So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members”, said Mahatma Gandhi. There is so much in that. Be it our society, our humanity, the aspirations of many who believe there’s more to this life that survival of the fittest and doing it to them before they do it to you.
So if we’re to measure our society, the government we’ve elected to represent us, by the way we treat those most vulnerable - how do you reckon we’re going?
It’s not that flash is it? If looking after those most in need was the goal of this lot you’d say they were going in the wrong direction, scoring in the wrong net, protecting the opposition’s line.
Yesterday morning, with the luxury of a guest newsletter, I headed out to see my folks. I’m well aware I could’ve done so anyway - thanks, but it was a good feeling heading out the door knowing readers had something to enjoy. Dad has been in and out of hospital a bit but they’re at home now, which is so good.
Readers might recall some months back my Dad got Covid while in hospital, fortunately he didn’t have a bad run with it, but damn with his health as it is right now it would be very concerning if he got it again. I told them about the stats I’d heard on the radio on the way over - twenty dead this last week and five thousand cases. No doubt the real number is higher than that, with some people barely isolating when sick - let alone informing the authorities when they’ve got it.
We spoke of prescriptions and treatments and all the effort and cost that went into staying on top of it. Mum wondered how on earth some would be able to afford it all, sadly we acknowledged they simply wouldn’t. People in pain, or over medicated, those without a spouse who can work so hard on their behalf as my Mum does for my Dad.
She spoke of old friends in rough situations, surviving on just the pension, dealing with cancer. I thought of the men she spoke of, who I’ve known my whole life as so vital, so intelligent and creative. Now struggling without money or health. We joked of how awful growing old was, and yet better than the alternative.
As it always does around my parent’s table talk turned to politics. I’m sorry to report that I rather went off on one. After discussing things that really mattered I was furious to see the cover of the NZ Herald, sitting on the table, going on about Christopher Luxon’s bloody plane.

So I ranted saying why the hell aren’t the twenty deaths from Covid on the front page? Not buried half a dozen pages later?
Do you remember when a few deaths was national news, now we lose twenty in a week and people just go about their business. Maybe, I suggested, if the bloody media actually highlighted what’s happening the country wouldn’t have so many idiots acting like it’s no longer an issue, or claiming that it wan’t one to begin with.
For goodness sake, the military need equipment to reach places, the sub Antarctic islands, our small pacific neighbours, places you can’t get to on a commercial airline. But Christopher Luxon doesn’t - for goodness sake man, you’re going to Japan! Catch a scheduled flight like everyone else. We’re a small nation and we don’t need our leader flying to heavily developed nations in a private plane.
We talked about the premiere the night before of a short film, Pack Rat, which my son Matty, their youngest grandson, was in. How strange it had been seeing his face close up on the big screen at the Academy where I used to go years ago. It’s a really Kiwi short film, well worth a look - although I’m not sure when it might screen.
I mentioned to my folks that at the cinema, and at the March for Nature the previous week, there had been quite a few people wearing masks. It was sad, I said, that taking Covid seriously, taking precautions to protect yourself, and others, seemed to have become almost a partisan decision.
It’s a bit of a generalisation but it seemed that lefties, arty types, and older folks, seemed so much more willing to still take sensible precautions than those who shrug their shoulders and say - it’s just the vulnerable who are effected.
Hello? Just the vulnerable?
When did we decide that the lives of our most vulnerable were dispensable?
Driving home I heard there was going to be a Green Party press conference, ugh. After so much with James going, with Golriz, with the awful loss of Efeso - what now?
As you probably know the announcement was that Marama Davidson has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Although it’s been identified early, and I can think of no harder fighter than Marama, my heart sank. This is Marama’s press release:
From the moment Marama arrived in parliament, full of fight, she has fought for others. There is no ulterior motive, no ambition to benefit wealthy donors, or seeking of personal glory. Marama is there for one thing only and that is to stand up for people, especially our most vulnerable.
The most important thing now is that she has the time and treatment she needs. Chlöe will lead strongly, I have no doubt, but I can’t help worrying about the pressures we’re putting on that young woman.
“She carries the kind of power that never needs to announce itself as it cloaks you in warmth, generosity and understanding”, Chlöe said of Marama. Which rang true, and also made me think of Jacinda. I couldn’t imagine anyone saying similar of Luxon, Willis, Seymour, or van Velden.
No doubt some might mock Chlöe’s words but, to paraphrase Elvis Costello, I’m yet to see what’s so funny about warmth, generosity and understanding.
Christopher Luxon also had a few thing to say, like this: “I’ve requested that everywhere I go now, I have a two-hour lunch with big investors that have billions of dollars to invest - not just wealthy individuals, but actually proper institutional funds.” What a guy, what a leader.
He also said the following, which is being shared all over social media. I assume in the hope of understanding what the Prime Minister is actually saying, if anything at all. Seriously take a look at this bunch of Corporate-waffle:
Luxon said New Zealand needed a more “external orientation” and he was focused on “refiring that up”.
“I need to lift the best firms in New Zealand to become globally frontiered firms,” he said.
At a time of personal crisis Marama spoke openly and honestly about her health to encourage others to get checked. Christopher Luxon on the other hand just grins, spouting meaningless words, and the media lap it up.
I don’t know about you but I’m starting to question whether this guy has any leadership ability whatsoever. I looked at him patting the backs of foreign dignitaries, as if they were old mates for the cameras, and I just felt embarrassed.
Perhaps like some of you I’m struggling to comprehend a government that is so out of alignment with my values and what I think should be the priorities. I took to Twitter after hearing Marama’s news - a yell into the void.
Dora replied: “Amelia Wade on the tarmac in PNG giggling & chortling at the media predicament catching planes - NZ has reached a new low when 20 people have succumbed to Covid last week & Cancer sufferers dying without life saving drugs while the PM swans around the Pacific at his leisure!”
Taylor asked: “Is the plane insured? A trip to the Bermuda Triangle with full Coalition government would be an excellent idea. Bermuda have a high demand for dairy products.”
Anneke, who ironically describes herself as “pro-life” in her Twitter bio, said “Surely those dying of covid would have died of the flu? Happens all the time.” Nice.
I enjoyed Mary’s comment: “But surely we need to know how difficult it is being PM - no plane…no house…no heart…”
Last night on 1 News Maiki Sherman spoke earnestly about the plane break down, standing on the tarmac before it, saying it was embarrassing for New Zealand. As if it mattered in the scheme of things.
Cancelling promised cancer drugs is embarrassing. So too are many things this government has prioritised. But some business big bigwigs late for photo ops and schmoozing? Who cares, that’s irritating at best.
I have zero confidence that someone like Christopher Luxon, or many who support him, will suddenly gain perspective on what matters and what doesn’t. The recent budget was an exercise in rewarding those who need it the least, with crumbs at best for those doing it hardest.
But it doesn’t help that the media treat something like a broken down plane as a lead story while those broken promises over cancer drugs slip into last week’s news. Almost as far back in the paper, or the bulletin, as the latest Covid wave.
As if the Prime Minister being late for a meeting matters compared to a family losing a loved one to Covid or cancer, as he grins at our deteriorating safety net that he’s consciously choosing not to maintain, let alone enhance.
Can someone explain why people vote for the sort of people they would hate as their boss? The guy who big notes it, whose ego must be massaged, who cares deeply about the interests of shareholders but does the bare minimum he can get away with when it comes to employees?
I don’t get it, they don’t actually imagine they’re the shareholders, do they? Perhaps they should hold that thought when, not if, someone they love needs the safety net.
Go well our precious Marama, we will be here when you get back.
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You are so right Nick. The embarrassment is our PM not a piece of machinery past its use by date., someone who prioritises power before principle, politics before people. Thank you for a good Tuesday morning dose of energy.
So right Nick. The media travelling with Luxon are embarrassing, and they are the reason that PM impersonator is there. Worrying attitude to Covid in US seems to be example followed by the rest of the west - don’t let it get in the way of business as usual. There are mask bans being brought in ffs. Another case of short termism, and ignore the future.
We are all with Marama in this fight - it does seem that bad things happen to good people and vice versa.