National’s betrayal isn’t just a political misstep – it’s a slap in the face to voters who backed the coalition to deliver bold, principled governance. They didn’t sign up for a leader who’d rather appease the mob than stand for something.
Hipkins said National and NZ First could not claim to be on the right side of history just by voting against the bill today. “They lead nothing, they stood for nothing,” Hipkins told the government benches.