1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: So yes, good afternoon. It is great to be back 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: with you on this Monday. It is election year, of course, 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: and I reckon we should get this thing over and 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: done with quickly. Let's rip the band aid off. Luxon 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: should go to the polls early. The argument's always been, 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: and we talked about this a lot last year, they 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: should wait till November. Go late, let the economy recover, 8 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: make sure people feel the recovery, not just hear about 9 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: it and read about it in the newspapers. But I 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: think the political calculation has changed over the summer break. 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: Luckson's grip on national and the coalition more generally. He's 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: always been pretty weak. Let's be honest. He struggles for 13 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: cut through. His colleagues are only really keeping him there 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: because instability looks worse than his performance. This doesn't mean 15 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: he's doing a terrible job. Inflation is coming down, recovery 16 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: is underway, education being dealt to, as is crime. This 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: as good, but politics isn't always about facts, much as 18 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: it should be. It's also vibes, isn't it. And it's 19 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: been seen to be bold and be strong. Now to 20 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: sind a adourn, you won't like this. Some of you, 21 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: but a lot of people did initially when she shut 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: the borders, when she closed the country. It was bold. 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: People liked it. It projected strength, It showed us who 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: was boss. Of course it all fell apart, but the 25 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: principle of leadership is the same. Luxeon should be bold 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 1: and go to the polls in late July or early August. 27 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: You can credibly claim a recovery is underway. You can 28 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: say international events, you know new Tariff's military action, these 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: are unstable things and we need stability. Put your money 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: where your mouth is. Show people that you actually believe 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: the recovery is happening, and you're willing to put your 32 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: job on the line to prove it. Show some leadership, 33 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: surprise people. Use one of the few levers that you 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: have as an MMP prime minister in a three way 35 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: coalition to put the willies up, your opposition up, your 36 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: opposition up, your opponents, but more importantly and crucially, cut 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: in half the amount of time that will be spent 38 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: this year bickering with their cabinet colleague Seymour and Peters, 39 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: who are after oxygen of course, and Bishop etl who 40 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: are after your job. The Maori Party is an absolute shambles. 41 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: Why give them more time to sort their act out. 42 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: If Luxen is not just sleep walking into the selection, 43 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: he'd be wise to take advantage and show himself as 44 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: a genuine player of the game. I think being a 45 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: good leader means knowing your limitations, your foibles, your foibles. 46 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: The question I'd be asking myself is whether a significant 47 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: number of voters are going to miraculously warm to him 48 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: between the months of July and November this year. I think, 49 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: given the poll trends, this is highly doubtful. What they 50 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: might not warm to, they may at least respect if 51 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: he does the big boy bold move and heads to 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: the polls with an autumn campaign season, give us some gumption. 53 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: We need a prime minister, not a prime manager. For 54 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks. 55 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 56 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.