After the violent murder of Janak Patel in Sandringham, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who lives in that community, decided to go ahead with plans to travel to the Chatham Islands. She copped some flak from other parties for her decision and others occupied the space left empty.
What to do? She opted for some distracting sympathy optics with a media puff piece on how her father battled cancer (he’s now recovered), defended her decision to travel to the Chathams, saying she was wary of disturbing a grieving family, then decided to attend the funeral and hug Patel’s widow.
This was an horrendous event: a family has lost a son; a young wife has lost her husband. All because someone wanted the till from the shop… Crime against businesses is seemingly out of control in NZ and our government is all but ignoring it.
Sorry, Jacinda Ardern, a belated hug doesn’t cut it.
Discuss it on The BFD.
