Of course, this quote was from Groucho, not Karl. However, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s interest in utilising the waka-jumping law against former colleague Darleen Tana certainly has something Marxist about it.
That is because the Green Party’s relationship with this particular piece of legislation has been, shall we say, a journey of evolving principles.
Rod Donald, one of the party’s founding co-leaders, once described its 2001 version as “the most draconian, obnoxious, anti-democratic, insulting piece of legislation ever inflicted on this Parliament.”
By 2018, the Greens supported a new version of this law as a condition for joining the government. After all, Winston Peters had demanded it.
Back then, Eugenie Sage referred to the waka-jumping legislation as “a dead rat that we have to swallow.” For a party counting so many vegetarians in its ranks, that must have been a very unpleasant meal indeed.
One wonders if the party had been assured that this particular rat had been ethically sourced, fed organic produce, and allowed to roam free before its ultimate destination in the gullets of Green MPs.
In 2021, with a change in government composition and Winston Peters out of Parliament, the Greens supported a National Party bill to repeal the legislation.
But now, only three years later, the Greens are contemplating waka-jumping Darleen Tana from Parliament. One might be forgiven for experiencing a sense of political whiplash.
Of course, it would be unfair to suggest that political parties should never adapt their positions. The Greens have simply elevated flexibility to an art form. One imagines their yoga instructors must be very proud.
Yet, one cannot help but wonder if there might have been a more straightforward solution to their current predicament. Perhaps a more rigorous candidate selection process might have spared the party this challenge. They may have confused “green” candidates with those who were merely politically “unripe”.
The party now finds itself in a position that brings to mind a certain celebrity frog’s lament about the difficulties of being green.
Whatever course they choose, one thing is certain: they have provided a masterclass in political adaptability. Their commitment to the environment extends to recycling political positions they once discarded.
Perhaps they should consider rebranding themselves as the Chameleon Party. After all, it is not the colour of one’s principles that matters, but how swiftly one can change them to match the political scenery.
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative think tank. This article was first published HERE.
By 2018, the Greens supported a new version of this law as a condition for joining the government. After all, Winston Peters had demanded it.
Back then, Eugenie Sage referred to the waka-jumping legislation as “a dead rat that we have to swallow.” For a party counting so many vegetarians in its ranks, that must have been a very unpleasant meal indeed.
One wonders if the party had been assured that this particular rat had been ethically sourced, fed organic produce, and allowed to roam free before its ultimate destination in the gullets of Green MPs.
In 2021, with a change in government composition and Winston Peters out of Parliament, the Greens supported a National Party bill to repeal the legislation.
But now, only three years later, the Greens are contemplating waka-jumping Darleen Tana from Parliament. One might be forgiven for experiencing a sense of political whiplash.
Of course, it would be unfair to suggest that political parties should never adapt their positions. The Greens have simply elevated flexibility to an art form. One imagines their yoga instructors must be very proud.
Yet, one cannot help but wonder if there might have been a more straightforward solution to their current predicament. Perhaps a more rigorous candidate selection process might have spared the party this challenge. They may have confused “green” candidates with those who were merely politically “unripe”.
The party now finds itself in a position that brings to mind a certain celebrity frog’s lament about the difficulties of being green.
Whatever course they choose, one thing is certain: they have provided a masterclass in political adaptability. Their commitment to the environment extends to recycling political positions they once discarded.
Perhaps they should consider rebranding themselves as the Chameleon Party. After all, it is not the colour of one’s principles that matters, but how swiftly one can change them to match the political scenery.
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative think tank. This article was first published HERE.
1 comment:
Priceless commentary, especially this bit:
“The Greens have simply elevated flexibility to an art form. One imagines their yoga instructors must be very proud.”
I couldn’t help but bring to mind this particular clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfHjKhYfUZo
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