The week that was, a week of gang crime, racism, sports, and bad weather - so a pretty typical June week in Aotearoa then.
The Prime Minister was back from her highly successful trip to the United States and the media said – “meh, what else you got, how come you weren’t in Australia last week following the election?” The Prime Minister gave her “seriously?” look and headed back to the airport to go to Australia.
She met the new Aussie Labor PM in a love fest that had the journalists reaching for the turbulence bags. The Aussie PM said - yeah, no commitments on the 501s but we’ll look into it, we’re friends and we want things to be fair.
At the press conference Jessica from One News demanded to be told the exact date that changes to the treatment of 501s would take effect from.
The Prime Minister of Australia and even the Australian Press thought, “gee who brought her, are her ears painted on?” and there were more long lingering smiles of sympathy between the two PMs which did nothing to settle the stomachs of the other reporters present.
Christopher Luxon announced they’d be ending gang crime by limiting places they could wear their patches. I had a strong sense of deja vu at the same Hail Mary solution that has been sold as the great white hope before only to achieve nothing.
Still One News seemed to think it was important, they lead the 6pm slot with coverage of the resurrection of this old policy, which is far more than they did with Jacinda’s Harvard speech recently burying that 10 minutes into the bulletin.
I’m not accusing them of bias, these are facts which speak for themselves, but some of their editorial decisions are more dubious than a four day old takeaway that still “smells ok I think, was it that colour when we got it?”.
National also opposed the bill making it easier for Maori to change between the general and Maori rolls. They claimed their opposition was about preserving democratic integrity and not just bashing Maori or making it harder for them to vote. I guess there were some people that believed them, but more on Tauranga in a bit.
So the big rugby final is between Auckland and Canterbury, like the glory days of domestic rugby in the 1980s when the two giants had some titanic struggles. Some people lost their sense of taste or smell with Covid, I seem to have lost my interest in Rugby - with Sky cancelled I’m not feeling compelled to get it back.
Anyway back to the 1980s, when as someone pointed out, Kate Bush was in the charts, Top Gun was at the cinema, and the Russkies were the bad guys. Seems like only yesterday.
Now all we need is a politician advocating trickle down economics, tax cuts for the wealthy to stimulate the economy but magically not cause inflation, as if we’ve collectively forgotten how that policy failed to raise most boats for the last four decades.
Gee some of those Stranger Things scenes look like they were filmed on the set of ET eh?
The war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now nearly at the end of it’s 4th month with no end in sight. The West seems to have no intention to intervene, or place further restrictions on Russia, other than providing weapons. I think everyone realises this war is not going to be over any time soon. Even Putin got a bit bored and bizarrely started threatening the Swedes of all people.
I read this morning that Richard Prosser died - wow only 55! Probably best to recognise that with words of reflection from the ever classy Tracey Martin: "He has two little girls. No matter what Richard did or was, I hope people think of them."
John Tamihere became President of the Maori Party, which Bomber Bradbury called “the most important political shockwave to happen so far this year.”
So not the war in the Ukraine, not the cost of living, but apparently old “Sieg Heil”, “Front bum”, Tamihere being elected President of the smallest party in parliament is the tsunami to hit our political scene?
Don’t get me wrong the Maori Party may well be a significant player in coalition talks post the next election, but I still think it is 50/50 they will even be there. Especially if they refuse to rule out an arrangement to enable an ACT/National government.
The Herald in their never-ending mission to find balance ran articles from the likes of Richard Prebble and Matthew Hooton seemingly suggesting a snap election or that Jacinda should be dumped as Labour leader.
Who knows what the articles actually said they were behind the Herald’s pay wall of quality journalism and it’ll be a cold day in hell, probably much like today, before I’m helping fund these two. I wouldn’t trust them with scissors much less place any value in their demented reckons.
The cricket, which I’m happy to say Covid has not dampened my enthusiasm for, was also happening; you’d have to say 550 having been put into bat was a pretty successful first innings. John’s boy Daryl, as opposed to Rod’s boy Tom who opens the batting, scored a big century during which he deposited a six into a lady spectator’s pint.
On completion of the day, and with a replacement pint having been provided, Daryl was taken to meet the lady and told her that next time she should catch it with her hands so it doesn’t go in her beer.
Possibly the most kiwi bloke statement since Richie McCaw told John Key he could never reciprocate the love he felt but if we wanted to keep humping his leg for the cameras he could.
Kelvin Davis was acting PM with Jacinda and Grant both out of the country - for goodness sake nobody tell the people of Tauranga.
Poor old Tauranga not only has the lens of by election coverage picked up the fact that they are really quite racist, like if someone asked for the most racist place in the North Island it would be a gimme in a pub quiz, but apparently one in five of them would consider voting for an anti mandate candidate!
We had two kids home sick from school all week, Covid like symptoms – for one actually worse than when he had it. Despite both having had Covid before each lad did a couple of RAT tests but all were negative. After last weekend’s dance comps in Christchurch and Tauranga this weekend is on the Shore, which is much easier.
Hmm when you think of Christchurch, Tauranga, and the North Shore what is the first thing that springs to mind they have in common? Bet it isn’t dance competitions.
So enjoy this grey old winter day, I hope the weather where you are is just cold, rainy, and windy like Tamaki Makaurau – thinking of those around the country experiencing much worse.
Who knows what next week will bring?
Our PM will continue to say things that are clearly articulated and well thought out whereas the leader of the opposition burbles buzzwords and platitudes about failed policies of the past while the media declare him the clear winner. Hurrah!
Probably the Poms will score a truckload of runs at Trent Bridge, although the Black Caps will be declared winners on a count back as they were the only team to hit a six into a pint glass. Stranger things have happened.
It will eventually stop raining, the sun will come out, and we still have a fabulous PM. Yeah we do!
I know the prospect of that ex CEO becoming PM is grim but just think of the silver lining, the field day for blog writers and authors of parody Twitter accounts.
Hallelujah – I’m sure that thought will keep the cold, the hungry, those in need, comforted should the worst happen next year.
Rain, rugby, and racism.
Another great read:)
Really enjoyed reading this Nick😊 i had to read it again to my long suffering wife😅