On Jacinda Being “Missing In Action” Apparently

ByCurwen Ares Rolinson

It occurs that Judith Collins’ attack on Jacinda for being “missing in action” yesterday due to not being inside the Beehive Theatrette at 13:00 … could use some punctuation. Specifically, a comma. Should read “Missing, In Action” – or perhaps even a dash: “Missing – In Action”.

Because instead of dropping everything to front a press conference several hundred KM away, the PM was continuing her sustained effort at bolstering vaccination rates on the East Coast. In areas that have been underserved by previous health investment, and which have been worrisomely under-covered by the vaccine rollout thus far.

Some might suggest it’s a PR move. And to that I can only say an enthusiastic “Yes.” It is literally a PR move. Public Relations. Going out there and engaging with a swathe of the public, in a bid to facilitate their engagement with a particular policy. That being the public health policy which is absolutely vital for them and us.

If it’s a “PR move” then it is the best kind of PR move – one which is actually done for the public, in public, and both for and in the public interest rather than being purely theater (Beehive -erette variety, or otherwise).

I have been – I feel rather understandably – critical of the Government’s communications this past week, and some of their apparent decision-making as well.

Yet as an exercise in comms, and something which is seemingly irreducibly Kiwi – having the actual Prime Minister turn up to personally do the Government Communication, in your street, neighbourhood, and community … well, the only time I could see Judith Collins even attempting to do something like this and actually being ‘on-theme’ would be on October 31st after dark at your doorstep.

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46 Comments

  1. Great photo. Not that many politicians can look that natural in the sorts of streets you will find in many provincial towns

      1. At least they have something to rent far better then there is no housing crisis (for 9 years)

        1. So because Hitler didn’t actually kill anyone he was not responsible for the deaths of 16 million people…. I disagree ?

          1. Very poor example of an analogy. Perhaps the rent hikes you pertain too were well and truly in motion pre Ardern, think about that for a moment.
            Rent rises are choices made by individual landlords at the end of the day, personal choices. Rents by the by increase annually and have done so for decades. As I have mentioned before, my rent has never increased in ten years, neither under Key or Ardern because my landlord CHOOSES not too.

          2. I wasn’t around when Hitler did his thing so how do we know he didn’t actually kill anyone?
            We know Ardern isn’t a landlord.

          3. He fought in WW1, but was not documented as shooting any weapons after he became Führer.

          5. Like his fishing show, bloody fantastic and thank’s for watching jonesy, the ratings will be through the roof. Looking forward to seeing many more episodes and money well spent!!

          6. Never Labour, fucking great program, hope you enjoyed it as much as Pulla Benefits self promotion show.

      4. “SHE put their rents up”.. Were you that desperate to see your name in print? One would hope that eventually you will realise that this kind of shallow, trite, and unrealistic claim says more about how little you’ve thought his through than anything useful…

  2. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen real good leadership. This is what it looks like. Both a great tactical move and a real benefit to the vaccine rollout. It is no wonder so many people like the PM. She’s a smart lady.
    Tough week in Govt, bit messy, let the troops take some load off her and go and help lift moral in the regions.
    Just like a good General would do a in war, show that she cares about the troops.

    1. Well said GreenBus. We are being shown real leadership, where people follow willingly and loyality does not have to be demanded.

  3. As one of this Govt’s trenchant critics over housing, WINZ/MSD, not taking on the Torys at top of public service etc. etc. I still am impressed with the PM’s touch. She personally persuaded, and assisted a number of people on the weekend to get vaccinated, to the point of being physically next to one of them when it was done.

    Nashnull are such dicks really, “Jacinda gets too much face time with the nation”, next minute “Where is Jacinda, the nation needs to know…”

    Not much more could be expected from her really in the COVID situation.

        1. Touche, Bert!
          Maybe jonesy was one of those three-year-old boys in the sandpit ad and still has a bit of growing up to do.

  4. N Spur. Yes. Utter crap. Couldn’t have said it better. Crap like,’there is a building perception…’ (in FtTs head anyway). And ,’perception becomes reality…'(in FtTs head fantasy).
    Wonderwoman (in my head) is doing a great job.

  5. She’s somewhere doing something (presumably) but out of immediate sight of the media? She’s hiding.

    She’s having a press conference, it’s just a PR exercise. There’s something happening somewhere (there always is of course) and she doesn’t have a press conference, she’s hiding.

    She’s in the provinces meeting real people, she should be in Wellington.
    She’s in Wellington when there are issues (there always are of course), she should be out facing up to issues.

    Something serious like a wild fire happens and she goes on site, she’s hijacking it for political purposes.

    Something serious like a wild fire happens and she doesn’t go on site, she doesn’t care and she’s snubbing and undervaluing the victims and the fire services.

    Let’s highlight and criticise Ardern for the real terrible thing she did, the most heinous. The crux of it is that she had the temerity to get to be Prime Minister in the first place. And as a youngish woman. That is totally unacceptable.

  6. Seem to recall Her Nastiness was regularly missing in action over one controversial matter after another – Orivida, resignation, nasty tweets, Dirty Politics, more nasty tweets.

  7. I agree with you entirely.
    A leader should be with their people in a crisis, and in this case the PM has the celebrity and popularity to make a real difference to the vaccine effort.
    Her trip was entirely justified – more than that, it was a much better use of her time and talents than being holed up in Wellington.
    More legitimate criticism of her is that she hasn’t done more of this!

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