Summarised by Centrist
National deputy leader Nicola Willis told business leaders a National-only Government would have paid less attention to “Māori-related issues” and passed laws more quickly without coalition compromises.
Her comments followed the release of the Mood of the Boardroom survey, which ranked Education Minister Erica Stanford as Cabinet’s most impressive performer. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon fell from sixth last year to 15th, while Willis dropped from third-equal to 13th.
“Look, I think you would have seen less focus on Māori-related issues, that’s a blunt but bold assessment … you would have seen us move some pieces of legislation with more pace because not as many compromises would have been required,” she said.
At the same time, Labour leader Chris Hipkins received a score of just 2.01 out of 5 from CEOs, with more than 70 percent rating him below average. Many criticised his passive approach to opposition. Local Government Funding Agency chairman Craig Stobo cut deeper: “I find it difficult to reconcile responsibility for the policies of the last government with critiques of the current government’s attempts at managing the consequences of those policies.”
Editor’s note: Willis framed coalition partners as dragging National into Māori debates, yet Winston Peters and David Seymour, the very leaders she implied were slowing National down, are both rated more highly than her and Luxon. The irony is that they are known for being measured and sceptical about Treaty debates and co-governance, not for promoting them.
