Hipkins has no time to lose
In other words, it’s an audacious con job. Just wait, they warn; if Labour wins the election, we should expect the entire woke project to be revived and pursued with renewed zeal.
Labour’s refocus is working
The poll boost came after Hipkins announced yet another policy bonfire, in which unpopular and difficult pet policies were jettisoned.
The Big “consultocrats” debate needs to carry on
The role of business management consultants took centre stage last week when National’s Christopher Luxon called time on the over-use of “consultocrats” in his state of the nation speech.
Please remind me - who's Jacinda?
It was a reminder that politics is ultimately about winning and retaining power, regardless of which ideological side you’re on.
National’s progressive childcare-consultocracy switch
While in opposition, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins campaigned against the growing use of costly consultants and criticised National’s overuse of such contractors. However, Hipkins then became the Minister of Public Service, under Jacinda Ardern, and oversaw massive increases.
The need to depoliticise the public service
His partisan statement is a clear breach of the code of conduct for senior public servants like himself.
The Road To October
For Chris Hipkins and Labour, the state highway to October has been rendered impassable by inaction and political slash.
Cyclones and Politics
So far, much the most sensible response from the politicians visiting the destruction has come from ACT’s David Seymour.
The Privatisation Two-Step: Is Three Waters A Masterpiece Of Misdirection?
Had political journalists not been so distracted by the so-called “co-governance” arrangements built into the Three Waters proposal, the credit-rating agency’s stipulations would have pointed clearly to the project’s ultimate goal.
Luxon’s leadership under threat
Luxon’s leadership simply isn’t working. He had a good year in 2022. He managed to unify the party, and provided a fresh contrast to Ardern. But that novelty appears to have faded fast, especially now that Ardern has left.