Stuff published a refreshingly honest article by contributor Damien Grant yesterday morning. Few discerning readers bother with Stuff these days, but this is a very good article that takes a hard look at the reality of Chris Hipkins’s time as Education and Covid Response Minister. In Mr Grant’s words, Hipkins “isn’t competent”.
Hipkins had achieved almost nothing by the time he entered Parliament, and in the 15 years since has left nought but a trail of mistakes and missed opportunities.
In his brief tenure in the top job he has managed to unwind a few unpopular agenda items of his predecessor and preside over another $7 billion budget deficit in the middle of an inflationary cycle. And yet he remains stubbornly popular.
Christopher Luxon isn’t a down-to-earth bloke who likes sausage rolls. He comes across as someone who is trying too hard to be liked because he is trying too hard to be liked.
But Luxon does not have five years of repeated incompetence and failings in government, laced with a hint of malice, on his resume.
It is heartening to read such forthright and candid commentary in bought media. Perhaps the PIJF is wearing thin…
Read more here. Discuss it on The BFD.
