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# Face of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/face-of-the-day-122/
- Published: 2020-05-08T18:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-05-09T21:41:05.000Z
- Author: Good Oil Staff
- Tags: Featured, NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 03:24

> Newshub has been leaked an internal memo sent to all ministers from the Prime Minister’s office instructing them not to speak to the media about Friday afternoon’s document dump.

> It directs that ministers instead respond with brief written comments that must be signed off by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

> The **gag order** was sent ahead of a Friday afternoon document dump of official papers relating to the Government’s COVID-19 response.

> \[…\] “If you do get a media query on this please provide a written response,” it reads. “I would like to sign off and see all written response (sic). Do not put Minister up for any interviews on this  
> \[…\] The leaked memo provides specific talking points to keep them on message, including: “Perfect would have been the public enemy of the good,” and, “Tough calls had to be made and we stand by them.”

> It says **due to public buy-in the Government doesn’t have to explain its response.**

> “There’s no real need to defend. Because the public have confidence in what has been achieved and what the Govt \[sic\] is doing. Instead we can dismiss.”

> It lists talking points by topic – including one for “Opposition” which points to a press release from National leader Simon Bridges on March 23.

> “We won’t regret moving quickly to stop this virus spreading. We may have regrets if we don’t,” it attributes to the leader of the Opposition.  
>  
> [newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/leak-jacinda-ardern-gags-ministers-on-discussing-covid-19-response.](https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/leak-jacinda-ardern-gags-ministers-on-discussing-covid-19-response.html?ref=goodoil.news)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/luke-the_bfd-1984-jacinda.jpg)

The BFD. Photoshopped image credit Luke