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Sue Reid
Family First board member.
Sue Reid reviews the book – One Last Question, Prime Minister by political journalist Barry Soper. One Last Question, Prime Minister is the story of Soper’s working life measured by 12 prime ministers from Muldoon to Luxon.
You couldn’t say Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper pins his colours to the mast nor is he a cut of the cloth from our modern lineup of political journalists. In fact, the difference is quite stark. Essentially, Soper seeks the story, not to ‘be the story’.
As I read his recently published memoir One Last Question, Prime Minister, I was reminded of how political news has shifted to firmly placing the opining interviewer inside the news or to ‘catch a gotcha moment’ rather than what is best news to serve the public. The way we receive news and how we hear it has changed significantly. Cost-saving measures and fewer staff are ‘gathering feeds online to create news in newsrooms’, no doubt this has contributed greatly to the decline in trust of ‘mainstream media’.
Barry Soper’s career spans decades and in total, he has covered twelve prime ministers in his memoir. With each chapter, Soper captures a significant snapshot of political history, even to present day.
He tells of a time when journalists had more of a rapport and ease of communication between the debating chamber, back halls and ministers’ offices.
It’s a between and behind-the-headlines commentary from one of the longest serving political journalists and confirms why he’s one of the highly trusted voices in the media landscape.
He’s earned his place, his respect and trust – it’s a rare thing to say that these days.
With each chapter dedicated to each prime minister, you quickly grasp it is not just the media scrum that has changed but the very politicians and their views of the world.
Starting with Muldoon, this was an end of an era as a big, bold post-war power player. Lange was uncomfortable, awkward and led New Zealand through economic upheavals. Geoffrey Palmer was the legal architect of significant New Zealand law that still haunts and shadows us. The short leadership of power-hungry Mike Moore then onto the MMP era under Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, John Key, Bill English, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon. Highlighting the deals, coalitions and egos, Soper delivers the back stories, context and a deeper understanding to those that have led our nation since 1975.
He saves his worst for Jacinda Ardern – rightly calling out the marginalization of media (albeit a favoured pair in Jessica and Tova) and gives an honest exposé of how ill-prepared she was for the quick rise to power and leading the nation.
One disappointing, glaring omission was the very significant journey of the anti-smacking laws through to legal status under Helen Clark’s watch. Whether it was deliberate or remiss, you’d have to agree the pathway to the removal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act was a significant issue under the reign of Clark. The division, the fight and contention, criminalization of good parents and the consequences for families could not and should not have been ignored by Soper. He’s placed his focus on economics, trades and international agreements but some of our most significant legal changes have affected our social fabric – much has been re-engineered and redefined at the cost of families.
You don’t have to be a committed politico fan like many of us to appreciate Soper’s recall of his lengthy service in the halls of power. It’s part history, part revealing portrait of 12 New Zealand prime ministers and a worthy read. To reflect as a nation is often a good idea, you get to glimpse patterns of thought and ideas and compare the strengths or flaws of leaders who are (essentially) human. Soper gives us food for thought as to where we have come from and where to from here. It’s perfectly timed for an election year!
This article was originally published by Family First New Zealand.
