halt the disgraceful house price Ponzi scheme, and ultimately undo the worst excesses of the 40 year free market failure, will forever mark his tenure. While Grant did much around the edges, and with other ministers, tackled some of the most difficult issues inherited from the do nothing Key regime, for lefties, Shakespeare’s quote is apt: the missed opportunities live on while the accomplishments are interred. ( Apologies for the deliberate misquote).
You covered his time in government well, I was apprehensive when he started being finance minister but he surprised me by doing a good job under difficult circumstances. The current finance minister has already shown that she is incompetent so things are only going to get worse now.
A decent Sports Minister, only because the previous National one was so bad. But got sick of his bully boy debating techniques. 6 out of 10.
He did his best, but he forgot that being a Santa was not part of his job description.
He confused being a dad with being a Santa.
Robertson will be forgotten, whatever he did will be undone by this government. Hopefully he will turn Otago Uni back into an actual university from a neoliberal degree mill/networking centre.
I thank Grant for his political service to NZ particularly during the Covid pandemic, and wish him well for his new future at Otago University.
I salute you Grant, faced with unprecedented challenges in our time you saw us through the associated finnancial complexities in good shape – well done, and thank you.
Grant Robertson was a good electorate MP. At least two people I know personally, were grateful to him for representing them, one with unpleasant WINZ difficulties, the other with bank and one or two other problems. I think he’ll be a good vice chancellor at my old alma mater; nice to see a Kiwi in that job again, and a Dunedin-ite to boot. Those old southern values tend to cling, and I wish him and OU well. If he can address some of their surreal and costly political correctness, he’ll do even better.
Grant did a wonderful job in finance…the ratings agencies confirm that.He is a a huge loss to Labour.The best debater they ever had.
The trouble is, Grant did well, did good, but not enough. Lost z mandate, leaving … ignominiously. The reversal of: Did too much, much too young …. A sad day. He shoulda taken the bricks after Adern. Chippy gotta go, Go NOW. Not interested in your emotional croc tears. Fuck off.
Yesterday some gnat said on national radio that he done a good job. Not quite sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.
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