Clive Bibby: An insensitive response and a lost opportunity

A classic example of why PM Christopher Luxon is losing support amongst what should have been his most traditional supporters is his treatment of the current Air New Zealand CEO's performance in charge of the Nation's airline during the last turbulent trading year.

It was a precipitate and unwarranted reaction to something that would have happened to whoever was in charge at the time - dare I suggest, even Luxon himself.

Kiwis of all political persuasions are known for their compassion and expectation above all else, that everybody be given the opportunity to defend themselves against accusations of poor performance - no matter how justified the criticism.

I have never met the current CEO and am in no position to judge whether he was negligent in areas of management that might have made a difference to the overall financial result but l do know that published figures from competitive airlines operating on the same routes show Air New Zealand's result was not all that different to those facing the same headwinds.

And so, in that context, surely Luxon had nothing to gain by adding his name to those who were out to gain a commercial scalp.

In fact, Kiwis would have thought more of him had he gone out of his way to defend the Airline and its CEO's reputation in the marketplace - after all, Luxon is the most senior government guardian of the taxpayers’ 51% stake in the company.

Consequently, in the circumstances, his reaction to the financial result was neither helpful or necessary and as such, said more about the PM's ability to lead than the CEO's performance in difficult economic times.

Luxon needs to learn that the public react very favourably in support of incidents where innocents are being held to account for management issues beyond their control – for example their reaction to former PM Jacinda Ardern's empathetic response to the Christchurch massacre - but show no mercy for politicians who use opportunities to put the boot in to other seemingly more vulnerable individuals in an attempt to shield themselves from blame.

It all seems rather cowardly to me.

You be the judge.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.