JC: If the Boot Fits Wear It

Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Ayesha Verrall and Grant Robertson, the four amigos from the Labour Party most happy to put the boot in during the Covid pandemic, now appear to not want to be held accountable in public for their actions. When the boot is on the other foot, these bullies, not unsurprisingly, become cowards. What an absolute disgrace.

Caleb Anderson: Are our politicians really accountable?

I suspect that I am not alone in feeling that our politicians are not accountable in the ways many other New Zealanders are accountable, or in a way that many of us would consider truly, genuinely, accountable.

The refrain that they are accountable at the ballot box doesn't quite cut it.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: What Chris Hipkins is doing to the Covid Inquiry

Let me tell you what Chris Hopkins is busy doing to the Covid Inquiry.

Let me tell you, when he says that the Covid Inquiry is providing a platform for those who have conspiracy theorist views, he is trying to undermine it, and he's doing that. So it doesn't matter what the outcome of the inquiry is, people have already written it off as a nut job investigation.

I suspect Chippy already knows that he's not going to come out of this flash. Neither is Jacinda. Neither is Ashley. Neither is Grant.

Wendy Geus: Government gifted Covid Inquiry - Hipkins signs his political death warrant

Ardern, silent as to her attendance

So it's Brooke to the rescue once again.

Firstly, recently, Brooke van Velden pulled her pay parity bill out of her hat saving Nicola's budget. Phew!

And now, miraculously, she gives us a Covid Royal Commission of Inquiry, a gift to the Coalition, with findings to be released 2026, just before the election.

Mike’s Minute: It’s not crack, but a mature coalition instead

We have our first agree to disagree clause of this new coalition.

First point to make - what a mature look it is.

New Zealand First has invoked the clause, which is probably not the surprise.

Danny Simms: Submission to the Inquiry into the Covid Response

There was a fundamental error from the very beginning. The Oxford modelling that New Zealand’s response was based on was found to be seriously flawed within weeks of our Prime Minister frantically declaring that if we didn’t lock down tens of thousands would die. The models were shown to wildly exaggerate the risks, but our government pressed on.

Thus began one of the worst aspects of our response. The deliberate sowing of fear, bordering on panic by the daily breathless reports delivered by the Prime Minister and the Director General of Health.

Mike's Minute: Our Covid Inquiry has to look at more

God bless Brooke van Velden.

As part of the coalition agreement, the Government are looking to expand the terms of the Covid Inquiry.

Why?

Guy Hatchard: The Tide is Turning, But Much Remains to Be Done

Yesterday’s coalition policy announcements validated our lobbying efforts and those of multiple others over the last two years. Some key research findings and concerns finally penetrated the political firewall. We have turned a corner, but it is a first step and there is a lot more to do. As Winston Churchill said following the first allied victory of the war at El Alamein:

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 6/9/23

Young recidivists who have slipped through the cracks won’t have to break through the bars under youth-crime initiative

The trade news from Damien O’Connor was unambiguously positive – although outfits like Greenpeace might find cause for complaint.

It was that New Zealand has won its trade dispute with Canada over access for dairy products under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trade agreement.

Mike Hosking: Time to get on with a Covid inquiry

It is moderately encouraging we have two mutterings from the Government this week so far on the potential for a Covid inquiry.

Grant Robertson told us Monday on this show it was closer, and the Prime Minister is taking advice on what it should look like.

The reluctance to this point is fairly obvious. It's going to be ugly, and they know it.

Government's call inquiries for a couple of reasons. One, to get the subject off the front page. Two, to get a result they need or want. They do that by appointing the right people, so they can fairly confidently tell what's going to happen.