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Political ups and downs: a rollercoaster time in politics

New Zealand’s political landscape was rocked last month when the Associate Minister of Transport and Justice Minister, Kiri Allan, was forced to step down from her post. Allan’s resignation came on the heels of a string of Government tough-oncrime announcements, making for a narrative you couldn’t fabricate if you tried. A Justice Minister, accused of drink-driving, being involved in a car crash, and facing charges of careless use of a motor vehicle and refusal to accompany a police officer.

Despite the breath test revealing a level typically met with a simple on-the-spot fine, the repercussions were far more profound. It led to a reshuffling of cabinet by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, marking a pivotal moment in this tumultuous political climate.

To really appreciate the severity of Labour’s current predicament, let’s revisit the rollercoaster ride that has been 2023: PM Ardern quit in January, Education Minister Jan Tinetti was found to have lied to Parliament in February, Police Minister Stuart Nash was sacked in March,

Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri joined the Maori Party and was sacked as a Minister in May, Transport Minister Michael Wood failed to declare shareholding interests and resigned in June, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall lied to Parliament the same month, and now Allan’s drinkdriving scandal in July. It’s been an unruly first seven months, to say the least.

Meanwhile David Parker, the new Transport Minister, has opted to step back from his beloved Revenue portfolio. The decision came as a surprise to many, with Hipkins revealing the decision was Parker’s own, made to “free him up to focus on transport”. Yet, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that Parker’s known disagreements over tax policy may have been a more likely motivator.

Headache for PM

This revenue revolt has created another significant headache for Hipkins. Already dealing with a deluge of crises with MPs rushing for the Cabinet exit, the last thing he needed was a skirmish within the remaining ranks. Particularly as Labour increasingly hinges its election hopes on its upcoming tax policy. Was this Parker’s petulant and ill-timed display of personal principle? After all, 11 weeks before a general election is a poor time to suddenly develop a backbone, especially when your party is looking decidedly frayed around the edges.

Parker’s tenure as a two-times Environment Minister, during which he championed stringent environmental regulations, gives us some insight into his modus operandi. Will his traditional approach be replicated in transport policy? It’s a fair bet that he’ll will be extra-committed to achieving the emissions reductions plan. This development could bring implications for our sector, with several significant decisions expected prior to the election in our space. Among these are the decisions on the implementation of Euro6 standards, the Government Policy Statement for Transport, and several others. Joining him in the transport arena will be Damien O’Connor, the newly minted Associate Transport Minister.

Simultaneously, National Party leader Chris Luxon struggles to impress the electorate. Everyone who meets Luxon says the same: the Chris you see on TV and in the media is different to the Chris you met in real life. His campaign has now adapted from this and is aimed at introducing Kiwis to the ‘real Chris Luxon’. This has seen him conduct town hall meetings across the country, attracting hundreds of people to each meeting – often standing room only. Yet, it seems the enthusiasm isn’t reciprocated by the voters in the polls. With just 70 days until election day, one thing I can promise, is it's going to be an intriguing ride through the next few months. Despite witnessing a monumental governmental crisis - the likes of which we’ve seldom seen - the electorate appears curiously subdued, showing little enthusiasm for the alternatives on offer.

Speculation

This may well be a symptom of the pandemic era, a general erosion of trust and faith in politicians and the machinery of politics. Such speculation, however, remains just that –speculation. Yet, I can’t shake the sense that we’re grappling with a crisis of authenticity here.

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