True Blue.

Loyal through and through.

True love
You're the one I'm dreaming of
Your heart fits me like a glove
And I'm gonna be true blue
Baby, I love you

I’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.

That by and large I think our mainstream media provides balance, with a few exceptions, and that the accusations of bias, from both sides, are largely unfounded. If we can step back those seem to be a result of our reluctance to entertain different points of view in this newish world of Social Media.

We used to get the news without the addition of opinions, so it can be jarring to see a particular stance taken when we’d prefer they just told us the facts. There is of course a place for opinion writing, which is just as well really. But it’s not on the news.

Which brings me to a platform that does concern me. No, not the one that Sean Plunket runs, I don’t consider that even vaguely to be news. More of a sewer in which the worst of humanity finds refuge in this world where not everyone shares their hatred.

It’s not that dead horse which the surprisingly unorthodox Peter Williams is flogging. Although I did enjoy the news of it’s departure, and hope it hasn’t been overstated. As they say - GO FASH, LOSE CASH.

Of course I’m talking about our old Mate NZME. Granny Herald and her nephew ZB. I don’t want to sound like a stuck record going on about these guys, so let’s take a look at four examples, with their own words...

Long time enthusiast of the older man, Heather du Plessis-Allan, penned a paywalled fan letter to Winston in yesterday’s NZ Herald. Here’s a small sample:

That’s right, the man jetting around the world on New Zealand’s behalf like a spring chicken was born all the way back in 1945 before World War II had ended.

It’s quite remarkable that only 2½ years separate Peters and US President Joe Biden, who is so doddery he sometimes forgets to finish his own sentences.

In the US, it’s common to hear it said that Biden is too old for the job. No one says that about Peters.

Really? No one says that about Peters?

I appreciate that the ZB talkback audience is a bit older than some. Like for example that of Antiques Roadshow. And that Heather perhaps knows more about septuagenarians than most. But really?

I don’t know about you but pretty much every interaction I’m involved in that pertains to Winston Peters includes someone saying he’s too old.

Heather and I run in different circles no doubt, but surely the suggestion that Winnie might be a bit long in the ear lobes is hardly unusual.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who turned 79 on Thursday. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

Heather continues:

If he was in the corporate world, Christopher Luxon would give him a bonus because he is meeting his KPIs. What was point 18 of Luxon’s action plan? “Raise the energy New Zealand brings to key relationships through international engagements.” Peters is definitely raising that energy.

I’m not sure about Luxon giving Winston a bonus. Firstly there’s the small matter of - what the hell for?

Did I miss something? I can’t remember any new trade deals or breakthroughs in negotiations in the Middle East. All Winston seems to be doing is crawling up America’s backside. What exactly are we celebrating?

Secondly, I think Luxon has given Winston quite enough baubles already, don’t you? For goodness sake he’s practically turned over the direction of the country to him, and that silly mannequin he used to profess to hate despite the fact that they say much the same things.

I know it’s the balance of power but for just 6% of the vote the country is paying a very high price. The blank cheque given to Shane Jones for re-election in the regions or the power given him so he can sacrifice endangered wildlife to financially advantage organisations he represents.

But while the wit of old may be long gone, the once quick riposte now laboured and looking for the recognition of his former glory, some, like Heather, still buy into the charm of the old grey fox.

“It’s probably hard for some voters to imagine him being any good at anything because the Peters they know is a bit aggro at the media and often causes trouble. But he can also be charming, well-informed, great company and helpful. That’s the version senior members of the National Party are raving about. It’s also the version he clearly trots out when he’s offshore representing NZ.”

I wonder which senior National people are raving about Winston. Sounds like perhaps someone other than Heather is stroking his ego.

But when it comes to National, nobody inflates their attributes and achievements like Aunty Audrey.

Audrey opined, “while his adjustment from business to politics has drawn much commentary, there can be little doubt that his business experience will be of immense value on what is essentially a business-focused trip.”

Christopher joined the duet harmonising, “I know the region well from my former life at Unilever. These are markets that I spent a lot of time in as well.”

Maybe Ms Young is right. Perhaps the heads of government in this region of 700m people are saying to themselves, “do you know what would be immensely valuable about now, with these uncertain global times? A middle manager that used to sell deodorant who went on to become the successful CEO of a government backed near monopoly.”

It’s probably happening as you read this. A quick burst of Luxonese from the smiling former CEO no doubt inspiring a new dawn of prosperity across the region.