Judging by the Prime Minister’s outing to Otara markets in South Auckland over the weekend, it could be a rough old time on the hustings. Bear in mind, this is South Auckland, Labour territory. The PM was not wandering through Fendalton or Remuera. He was in an area which should have his back, but not this time.
Protestors from Freedoms NZ, which it’s reported is, “a new political party, joining together the Tamaki-led Vision NZ party and the Outdoors and Freedom Party..” reportedly, “chased him around the market, two on bicycles and others carrying big blue banners, until the prime minister eventually left.”
So they caused such a ruckus, they ended Hipkins visit early. From the footage at the event, the person looking most surprised was the PM’s security. Chippy just kept smiling. Was he not aware of how bad it was? Did he just not care? Was he smiling to just keep up appearances? But this could be something he needs to get more used to. People are angsty, they’re angry, they’re seemingly going to make their voices heard. And not always just to offer him a sausage roll.
Hipkins was reported saying he won’t change his campaign strategy because of it though. He still hopes to get out and about and said he won’t curb his movements... is that true though? I don’t doubt that behind the scenes the logistics peeps are busy working out how best to avoid this bad press, to avoid this unrest, and to keep him out of the fray.
Let’s not forget what happened when Jacinda started to get booed in public, she stopped visiting places where she might find an unpopular reception. She stuck to safe spaces like primary schools or Universities, places where she knew she’d be well received. Will Chris Hipkins have to start doing the same?
And that’s before we get to how much the party is internally disputing how they’re tracking, and how much solidarity there is among them as they lose support and lose face, on the back of losing so many Ministers. Hipkins is looking increasingly like a bit of a lone wolf, making a few ‘big calls’ but then having them backfire. GST on fruit and vege being one glaringly recent example.
How much of it will come down to him though, versus the party’s lack of delivery, versus the sheer fact Kiwis are just fed up with the direction of the country and feeling stuck in a never-ending cost of living crisis. If Labour go on to lose in October, what went wrong will be dissected ad nauseum. Was it one too many Cabinet minister dramas? Was it Chippy going out on a limb trying to be all things to all people and instead falling between stools? Was it just tide out time on a tired and out of ideas government? Was it too much media focus on fringe minor parties making a lot of noise and getting too much attention?
The next couple of months are going to be crucial for Labour, but many inside the party will be asking if the damage has already been done. However Hipkins has no choice really but to keep showing up everywhere, protestors or no protestors, I guess.
Kate Hawkesby is a political broadcaster on Newstalk ZB - her articles can be seen HERE.
5 comments:
It was brilliant and proof that race based poltics does not serve kiwis. We are induviduals and we all think differently. Hipkins must've thought the pacific and maori people would all see him as their saviour. How wrong he was. The real world does not equate to his virtue signalling in his wellington office. Hipkins doesn't represent anyone except his commie mates and maori elite. Good riddance hipkins on october 14.
" No more labour pains! No more blackrock! What is a woman?" Absolute gold from the otara protesters.
How richly deserving. Still, compared to the treason and racial division he and his comrades have committed, he's getting off lightly. Long may his discomfiture continue.
What went wrong? Simple answer.
They forgot they had to govern for all and focused on the minority.
When 85 percent of the people are walking a different direction from the supposed leaders, it’s only a matter of time before they fall.
Chippies epiphany that the Auckland lockdown went on to long is a glaring example of the bubble he lives in.
"Auckland lockdown went on to long "
That's when we took to the sky and said see ya later. Entertaining last few months have to say, I guess it all started in Jan when those famous words uttered "not enough fuel in the tank" seems like she's been all tanked up alright now, remarkable new fresh face peachy cheeks no furrowed lines on the forehead, teeth all gleaming white. Eyebrows plucked and polished. How remarkable. But the stories coming out practically on a daily basis is 'absolute gold" please don't stop.
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