David Farrar: The PM getting some mongrel

I’ve been impressed with what I would call the PM getting some mongrel in the last few weeks, as his leadership came under attack. Let’s look at what he did.

• Someone (not necessarily the PM) arranged for the names of suspected dissident MPs to be given to Hosking.

• Called a vote of confidence in his own leadership, forcing people to put up or shut up

• At the press conference refused to take questions from media, correctly judging that the result would speak for itself

• Hit back at Peters (along with Willis) when Peters decided he would become a political commentator on the National leadership, reminding people he put Ardern and the Greens into power.

• Got a complaint filed against TVNZ banging on the office door of National MP Stuart Smith, demanding he come out

• Pulled out of Breakfast TV as it became apparent the interviews were more about gotcha moments (can you name your Maori Ministers) than discussing issues that matter to NZers

I think it is good the PM is showing some teeth.

Something I have picked up anecdotally is that there has been a bit of a sympathy backlash in the PMs favour, as people think that breathless coverage updated hourly over bad poll results is just ridiculous. Several people I know who are not particularly political have said that they think it was just too much, and they felt sorry for Luxon.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition