In a blockbuster series of announcements, Labour says Jacinda Ardern has resigned as leader and Prime Minister and will be leaving politics, the general election will be held on October 14 and finance minister and deputy PM Grant Robertson will NOT stand for the leadership.
Labour will elect a new leader on Sunday.
Ardern had denied persistent rumours last year that she was intending to stand down ahead of this year's election.
However, she told the Labour caucus on Thursday that having reflected over summer: "I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple."
Ardern said holding such a privileged role as Prime Minister comes with responsibility, including the responsibility to know when you’re the right person to lead, "and also when you’re not".
"I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along."
Ardern said she was not leaving because she believed Labour can’t win the election, "but because I believe Labour can and will win it".
"We need a fresh set of shoulders for the challenges of both this year and the next three.
"As to my time in the job, I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go."
Ardern said she intends to remain the MP for Mt Albert through till April.
"This will give me a bit of time in the electorate before I depart, and also spare them and the country a by-election.
"Beyond that, I have no plan. No next steps. All I know is that whatever I do, I will try and find ways to keep working for New Zealand and that I am looking forward to spending time with my family again - arguably, they are the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us.
"And so to Neve, mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year.
"And to Clarke, let’s finally get married."
In terms of the procedure to elect a new leader, the Labour Caucus has seven days to ascertain whether one individual holds more than 2/3rds support within caucus to become the new leader and Prime Minister. A caucus vote for a new leader will occur on January 22.
If no one receives 2/3rds support within caucus, the leadership contest will go to the wider Labour membership. This can happen in a short time frame and the Prime Minister has recommended to the Party that the process, if required, conclude no later than February 7.
Robertson, in explaining why he would not stand for leader, said when he in 2014 he failed to secure the leadership of the party for a second time he had indicated that he would not put himself forward again.
"My position has not changed.
"I have been a close up witness to the extraordinary work that Jacinda has done as leader and Prime Minister.
"The level of intensity and commitment required of Prime Minister is an order of magnitude greater than any other role. It is a job that you must unequivocally want to do in order to do it the justice it deserves. I have every confidence that there are colleagues within the Caucus who are both capable of doing the role, and have the desire to take it on. They will have my full support," Robertson said.
In terms of the election, Ardern said announcing the date early in the year provides New Zealanders with certainty "and has become the practice of this Government and the previous one, and I believe is best practice".
The Governor-General has been advised of the election date.
The Government’s intention is that the House will rise on Thursday, August 31 and Parliament will be dissolved on Friday, September 8.
Writ day will follow on Sunday, September 10 2023, and nominations will close at noon on Friday, September 15, 2023. Advance voting will start on Monday, October 2, 2023.
The last day for the return of the writ will be Thursday, November 9, 2023.
This is the announcement on Ardern's resignation:
Jacinda Ardern has announced she will step down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party. Her resignation will take effect on the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
A caucus vote to elect a new Party Leader will occur in 3 days’ time on Sunday the 22nd of January.
“Being Prime Minister has been the greatest honour of my life and I want to thank New Zealanders for the enormous privilege of leading the country for the last five and a half years,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“With holding such a privileged role comes responsibility, including the responsibility to know when you’re the right person to lead, and also when you’re not.
“I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along.
“Having reflected over summer I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple.
“I have spoken to the Governor-General this morning to let her know.
“In addition to our ambitious agenda that has sought to address long term issues like the housing crisis, child poverty and climate change, we also had to respond to a major biosecurity incursion, a domestic terror attack, a volcanic eruption and a one in one hundred year global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis. The decisions that had to be made have been constant and weighty.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last five years in spite of the many challenges thrown at us. We’ve turned around child poverty statistics and made the most significant increases in welfare support and public housing stock seen in many decades.
“We’ve made it easier to access education and training while improving the pay and conditions of workers. And we’ve worked hard to make progress on issues around our national identify - I believe that teaching our history in schools and celebrating Matariki as our own indigenous national holiday will all make a difference for years to come.
“And we’ve done that while responding to some of the biggest threats to the health and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders, arguably since World War Two.
“The Labour team are incredibly well placed to contest the next election. They are the most experienced team in the country and have shown they have the skills necessary to respond to whatever comes their way.
“I’m not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe Labour can and will win it. We need a fresh set of shoulders for the challenges of both this year and the next three.
“As to my time in the job, I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go,” Jacinda Ardern said.
This is the statement on the election on October 14:
The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday 14 October 2023, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.
“Announcing the election date early in the year provides New Zealanders with certainty and has become the practice of this Government and the previous one, and I believe is best practice,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Most recent elections have been held in the latter months of the year, so this year’s timing keeps with that tradition and is similar to the 2020 election date.
“Labour will be standing on our strong record of progress. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over these two terms. We are a strong, experienced and effective team that has successfully steered New Zealand through the greatest challenges our country has faced in decades.
“While I won’t be contesting the election, I know the issues that impact New Zealanders most will remain the focus of the Government through this year and into the election.
“The ability for families to make ends meet, to create new opportunities to get ahead and keeping the economy strong and stable in the face of international headwinds will continue to be our focus,” Jacinda Ardern said.
The Governor-General has been advised of the election date.
The Government’s intention is that the House will rise on Thursday the 31st of August and Parliament will be dissolved on Friday the 8th of September.
Writ day will follow on Sunday 10 September 2023, and nominations will close at noon on Friday 15 September 2023. Advance voting will start on Monday 2 October 2023.
The last day for the return of the writ will be Thursday 9 November 2023.
This is the statement from Grant Robertson on not standing for leader:
I am not putting myself forward to be a candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party. In 2014 when I failed to secure the leadership of the Party for the second time I indicated that I would not put myself forward again. My position has not changed.
I have been a close up witness to the extraordinary work that Jacinda has done as leader and Prime Minister.
The level of intensity and commitment required of Prime Minister is an order of magnitude greater than any other role. It is a job that you must unequivocally want to do in order to do it the justice it deserves. I have every confidence that there are colleagues within the Caucus who are both capable of doing the role, and have the desire to take it on. They will have my full support.
It is a privilege to be Minister of Finance. I recognise that as the country faces a challenging economic environment, experience, stability and continuity are critical. I remain absolutely committed to fulfilling that role, or any other one the new Leader will ask me to undertake. I am also committed to running in the 2023 election to help secure a further term for a Labour-led government.
I will not be making any further comment on the leadership until the process has concluded.
It has been the honour of my working life to have supported Jacinda as Minister of Finance and as Deputy Prime Minister. Her intellect, judgement and empathy mark her out as one of New Zealand’s finest Leaders. I believe that history will judge her tenure as Prime Minister as a period where New Zealand not only weathered many storms, but also made huge progress in becoming a stronger, fairer and more inclusive nation. As a colleague, a friend and a New Zealander I am incredibly grateful for her service and commitment and wish her every joy and success in the future.
304 Comments
The bad press was going to be relentless. Probably turn to accolades now 🤣
This news frees up Winston Peters to form a coalition with Labour after the election ... Winnie the " Kingmaker " , once again ... imagine the big grin on his face right now ...
Might be Willie the kingmaker.
Labour have lost their lipstick.
Been exposed as something of a one trick pony too, but it’s taken a while.
But it's still a pig.
Just before it all gets really ugly.
Yes. But I suspect that's incidental. After the 5 years she's had I'd be looking for something lower stress, too, and the new leader (GR probably) needs some time for a run-in before the election. Just like when Key handed over to BE.
GR has said he’s not standing. I’d put my money on Hipkins
Mr Pot Holes ... Michael Wood !
Would either of them want it. Leadership suicide at their age and stage??
Good point, I’d also bet whoever gets the leadership won’t hold it more than a year
GBH Labour need a night watchman at this point 🏏 is little andrew free. Otherwise twyford who is just as flakey as ardern.
Little andrew scubbered my operation and wants to keep me acrippple.
It'll be a moari pm for sure as this government is run buy maori.
Nanaia Mahuta ! ... and , if she truly believed in " co-governance " , she would have to consult the cabinet pakeha iwi & select one of them to jointly share the top job ... sweeeeet ....
"Spread your legs"... Hipkins.
Get real, the Maori caucus have pushed her to the edge and over
Welk have our first part Maori PM
Perhaps Grant is planning to resign shortly as well?
Hope so.
I don't blame heror Robertson. They know more about the approaching s**tstorm they've created with help from her predecessors.
The big question is does Luxon really want to captain this sinking ship of an economy?
The big question is does Luxon really want to captain this sinking ship of an economy?
I think the sink or float, they have an objective to bring back the negative gearing stuffs.
Probably. Although that's as ridiculous a rescue plan as punching more holes in the sinking ship to drain the water. He might bring more low-paid crew and their family members onboard as well, so his wealthy voters can use them as human-rafts to keep themselves afloat.
Mahuta pushing her out the window in order to take her place on the throne.
No chance.
Who will it be? Michael Wood? Chris Hipkins? Traditionally the PM has held an electorate
One of those two I reckon, assuming they want it. I cant think of anyone else that has any chance of winning.
Can't possibly vote for Wood on the basis of his criminally bad taste in ties.
As a centre-right voter I'd heartily endorse Nanaia Mahuta to take over the throne ... oh , yes ... that'd be fantastic , fricking awesome ...
What a wonderful worldwide advertisement for NZ that would be… NOT !
Please please please oh please please please let it be Jo Luxton
**crosses all fingers and toes and eyes**
I’m picking Kelvin Davies
🤣🤣🤣🤣
hope so as they won't even turn up to the election with him at the helm..Mr I done/do nothing Davies
Watch for the Maori faction in caucus start flying their own kites, and hastily so. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth aplenty as the prospect of losing the baubles of office dawn and resonate!
My estimation of Ardern would go up massively if on her way out she does a Darth Vader from Return of the Jedi and brings Emperor Mahuta down with her.
In all seriousness, she's done some stuff well, some ok, and some poorly. It is almost hard to believe that she's fallen so far from the heights reached not that long ago at the last election.
She isn't as great as her enthusiasts claim, nor is she as bad as some of her detractors make out. Ardern is clearly the best Labour has got, so I await with eager anticipation which has-been or never-ran will take up the mantle.
As a relatively new parent myself, I do empathise with the 'family time' aspect (I'll admit I'd always seen that as a bit of a cop out in the past, but I realise how wrong I was).
I don't agree with her politics, but wish her and her family well from a personal perspective.
Really well put, totally agree with all of it!!!!
Perhaps it’s worse than that and there is a genuine fear manifesting about her Maori caucus, their actions, ambitions and intentions. Perhaps too it is realised that that faction is out of control, cannot be gotten under control, and it’s time to pull the plug, let all the babies go out with the bath water , for the greater good of the nation? You know, like the lockdowns were for the greater good, and justifiably so many might say. A government falling on its sword. Sounds like something out of Dickens doesn’t it.
Stuff is leading with the "to spend more time with family" line.
Really tugs at the old heart strings, doesn't it.
Its comments like these that she is calling it a day
Did she tell you that?
I saw her at New year's with her daughter. Looked 10 years younger. I fully understand her decision. I would say the reason is to get her family life back, and nothing to do with weather or not she thinks she would win an election.
It's always "to spend more time with family" though. That phrase has almost become a meme in politics. John Key, Ashley Bloomfield, Yuong Ha, Jacinda Ardern, Kris Faafoi, the list goes on.
Fifty-thousand reasons why they should step down, but it's always "to spend more time with family". Makes for good optics, eliminates any speculation in the media.
I'd say it's pretty legitimate considering she has a 4 year old child.
Most of the anti Jacinda commenters don’t have a heart and wouldn’t understand wanting to spend time with their children.
She wouldn't be quitting if Labour were polling well
As an anti Jacindaite, what on earth has it to do with why she has resigned. Considering she is the boss of the useless bunch I couldnt give a damn why. Just pleased she has. Now lets get rid of the rest of them.
Lets be totally honest here, if she was serious about the role she would have never have had kids in the first place. It was a convenient stepping stone.
Misogynist alert...
Carlos delves to new depths...incredible as he will reach China soon..
You only just noticed...
Just to clarify are you saying anyone running for PM should be childfree or just the females? And the four people, at this moment, who liked your comment might like to give feedback too. We are not in Afghanistan - woman are fully allowed to have children and work here. I know .... it's a shocking concept. Eyeroll.
You’re showing your male, pale, staleness Carlos - maybe we should go full taliban and prevent females from studying, particularly if they get pregnant as they surely can’t be serious eh.
WHAT A TOOL
I thought the Caucus only had 40% of the vote for Labour leader when the election is more than 3 months way. Party members and affiliates have the balance 60% of the vote.
The rest of the world is going to be heartbroken - its headline News across the ditch.
They won't have to be heartbroken for too long. She'll be off to bunk with Auntie Helen at the UN shortly.
It's currently breaking news world-wide.
A year late but good riddance.
Why resign now?
They have been saying that they are so proud of things they have done at the time of covid and before that so they should be confident of their win.
This looks so bad for labour. Their favorite leader bailing out.
Why no care for NZ public when we really need it at the time of crisis. Inflation etc
This is not leading or leadership.
This is not leading or leadership.
She was never a leader. She has always been a celebrity.
"Why now". Pushed out, ignored, laughed at by Jackson and Mahuta. She had no choice.
She was a well trained Klaus Schwab trained actress who in the end was caught out by all her lying.
Sinking ships ... rats jumping overboard ... ah haaa haaaa ... the Red Queen is out , before the public have an opportunity to vote ...
As Harry Truman commented “If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.” There it is. This will take the Labour Party down to an unheralded low point in the polls and keep them pinned there for a good number of years. The nation is facing a tremendously difficult period and a lot of that has been caused under Ardern’s watch. Now as the rocks near she abandons ship. Shameful, but on the other hand personally, while I will not miss her presence one little bit, I hope she can resume her private and family life fittingly.
Nanaia Mahuta the new NZ PM? XD
A small part of me feels sorry for her. She can’t have imagined how her good intentions could have so rapidly paved the highway to hell we now find ourselves in as a country.
I respect that about her. I feel she may have panicked when things weren't going her way and ended up doing more damage than good.
Feelings before facts.
Ideology before evidence.
It was always going to end in tears (literally).
Co government before electoral mandate...
Same here. My take is she inherited the whole stupid central bank/central planning machine with it's impossible-to-get-rid-of monetary policy that dominates everything, and all she could do is fiddle at the margins of that.
I wonder if she will ever realise she didn't matter all that much?
Your assuming she understood how it all worked. I suspect she didn't have a clue.
I expect you are right. Distracted by the baubles.
Strange never picked up this "hell" vibe you mention on my Xmas travels...was it the weather?
Back to the Future? Andrew Little.
The list of possibilities is looking like ol' mother Hubbards cupboard.
At least she tried.
Negative net favorability poll coming out from Curia tomorrow.
Off to a cushy UN or WEF job no doubt.
Classic, leave the country in tatters then be like the rest and bail out overseas for more money
Dave Rennie's a free agent ?
Best thing I've read in 2023
Not wanting to say I told you so buuuut...now all we need is for her to pick up that comfortable job offer at the UN, and my, um, prophecy is complete. No, I'm not that prophet. Of course, this prophecy was like predicting the sun would rise.
Robertson not wanting the poisoned chalice tends to put the lie to Ardern's stated confidence in winning the next election.
Not really a prophecy. I think 90% of us here realise she's going to join the United Nations circle jerk. It's a good move to be honest. I imagine her chances of becoming secretary-general are probably 25-30% if she moves now. If she went after losing the election her chances would probably be 5-10%. Optics matter.
She will never be secretary-general unless she learns to speak French (at least).
Heat in the kitchen comes to mind.
Hopefully they'll all resign. Donald Trump is free, and he likes the Golfing here.
Interesting to see who will take over - surely in a night watchman/person role until the election day. :-)
And they will be like Bill English - didn't hold the position of PM for a year so didn't get the PM post-politics perks like a free car every few years.
Must be an election meeting coming up for a UN Human Rights Council committee.
30th Meeting of States parties (New York, 22 June 2023): Election of the members of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 19 January 2024.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/events/events/2023/30th-meeting-states-parties
Perhaps she reads interest dot co and stumbled across one of the extensive property ponzi debates.
I would bail as well. The job from hell.
The striking difference between China and NZ:
China: people with guts always stand up and lead people to fight against any difficulties.
NZ: the leader always abandons the country when it is going to be troubles ahead.
No - main difference is NZ is a democracy……
China: people with guts always stand up and lead people to fight against any difficulties.
Vietnam President stood down two days ago. Vietnamese leadership is not full of shrinking violets.
Indeed, Jacinda is also Phuc'ing off.
Yeah China's doing so great under their current leader that cares more about retaining power by getting his cronies into office than people that are actually good at things
You don't think she had to deal with any difficulties over the last 5 years?
That's the beauty of the current Chinese system - there's always an ongoing difficulty that means you need to stay in leadership indefinitely, long past the point your ideas become stale and counter-productive.
Yes, the rabid Maori caucus.
I use the word 'rabid' to describe their actions and comments not their race before the cries of 'racism' echo through the ether on interest.co.nz .
Maori caucus: Fighting perceived racism with racism.
please supply any photos or links to photos you have of anyone in the "maori caucus" frothing at the mouth.
The most obvious symptom is a fear of water (seriously). Now draw your own inferences about Mahuta.
Xing,
You really are an unpleasant little sh*t
The main difference is Chinese want to live here but no Kiwis want to live in China.
Expats will always do anything for their country except live there.
If the PRC is so awesome maybe you need to relocate.
Perhaps Xing is a PRC employee, living there too.....
But it's 50 50 as to whether they standing up in front of a firing squad or not.
> China: people with guts always stand up and lead people to fight against any difficulties.
Do you have any examples? For example who is standing up to fight against dictator-for-life Xi Jinping?
So... it's Hipkins, right? It's going to be Hipkins. Davis and Mahuta are a bridge too whenua and Robertson supposedly isn't interested - although whether that's because he views it as a poisoned chalice in the run up to this election is hard to see.
My money is on Hipkins- he can debate with the best of them and has tons of experience handling the press as Covid Minister. These are essential skills to minimise the bloodshed come election day.
In an unexpected development, Labour pick Winston Peters as the new PM
Hipkins would be my pick too. No one would see leadership win or lose as a poisoned chalice, if indeed they really want to lead. I've always felt GR liked doing just what he's doing in the finance spot - a bit like BE, he's most suited to that.
They will probably beg Hipkins to have a go.
However I genuinely like his work and thus suspect (hope) he is too smart/young to want to be captain of a sinking ship - so will wait and let someone else get tarred with the mess.
Best strategy would be to distance himself for now and stand down from cabinet and then come back after a couple terms of National.
I reckon Davis, Labour needs a 'stong man' type
Ashley Bloomfield, for the win
That's extremely poor and COWARDLY!
How so? She's the 12th longest serving prime minister, and many previous PMs have done the same, including Lange who she has quoted a number of times. He served about the same amount of time as her too.
How so you ask? Well Morepork (oh, that's you, lol) has the answer just below:
by morepork | 19th Jan 23, 1:34pm
I guess she saw the writing on the wall
IT'S COWARDLY TO ABANDON A SINKING SHIP!
A good leader see's that they don't have the conviction to get the job done and lets someone else take over. Sure it may have been brave to stick out, but probably not what she thinks is best for herself or the country.
"Sure it may have been brave to stick it out"
Indeed, but she didn't stick it out. So what's the opposite of brave….? Cowardly, as per my original post.
Hey - regardless the terminology, It is a really poor role model to see a leader resign when things get tough, especially as people are pointing to her policies as the reasons. And - surely - the family excuse would have been as relevant (if not more so) when Neve was a baby and needed a mother around.
Better would be to say that the polls are down, she accepts its down to her policies and decisions.. and that she wants to hand over to someone with a refreshed vision. Or better yet to admit policies like 3 waters and health aren't liked and can them.
So now we suspect labours marketing team have done research and advised Labours Exec that the onlyway to win the election is to hand over to someone who will deny any part in the 3waters/economy/healthcare policies... can all those unpopular policies and come out with a bunch of new populist better Spun ones that the majority will like.. and then simply point out Luxons failings and focus on handouts for the elite.
The best leaders and role models don't jump when the polls are down, popularity is fading and the going is getting tough. They admit their errors and fix them. Modern politics sucks.
Depends what you mean by resining when times were tough. Surely covid was tougher than now. I think she resigned because she didn’t want the job anymore and I can’t blame her.
Covid was way easier for us thatn countries with close borders and JIT reliant industries.
She had economic boom times, cash in the bank, high popularity at the time - we are one of the only countries that could just shut our doors and could print cash to keep people happy. In fact if i remember she actually closed the borders after pressure from others not because she wanted to. Then businesses brought in the PPE and other gear she was supposed to sort out, let alone the vaccine debacle and covid continually escaping through the border due to lax execution of policies. Let alone the SPIN where labour were using jacinda to front up to their daily must-watch media events. We may have had better outcomes - but its not hard to realise that was more to do with external pressure than anything Labour did proactively.
What would have been harder and better for the country during coivd was to be a leader than had a vision and sold the benefits of being careful with financs... to minimise spend during that period, to direct carefully spent government money where it was needed, exert pressure on the reserve bank to be conservative with rates and money printing... lest we create the current house price/inflation monster - and to warn people to balance mortgage size with risk of long term rates rising. Also - to have ordered vaccines earlier, to have had a better pandemic plan, to have voluntarily shut the border earlier.. and whilst covid was raging to have simulataneously got on with her other policies (heaven knows she managed to hire enough consultants and government staff during the period)
Need i go on, we jst got a buch of easy to do, populist policies that wasted tons of money, raised taxes, did nothing for the poor kids, education, healthcare system, to help families afford a home, wellbeing, sort the water issues and improve infrastructure. Little for Environment and Farmers either. Remeber Kiwibuild.
Dont forget things like that Tauranga still doesnt have an elected Mayor - and has a Labour installed CEO - in A national voter dominated city that is spending money in complete opposition to the will of the people. And that seems ok for a PM that claims to be democratic and fair. Surely she would prioritise democracy.
Lol - apart from closing border when pushed to do so, doing daily covid updates and late ordering of vaccines, achieving 5% of her stated targets.. i am not sure what she did right. sorry.
Yes, on the whole, spending more time with my family argument is weak and insulting to many people.
For starters, anyone could do that right now just as she has done, and quit their job. Oh, the luxury most people would love to do that, but can't for obvious reasons.
And one of those reasons being of the very policies she and her Govt. and other previous Govts. have enacted that mean people have to work longer hours just to make ends meet to pay for the likes of overpriced housing.
Secondly, leadership starts at the top, and there is nothing worse than a leader with poor time management as it tends to be the example that filters down to all public and private businesses, where being in a perpetual crisis is the 'norm,' not the exception.
Ardern has plenty of experience of abject failure to realize she is unable to do the job of PM so resigination is probably the only example of her being honest.
A bit like Greek and Italian captains of cruise liners. They are first off a sinking ship
She was the one who saved it in the first place remember. The Labour Party had no chance until her.
Ardern may have "saved Labour" but sunk the good ship NZ.
How is the rest of the world going Rumpole...are we an outlier?
VM The world is going to hell in a handcart and ardern joined in.
The UK with their conservative government are doing much worse than us.
In a purely nautical sense you are 100% wrong, if the ship is definitely sinking, youd be an idiot to keep bailing and not launch the life raft
12th out of 5 modern day PMs . That's a fact check in your face brah
She’s a coward. The most recent comparison is Clark. Clark stared down a surging National under Brash and then was competitive against Key. She was a true leader: intelligent, fearless and, some would say, ruthless.
So the same would have to be said of John Key...or is it different for blokes?
Also Lange, Holyoake, Holland..
Norman Kirk?
I happened to pass by Norman Kirk, at a reasonably close distance, about two months before he died. If you had too, you would not have posted that comment.
But I didn't pass him at close distance, therefore I risked being offensive in the pursuit of a few likes on the internet. Apologies I wasn't aware there were people alive still old enough to remember him.
Extremely different for J Key, his polling and party were absolutely dominant when he retired, not dropping like a stone, as Labour's support is.
I thought support dropped significantly for him after his promotion during the flag referendum.
They lost didn’t they? Yes they had something like 48% support but they had no mates so needed 50%.
They didn't lose the election, just the bid for forming a coalition with Winston Peters.
English just couldn't match Cindy's lavish offer of deputy prime ministership, defence and foreign affairs portfolios and a 3-billion slush fund for Shane Jones to buy regional votes.
The record books show it as a loss...
Shows Ardern's character that her woke cheerleaders were too blind to see through all the camera flashes and glitter.
Shakes hands with her ideological adversary to get into power and resigns at a time when her country needs political stability the most to steer through an economic turmoil.
If JK was so smart he should have foreseen that. Winston always hated English, but maybe Key could have saved it.
But surely the wrong thing to do is resign after winning the election and tricking voters that you will be leader, so both Key and Ardern did the right thing IMO.
I guess she saw the writing on the wall, I wonder if we'll get a PM as capable as English like when Key did the same
Reminds me of when Lenny was left in charge to manage the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. I guess doing nothing at all could be considered capable leadership.
That's what the Key/English government did and people here loved them
The big difference when Key retired, is that National were totally dominant, not dropping terribly in the polls, like Labour are today. Had Key stayed on, Ardern wouldn't have had a chance to govern (with Winnie's help) in 2017.
Lets not re write history,he didn't,so we will never know.
Hey, let’s not piss about: if Ardern and Labour were maintaining their popularity, no way that she is resigning.
Lets be honest,she has read the room,she has become the face for all the haters,anti maori,anti vaxxers,anti left,anti change folk who have mobilised on social media etc that her brand has become toxic,so why give them the satisfaction of picking over her corpse when rightly,she can still have a future outside of politics and enjoy her family.She is only the 2nd global leader to give birth whilst running a country,the youngest ever as well I think.
When have we ever had death threats to politicians in the past or attacks on a leaders partner like happened to Mr Gayford...this country should hang it's head in shame with the way it is heading,allowing nut job social media sites to infiltrate this countries thinking...read some of the vitriol in here and online from overseas publications.
Some one on this thread said she got out before her 'trial'....scary.
Our country is going through what most western countries are dealing with...trying to pin it on one person is showing a distinct lack of intellect.
At least she read the room unlike Judith Collins who can't let go...all power to Ms Ardern,may many more of all political colours do the same and move on for some fresh talent.
The country should only hang its head in shame because we (those who did anyway) voted for such an idiot in the first place. The place is wrecked, crime is rampant, inflation is out of control, the health system collapsing, education is in disarray, and roads falling apart, it's a disgrace. It's embarrassing and she deserves to go and deserves history to highlight the extent of the complete stuff up that she was so that we never forget.
How it is time to heal the wounds and fix the mess, which will happen after the election, as the rabble that remains in government right now are the same incompetent racists, with or without her.
Be kind,it sounds like you need a hug jeremy.
Well said, vman.
The rhetoric from the wannabe conservatives/ middle class peasants has been deplorable - maybe it's because they need the safety blanket of the Lord or Baron to keep them safe at night and some boots to lick in the morning to give their shit lives meaning.
Spot on, vman. Add to that list of haters the misogynists who always wanted her to fail. Imagine being torn down by morons and rabble-rousers (such as anti-vaxxers.. ugh) daily.
Some think NZ deserves better than Jacinda. Although she peeved me off too at times, I think Jacinda probably deserves better than having to be NZ's PM. She poured herself into the role with heart and soul and I'm glad for her that she is moving on. Why on earth should she continue doing such a thankless job at a huge cost to herself and her family?
Here,here tui,I am amazed at the vitriol in here,a supposed site for intelligent debate...I would hate to think what is being posted in some of the more crazy sites..
And the reason for the death threats and hatred is ?????
Jeez,mate...if you think anything warrants that,perhaps you should seek help,
VM It was a question not an opinion.
When have we ever had death threats to politicians in the past or attacks on a leaders partner like happened to Mr Gayford
This is nothing new. Politicians get death threats. Peter Davis, Helen Clark's husband, endured far more than Gayford.
trying to pin it on one person is showing a distinct lack of intellect
I agree. But party hacks do that at a party level too. Partisanship is far too high in western democracies.
At least she read the room unlike Judith Collins who can't let go
I'm in two minds about this.
Many of our politicians, of all stripes, hang around far too long beyond their useful life and term limits are desperately needed in many Western democracies. So, on that account, Ardern should be applauded.
But at the same time, she's not showing any fight at all and her decision is selfish. With her, narrow loss and maybe a narrow win on a coalition basis; without her, Labour is in for a thumping: a reversal of the red wave with a blue one. And with that, much of their policy platform over the past six years is gone. So, on a personal level, she might have done the right thing. But whether she's done the right thing for the people she purports to represent, I'm not so sure.
In the Interests of real co-governance, may I humbly suggest a Mahuta-Hipkins co-leadership ticket. Ticks all the boxes, and has been pioneered by the Greens to no apparent electoral disadvantage. What's not to like?
Would not the former, in such a co-joined position, and at the same time engaging in foreign affairs, be just too seductive?
This is your Ex captain speaking and my parachute has opened: Stay safe and well Team NZ....
Blah blah blah....
The economy, health, education, crime, debt... In tatters...
.and who shamefully walks away ...
Jacinda Ardern!
I hate sore losers who walk away from job half done .
Ardern, a girl of hollow promises
Step up Mahuta or Jackson...
Did she jump or was she pushed
Mahuta...we would well and truly be heading down the Zimbabwe path
"The Labour team are incredibly well placed to contest the next election. They are the most experienced team in the country and have shown they have the skills necessary to respond to whatever comes their way."
I cannot agree less.
Jacinda is a good prime minister, but her ministers are disappointment if I am charitable with words.
Yep she alone probably carried 30% of their votes, as those people only saw her, not the Cr** policies or implementation of them labour had.
Jacinda a good prime minister!....
Feck off!... She talked a big story and delivered a one word novel!...
And that novel would be ..
Loser or ..
Bull shitter
Spinner
Nothing...
.
You are a bitter person no common cents...
The truth hurts aye!
It's "Sense" mate. "Cents" is that stuff that doesn't by you much at the supermarket anymore.
I was responding to his name,he spells it as 'common cents'...follow the thread...
She'll be PM again. Late 2030s or early 40s. Or in 9 years time.
Would that be a first in NZ?
Smart move on her part. Labour are past their peak and in decline, there is only personal downside for her from here. I also think she did not want to confront the Mahuta betrayal either. She looked weak and did not have the stomach to deal with it
she will parachute into a globalist role at the time of her choosing.
Nail hit, fair & square TK. The Maori faction in caucus has grabbed power well out of proportion to their actual numbers . That position is deeply embedded, untenable too, and can only have developed due to weakness and indecision by the leaders of Labour that the public elected. What looks bad from the outside always is worse from the inside. PM Ardern is experienced enough to read the reality. For a start the clandestine actions of Mahuta in the attempt to entrench three waters, was not only direct disobedience, it was too a calculated insult levelled at PM Ardern.
CORRECT
I look at Mahuta as an individual and not her being Māori. It really is so disappointing that we are all lumped in with a few that most of us have nothing to do with. It really is widespread ignorance. Not you personally but in general.
Bit simplistic, and something of a cliché too, but you evoke the old saying about the silent majority. And in some ways it’s ironic how that works out. For instance if it is that a strident but not universal element in any one grouping should come to hold sway, then the whole set up is quite simply, out of balance. Things that are out of balance fall over and suggests this development here today is a good example. The power that has been enforced by a minority on a majority, as perceived in the make up in Labour’s caucus, is about to be nullified by the loss of government at the next election. A house divided cannot stand and In that regard precisely, that minority faction has in effect defeated itself by bringing down their host by actions that the entire electorate, that is the nation’s majority, saw as being both unpalatable and unacceptable.
I don't think anyone would want the blame for being at the helm this year. Right now the majority still think she was a great PM, I'm not sure that would be true come election time.
She looked like she hated it during peak covid and I think this year will be worse. It will be very difficult to avoid blame as she was in charge when the decisions were made that led to what might happen this year (economic and policy), even if she did not have a lot of choice. Still it's a bad sign for the rest of us.
She is really working for her bosses at the WEF. Biggest globalist traitor this country has ever seen.
Go back down your rabbit hole you nut case..
Just imagine Jacinda having to spend the whole year being hammered about her failings as PM - child poverty comes to mind as starters... time to jump and avoid the scrutiny.
Exactly. She used covid as an excuse not to hit any of her targets last time. This time she has achieved nothing and has no excuses. The easiest way for a anyone to avoid accountability for their failure is to resign before it happens.
If she was truly who she prentended to be the child poverty would have been her priority #1 and largely sorted.
The right is in. Massive confidence to the property and business world. Get in now and buy property and invest in business.
The DGMs will be so conflicted, Cindy out, National repeal investor interest deductibility, National out…
The inference that interest deductability on rentals is not due as it is not a business should mean its profits are not taxable other it is just discrimination .
Yep National are now guaranteed the win. Should be interesting to see what starts to happen in the markets now we no longer need to wait until after the election.
Yay!
🎉Well this will make things easier for them. Not news as people already knew last year. She fully resigned mentally already and you'd rather resign instead of losing the election so smart move.
Credit to her for holding up so long.
Especially, as she also has received some nasty threats including deaths threats.
As did others, one assumes from their resignations. The Americanisation of NZ.
Lets make Max Key the next PM for NZ..
The ultimate dream of all Property Investors!
LOL.
Empathy has always been her one very strong suit, but politics is so much more than cuddles, kindness and mixing with the powerful on the world stage for photo opportunties.
There is a God afterall.
Problem is that she cuddled up to the wromg people just as she was kind to the wrong people.
I’d love to be her friend. She is genuine. But I’d never hire her to work for me.
Create chaos then leave it to others to pick up the pieces.
When the going gets tough...
Yvil - When the going gets tough - the weak piss off - there finished it for you.
Finally. This might be the 1st time she has listened to the people she is supposed to represent. The horse is cooked and out the door!
Labour are ALL Cart and NO Horse now.
Wow,are you a sophisticated comedian...how about you post a pic and we can judge your appearance.
As I type this 'vman' has one vote of approval against 8. I do hope you are in the lead next time I check.
She's yesterday's news now. Have a giggle.
Looking at the amount of posts on this subject,I'd say she is definately 'todays news' and has been living rent free in a lot of folks heads...and judging by some of the comments in here,there is a lot of unused space in those heads...
Blah, I'm not engaging with your simping.
Um,,,you just did lol...
You just admitted you're a Simp,
Checkmate.
If you say so,like I said,a lot of empty heads...did you get a boner thinking you've won an arguement...
Have a cold beer. Sun’s out. And reason to be optimistic going forward.
:)
A great day for the MGD (merchants of greed & dollars) but you can't have it both ways : calling her a coward for resigning and calling her a coward for not resigning. Mind you we are all hypocrites eh ...
Not bad that the top job in the country only has to give a few weeks notice...
And the politician's pension scheme should ensure the 10.5% inflation in groceries won't be a problem.
Classy move by a classy lady. Great job managing the pandemic and Christchurch massacre. Obviously keen to make Waitangi Day formalities her last duty as PM.
That said, Jacinda will always be associated with the lockdowns, and there are too many haters who will simply never listen to anything she says ever again. Labour would have lost in October with Jacinda in charge. Now that Covid is no longer the threat it once was - though the conspiracy theories will live on - it's time for the party to rethink and come forward with fresh people and new ideas. Having been a long time Labour supporter, the only politician who is making sense at the moment seems to be Act's David Seymour. Optimistically looking forward to seeing if any of the other parties will impress.
The only party that makes any sense really at the moment is ACT. If you're ever bored, have a look at their members profiles and how their experience relates to the portfolios they speak for. Meanwhile National, Labour etc for some reason think Bachelors of Arts and Social Science degrees make for great candidate filler.
I am not convinced more migration and housing speculation is the key to economic recovery, regardless of whether that policy comes from a former electrical engineer or a career politician. Plenty of ideological fools (right-wing too) hiding behind shiny degrees out there.
His plan of taking NZ back to an immigration system where all workers with jobs qualify for residency on an equal footing didn't work the first time either. Small dairy and restaurant owners made a killing out of this policy, entering cash-for-residency deals with low-skilled migrants at the expense of the taxpayer.
Not sure where Luxon sits on this issue, he'll certainly be leaning towards more business-friendly (think kitchen, not factory) migration policies.
We're f-ed one way or the other!
Don’t forget the Greens. Oh that looks like it’s already happened. Those highly coveted cabinet seats, thwarted last election, but on promise this one, have now just been vaporised. I wager resultantly many , many unhappy campers in that camp now and soon a successful re- attempt to oust leader Shaw. Still imagine they may well pick up numbers of disaffected Labour voters but that just more bums on the same old opposition seats. If Luxon is shrewd enough he might signal possibility of a climate come environment role outside cabinet for Shaw. That would really put a rat amongst the chickens, wouldn’t it.
I was never a fan; when she became leader I preferred Andrew Little. But I'm saddened because I cannot see any decent alternative; she is, or maybe was, head and shoulders above her fellow MPs. I wish her well.
warning ⚠️
the next temporary leader will be Part of the Maori caucus and they will, before being voted out, ...
Ram thru, three waters, co gov, free money fo ram raiders, free beer for AA members ..
Common cents… did they give you too much vaccine?
And ... The new leader will be just in time for Waitangi and Ratana....
Maori caucus have their mits all over this
Cute trolling, ok I'll take your bait and point out that Waitangi Day is Feb 6 and the PM's last day is Feb 7.
The PM also said she wouldn't attend the Waitangi festivities at the lower marae
Wow, this is going to be an interesting year and election. There's no capable leadership left. Hipkins and Verrall? (unless Grant wants deputy, who else can do a half decent media appearance? O'Conner or Nash could maybe preserve some seats).
Economic problems and trying push an unpopular agenda without Jacinda's going to be a complete mess. ACT will be disappointed as now they will have compete with National to keep them from 50%. I guess NZ First gets back in and even TOP has their best chance ever of making 5% (still none).
I think this is admirable. Helen Clark and John Key should have done the same. It gives her successor a fighting chance at establishing rapport with the public before the election. I don’t fancy Labour’s chances, but better this than limping on with a leader who doesn’t have the energy for the job.
edited to add: and I’m not a JA fanboy. I vowed never to even think about voting Labour after the utter disappointment of the first JA term. Ironically, I think we’re just starting to see some of their promises manifest in reality now - but far, far too late… and with new problems accumulating faster than the existing ones can be solved.
What are you inhaling bro ... It's like a surgeon leaving mid heart surgery......
Well - why should someone with such an important job stay in it when they don’t have the appetite any more? You want a PM half-arsing it? More politicians should quit after a few terms.
The surgeon has just realized that the only thing keeping the patient alive is life support that needs CO2, and well with now CO2 not available due to manufacturing plants not operational due to Govt. policy and CO2 being a greenhouse gas - the operation was a success even though the patient is just about to die.
Oh please...Marsden Point was a private company,they shut down for financial reasons,nothing to do with the government...
Yes, financial reasons caused by Govt. policy. And the Govt. should have provided support to them to keep operating, or bought it from them. And if they did, we wouldn't be having a shortage now.
dude you realise that's called socialism?!
VM
Marsden point was a strategic asset so now NZ now isn't developing its own Oil & Gas resources and has 24 days supply of fuel (most countries have 90 days) and shipping time from Singapore 15-20 days, don't whinge if fuel rationing disrupts your lifestyle and live on empathy from Ardern et al.
So when should a prime minister quit? If she didn’t intend to be there next year should she really go into an election pretending she would?
Surely there must be a formal cut off point. How soon before or after an election is acceptable to tender their notice? Is it 3 months, 6 months? Would 3 months and 1 day be unacceptable but 2 months and 29 days be okay?
Jacinda? a surgeon? I want to know what you are smoking mate.
More like an assembly "made in china" worker who left the iPhone assembly line.
-7
The election will take place prior to the knockout phase of the Rugby world cup.
I would have gambled we would win it, when your prospects look this bad. I think it's so she can resign as early as possible.
Off to the after dinner speaking circuit she goes to make her fortune. Champagne socialist.
I have to put my hand up and admit that I didn't see this coming, though some here have been saying that she would go for months. They were right.
Be careful about putting your hand up. It's like waving to someone at an auction, nec' minute you will PM of the Labour Party.
Or taken as a right wing salute...
I think we can safely say that Labour do not have any answers to the crime wave,homeless people,hospital waiting list or any other problems,the trouble is i haven't heard any other party step up with crisis solving ideas.
.
Labour: the girl that cried crisis
RIP my prophecy for a labour seems all but dashed.
Speculation: Resigning before the hardcore recession to come so that National has to carry the weight, giving Labour a chance to win again in 2023 against a Tory government very likely to pursue austerity?
If the Nats first term looks even remotely credible / capable, Labour will be in the bondocks for a decade.
Be hard to forget how bad Labour was. And dont forget labour are still blaming National for how bad things where when they got in (and still are), Nats get multiple terms easy here.
Have you seen luxons latest caucus changes.
To be fair she never asked for the job but she did her best. Sad fact is that she was nowhere near experienced or equipped for the position.
It takes an awful lot more than public appeal and good debating skills.
Managing a large company is hard enough, but a whole country is another level again unless we want the public service running circles round them.
Sad fact is that I don't think that anybody in labor is equipped for the job. the closest would be Chris Hipkins, but again that is more by his personal strengths than his experience.
You may think that National are better experienced, but they look pretty light to me. Luxon comes from the right background, but in my opinion all he did at AIR NZ was increase profits by bean counting the life out of all the good work that Rob Fyfe put into the company. We stopped using them. On top of that he is not very bright and only seems able to keep pedaling the policies that got us into our mess. Open the flood gates on immigration and do everything to re-stoke the population/property ponzie bubble economy. The whole of the national party are stuck on that one.
His personal appeal and values, well -
The very devout, MAGA cap wearing, Christoper 7 houses, you are just a bottom feeder, Luxon from Te Puke.
And lets not forget his distasteful bullying of one of his air hostess staff who had the bad luck to be seated beside him on a flight. A thoroughly unpleasant and not very bright individual.
Not much choice is there. I think we are buggered.
I think you are a bit light on crediting Luxon with business skills -
Luxon worked for Unilever from 1993 to 2011, being based in Wellington (1993–1995), Sydney (1995–2000), London (2000–2003), Chicago (2003–2008) and Toronto (2008–2011). He rose to be the President and chief executive officer of its Canadian operations.
You don't get positions like this by being mr average.
Whatever your colors, the guy is clearly very competent.
The radio interviewers can run circles round him and they are not that bright or more to the point experienced in these matters.
I worked in Air NZ when Luxon was the boss. He was the most respected of all the last 45 years. Got the job done, treated the staff well and the airline made money.
I don't know where you worked,he was hated by most I worked with there...Fyfe ran rings around him and set the business up for Luxon to succeed.
Did you really work there vman?
100%...just waiting for the digging to start around his pulling millions in shares out about a month before he announced a profit down turn,then whe things looked like really going downhill...he resigned.
Fyfe did all the work turning the company culture around,ordering new aircraft,unfortunately Boeing delivered them 4 years late,Luxon took over as we got new fuel efficient aircraft,all the competition pulled out of AKL-LAX and could charge what they wanted...then Luxury started to unwind spending,slowly downgrading service & goods on board,ask some frequent fliers how the front end went doenhill after he started the bean counter stuff...he is ex FMCG,all about counting the cents,where can we save a buck,hoping the consumer won't notice...think 'shrinkflation' ...he applied it to the airline...
You think Luxon was hated? You didn't work there because the most despised bosses in Air NZ were the Brierley's mob.
He was hated..but true I forgot about Brierly mob,we have had some shockers thats for sure...but I guarantee you Luxon wasn't liked.
To be honest, whenever I hear about Luxon at Air New Zealand, I've heard mostly bad things. I was told, apparently, his approval ratings among staff were abysmal. I heard this before he became an MP.
The only 3 Air NZ employees I've met personally rate him tremendously on a personal level. This seems to match what I've seen in his interactions with air crew.
I suspect the opinion of Luxon differs in different departments.
I don't care about interviews. If you want good debating and interview skills on how to dance around questions, then yes, I agree Jacinda was great.
What I want are results and things to get actioned. Luxon has more experience in getting stuff done in business than the entire Labour party combined. if you have worked for those big businesses Luxon has worked, you will know how difficult it is to move up the ranks in Corporate. Not easy by any means. You can't just "talk your way up" and be a "lovely person" like Jacinda was.
-7
It's going to be fun watching Luxon go down in flames - if only to debunk the myth that business 'leaders' make good politicians
Bye Cindy......
whos Jan Taneti , never heard of her , oh hell she the education minister
That KERIAN fells want he the guy behind the bullying
These are the predicted stars of 2023 and beyond
Jeez pankers...speaking of education,looking at your post,you missed out completely on an education...did you miss spell your first name as well lol?
by pankers | 19th Jan 23, 3:25pm 1674095156
Bye Cindy......
whos Jan Taneti , never heard of her , oh hell she the education minister
That KERIAN fells want he the guy behind the bullying
These are the predicted stars of 2023 and beyond
yes forgot hipchops and the minister of cones Mike But ousider Ms ALLAN
It will be Hipkins and how underwhelming is that? The election will be a landslide to National.
Perhaps Ian Foster will get the message. Another good Waikato lad/lass...? [person].
So is CGT back on the agenda for labour in seven days time.
CGT, first 20k income tax free.
Winner.
Loving all the haters comments. Such sweet tears.
ohhhhhhh, well spotted. forgot about that promise.
Yup , let us vote on it, in at least some form.
Far too many harsh comments today. Labour has done more to stop the property Ponzi than any other Party. I was proud to have JA as our PM. She was respected on the world stage and for NZ Inc that's gold. Best wishes to her and her family. I'm sure death threats were the final straw.
Maybe. Maybe not. If the property ponzi is really over, the vitriol will rise over time and it will be directed at politicians. I believe we're still at the complaceny stage of the market cycle cheat sheet. When (or if) we get to the anger stage, being a leader will be tough.
Yes agree. The new tax was a levelling of the playing filed. Be a sad day for home savers if they reverse this.
And people squabbling over Facebook about "Where's the little baby Neve, I haven't seen her in a while, she must be about 5 now, [insert conspiracy theory about Clarke]".
We have some absolute basket cases in our society, an unfortunate by-product of our underfunded health system, particularly mental health.
If you mean stop the property Ponzi as in, the largest surge in house prices so a bust would happen, then you are admitting that this fall, this recession, was engineered to happen by Labour.
Next they will be getting the credit for curing obesity when food supplies run out, starting with eggs.
If you mean stop the property Ponzi as in, the largest surge in house prices so a bust would happen, then you are admitting that this fall, this recession, was engineered to happen by Labour.
Enabling a flood of credit to be poured like gasoline on to a raging credit-driven bubble was always going to be fraught with risk.
Property ponzi scheme? This is called supply and demand and free economics. If there is more demand, than of course prices go up. If you really want it to come crashing down, then convince thy neighbour to leave NZ? or convince people in general to not emmigrate to NZ?
If you really want to restrict things, then you are now leaning towards a more China governmental approach - restricting buying houses, restricting peoples movement, restricting and and and.....
Whatever Labour did was not the right approach and still hasn't helped those who need housing. All it did was cause more chaos towards new homeowners and businesses with record govt spending/deficits and increasing interest rates at a record pace.
They kept oversteering LEFT and RIGHT. "COVID is here" - plummet the interest rates to 0%. "INFLATION is here" - raise the interest rates to +5% in record breaking time.
They should've took a more prudent and balanced approach when tackling problems. Now, with all this oversteering happening, we are finally off the road and leaning off the cliff.
-7
But I see that National has gone back to same old same old. Looks like its left to ACT to clean up the country
We cleaned up the country in 1979 when we passed the litter act.
If she was really pro climate change she would have said my battery has very little charge in it not that extra bit in the tank
Drinks on tonight! But only water of course, still saving up for eggs
You're rich, saving up for eggs. I'm trying to save for expired bread in the 'discount' section of Countdown.
Jacinda, leader of the land, With policies that caused a financial band, She promised growth and prosperity, But left the nation with a great uncertainty.
She spent and borrowed without care, Leaving the future of the economy in despair, Her policies led to inflation and debt, Leaving many struggling to make ends meet.
Businesses closed, jobs were lost, The nation's financial stability at a high cost, Jacinda's leadership has left us in a plight, With her policies, the nation's future looks quite blight.
She promised change and prosperity, But left the nation with a struggling economy, Her leadership has caused much harm, Leaving the nation in financial alarm.
Finally, Labour has made a good decision. Congratulations, I knew you could do it!
Now let's see what 'capable' person will lead this country next.
-7
Where to now...New York with Auntie Helen?
Nah brah .... Russian high commission with Twiford hopefully.
Ardern departs with a very mixed legacy, but one that is much more negative than positive.
She and her government have totally failed on their main policy agendas - housing, child poverty and climate change.
She led admirably on the terrorist attack and White Island, and was mixed on covid.
Received an email from Jacinda telling me about her decision for the next election date and her resignation. It is 1,130 words long. All fine pleasant sentences but too many. Although she is good at PR compared to most MPs she did tend to waffle on.
Any chance she was advised that resignation leads to success by Spare Harry?
During milking I got a rear end deposit all over me and it didn't stop me smiling.
Milking a horse or cow?
It was a cow, never milked a horse, but feel i been milked by one.
The party was a one trick pony! Now she"s hoofed it - it's just an empty stable with a broken barn door and a quivery Hipkins being sat on by a mahooter
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/01/19/we-broke-our-prime-minister-new-z…
We broke our Prime Minister
The exhaustion increasingly etched on her face from dealing with the most challenging times outside war plus the toxic vilification of her has worn her down as we ride rudderless as a political movement on an ocean of anxiety.
We were lucky to have her, she brought out NZs best & sadly our worst.
The radioactive bile that has been vomited up on her has been a shameful low in public debate.
There were many legitimate reasons to disagree with the Prime Minister, this blog did so on many occasions, but there is a difference between reasonable difference and that hate speech she and her family have been buried under.
Civil Society is the loser this day.
We are all a lesser people this week.
What a terribly sad goodbye.
This country's in the worst mess it's been in for decades. Inflation's raging, food prices out-of-control, petrol/diesel taxes gouging everyone, the global warming pie-in-the-sky, crime, ram raids, the Rotorua housing debacle...the place is a mess. Good riddance.
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