In other words, it’s an audacious con job. Just wait, they warn; if Labour wins the election, we should expect the entire woke project to be revived and pursued with renewed zeal.
In support of their thesis, the doubters point out that as a senior minister in Jacinda Ardern’s Cabinet, Hipkins supported the policies he’s now ditching. No one changes their political colours that abruptly, they suggest. The implication is that it’s all being done to seduce voters into thinking Labour under its new leader is a different ideological beast.
Their cynicism is understandable, but I think (and hope) they’re wrong. I think Labour under Hipkins is undergoing a fundamental and genuine reset; one aimed at realigning the party with its traditional constituency.
Of course he supported the disastrous initiatives pursued under Ardern. As a loyal minister he had little alternative, short of resigning his portfolios and being blacklisted by his colleagues. But now he’s in the driver’s seat and Ardern is literally history. The King is Dead, Long Live the King, as the saying goes. In other words, there’s a new guy in charge and all bets are off.
The speed with which Hipkins is cutting away Labour’s radical ideological baggage has taken everyone by surprise. Who would have guessed that the boyish MP for Remutaka – a politician cleverly characterised by the cartoonist Garrick Tremain as a wide-eyed schoolboy – could be so decisive and even ruthless?
Hipkins isn’t just burying Ardern’s legacy; he’s prepared to take on Labour’s powerful Maori caucus and the party’s Green allies as well. This is a politician who seems absolutely confident that he’s doing the right thing and can carry the party with him. His boldness will surely be reinforced by his showing in the latest polls.
The obvious explanation for Hipkins’ U-turn is that he realises Labour squandered its historic majority after the 2020 election by wasting it on ideological projects for which there was no mainstream support. What should have been a glorious chapter in the party’s history was looking like three years of lost opportunity. Presumably he also grasps that his government’s survival has been put at risk by the cabal of committed activists who have driven the political agenda, and that they must be stripped of their power and influence.
He now has only seven months in which to repair the damage. There’s no time to lose, and certainly no time for political niceties.
Karl du Fresne, a freelance journalist, is the former editor of The Dominion newspaper. He blogs at karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz.
Their cynicism is understandable, but I think (and hope) they’re wrong. I think Labour under Hipkins is undergoing a fundamental and genuine reset; one aimed at realigning the party with its traditional constituency.
Of course he supported the disastrous initiatives pursued under Ardern. As a loyal minister he had little alternative, short of resigning his portfolios and being blacklisted by his colleagues. But now he’s in the driver’s seat and Ardern is literally history. The King is Dead, Long Live the King, as the saying goes. In other words, there’s a new guy in charge and all bets are off.
The speed with which Hipkins is cutting away Labour’s radical ideological baggage has taken everyone by surprise. Who would have guessed that the boyish MP for Remutaka – a politician cleverly characterised by the cartoonist Garrick Tremain as a wide-eyed schoolboy – could be so decisive and even ruthless?
Hipkins isn’t just burying Ardern’s legacy; he’s prepared to take on Labour’s powerful Maori caucus and the party’s Green allies as well. This is a politician who seems absolutely confident that he’s doing the right thing and can carry the party with him. His boldness will surely be reinforced by his showing in the latest polls.
The obvious explanation for Hipkins’ U-turn is that he realises Labour squandered its historic majority after the 2020 election by wasting it on ideological projects for which there was no mainstream support. What should have been a glorious chapter in the party’s history was looking like three years of lost opportunity. Presumably he also grasps that his government’s survival has been put at risk by the cabal of committed activists who have driven the political agenda, and that they must be stripped of their power and influence.
He now has only seven months in which to repair the damage. There’s no time to lose, and certainly no time for political niceties.
Karl du Fresne, a freelance journalist, is the former editor of The Dominion newspaper. He blogs at karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz.
7 comments:
Hipkins cannot be allowed to bring Labour back into power, anyone who will mix cheese with the meat in a pie is a menace to the country.
Seriously, I believe his track record of the past 5+ years prior to his taking over as PM, will sink him, and with him the dangerous ideologues and, in your words, "the cabal of committed activists".
Are the records of what he had to say in Cabinet and Caucus meetings prior to his elevation to PM available to the public - even the bought media? 'Let the record show, etc, etc'.
In that case Karl, we can expect him to ditch Three Waters, and principally because it was undemocratic which was the main objection from the public.
And' he should ditch the new RMA (whatever the hell it's called) because that is structured exactly like Three Waters and is also undemocratic.
Waiting....still waiting....mmmm!
If he ditches both these racist policies and renounces co-governance I'd probably choose him over Luxon who is a waste of space.
But, if he doesn't then we know what his real agenda still is. The jury's out.
I agree with Dee M. The proof will be in the pudding of denunciation of the 3 Waters and new RMA. He will need to get his skates on as the replacement RMA is on full steam ahead. Also Willie J has said the merger is on the back burner for the future and that's why they are still working on it. To preserve their reports/learnings for when they come back to it.
I wouldn't put money on Hipkins burning everything. I also think the polls will slump little by little.
Vote for a small party everyone!
MC
Sorry Karl I cannot share your optimism. As long as the Maori caucus exists no Labour Prime Minister can govern without their votes and only a defeat at the ballot box will bring about a re-think. Will that happen? I have to say I am becoming less hopeful and I totally agree with Dee M's remarks regarding Luxon.
one of the primary reasons first world attracts talent from third world is 'safety', 'freedom of speech', 'meritocracy (absence of discrimination)'. it is a pity that most of the first world is loosing this edge, and NZ is loosing it much faster than others on all three fronts.
I see that Deem stated .." we can expect him to ditch Three waters..", not likely to happen when TVNZ News Wednesday 15 March - has a "center piece news item on 3 H2O" led by the most left learning presenters of the "verbal word".
Also I hear, from another source, is that NZ should now be worried about the changes to the current RMA and "who" is likely to have a 'seat at the table, without being elected".
I agree with many, that the Chipster is not worth a bet at the TAB, but what other horse do we look at in the "betting guide". Please do not say Whinny The Poo - recent poor form and failed to finish in the last race at Tauherenikau!
GDP figures out today and yet again NZ is in recession, no surprises there. The big problem is the balance of payments and pending credit rating downgrade.
The balance of payments is always an issue with NZ but grew much worse when the refinery closed. We now have to import all the fuel, no value add here and so the BP immediately got worse.
Manufacturing declined again.
Australia is growing, plenty of high paying jobs and more to come with a $300 billion spend on Subs.
NZ is screwed, it can’t pay its way in the World anymore, it’s far more debt laden because our finance minister is out to lunch, probably stuffing Lamingtons down the cake hole.
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