It’s the Labour Party Conference this weekend and one has to wonder if Jacinda Ardern is deluded, bluffing or trying to brainwash us.
In an interview with Newshub, she says, “we are not asking New Zealanders to vote just on what we say but on what they have seen” and “What we have shown is that no matter what comes our way we will focus on issues New Zealanders care about, so, yes, the cost of living but also housing, child poverty, mental health and climate change.”
When asked about the “hate”, towards the end of the interview (15m40s), she talks about attacks on political figures and bureaucrats: “people who may speak up and share an opinion that others don’t like”. Followed closely by, “I don’t want to concede that we because we have a small majority [?] that are behaving in that way that that constitutes division across society as a whole.”
Ardern also claims Three Waters is a “cost of living” issue and must be done to avoid large rates increases. Despite saying, “we are open to changes”, when asked if Labour will reassess the co-governance model, she responded that that isn’t the most significant issue people have with Three Waters.
On a Newshub panel, former Labour candidate Josie Pagani said Ardern has indicated they may rethink Three Waters.
They are going to reframe it, they might even rename it, so that’s interesting. They are realising they can’t go into next year with a bunch of unpopular policies.
I mean, good luck finding three people that actually understand Three Waters: everybody hates it.
Meantime, Grant Robertson addressed the Labour conference. Here is the transcript. But, this is the concise version:
Discuss it on The BFD.
