Face of the Day

He is a conservative, not a libertarian, for those playing at home, but when the responsibility of letting in or banning controversial American speaker Candace Owens fell on his desk, the instinct was to pursue the unpopular decision and overrule the cowering ministerial advisors who wanted to keep her out. And he did. She never visited, but the episode revealed a politician guided by conviction and not the whims of an exercised mob.

While the current prime minister was selling deodorant and navigating his way to the cockpit of Air New Zealand, his former defence minister was serving in the navy, including a stint in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He understands, and believes in, service. His political career began, by his own admission, with great expectations. It has ended long before it should have.

Chris Penk is one of the most honourable, decent, and effective members of this parliament and one of the few consistent ministerial performers. I do not know the details of what happened, but it is evident that he assessed the premiership of Mr Luxon and, from his front-row vantage point, believed it was best for his party and country that it came to an end. And he was willing to sacrifice his own career if the attempt failed.

That fact should worry the remnants of his cabinet even more than losing one of the most talented and popular ministers. Penk was a navigator in the navy. He can see the icebergs and reefs ahead and sought to avoid HMNZS National running ashore. They threw him overboard instead.

We have 83 days.

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