1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: So Chris Hipkins was on Kerry Woodhams show yesterday, also 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: with Ryan Bridges on a streaming show on the Herald 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: dot co dot in Zend and he talked about the 4 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: COVID inquiry and he insinuated that the inquiry had been 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: slanted against Labor because New Zealand First is now part 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: of a national government and had drawn up the scope 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: of the inquiry to benefit them. It also came out 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: that he has drafted written responses to the questions the 9 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: Commission might ask of him, but he is noncommittal about 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: fronting up for a verbal grilling, a good cross examination. 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: Now also on the table is just Indo Addurn, who 12 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: doesn't look like showing despite the wish of many for 13 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: her to be held to account. But the thing about 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: this commission is that it is not a trial, it's 15 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: an inquiry. It's a show trial. Really, it's a political thing. 16 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: And Chris Hipkins is still in the political game unlike 17 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: just Sindra Adern, so he needs to handle this thing well. 18 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: He was the Minister of Health during the pandemic. In fact, 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: he was the Minister of just about everything because he 20 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: was the most competent in his party. So if he 21 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: wants to be the leader of this party going into 22 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: the next election, he really must turn up and face 23 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: that cross examination of what he was part of. But 24 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: we know what he did, it's already there in black 25 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 1: and white. But what we don't know is the thought 26 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: processes that drove his actions, and we haven't had the 27 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: chance to question him. And what we don't know is 28 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: his thoughts with hindsight as to what he might have 29 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: done better. So if he's honest about learning lessons about 30 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 1: the pandemic management, because there's going to be another pandemic 31 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: in the future, then he really must turn up and 32 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: face the heat. It'll be good for him, it'll be 33 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: good for us. If he doesn't, the conspiracy theorists that 34 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: he mentioned yesterday will bring all their bias to bear 35 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: against him next election. So Chris Hipkins has choices face 36 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: up and tell the truth, stand apart and let speculation 37 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: of what he calls or buy what he calls conspiracy 38 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: theorists run wild, or just quit, quit his aspiration to 39 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: become Prime Minister one more time and enjoy a retirement 40 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: from public life. Sen You're Court Chris. For more from 41 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: early edition with Ryan's Bridge listen live to news talks 42 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: it Be from five am weekdays. Follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.