NZ Politics Daily – 21 February 2024
Top “NZ Politics Daily” stories today
Below are some of the more interesting and insightful New Zealand politics items from the last 24 hours.
1) As usual with political obituaries, journalists have tended to stick to the positive in covering the retirement of Grant Robertson from Parliament. But Stuff’s Tova O’Brien has written a balanced account, with a colourful account of his achievements and limitations – see: Grant Robertson a master of political contortion
She points out that one’s view of Robertson will depend on where you sit ideologically: “If you tilt right, you probably think he plundered and plunged the country into irreparable debt but if you’re also a business owner, you’re probably very grateful for the wage subsidy and other business support which that debt helped pay for. If you list left, you’ll likely share in Robertson’s remorse for failing to implement his Cullen-esque Kiwisaver legacy project - the income insurance scheme… If you’re a cynical press gallery journalist, who leans neither here nor there, you may think Robertson’s wellbeing budget was just a fancy “woke” dust jacket for any normal old budget, but at least the sentiment was there and the concept, laudable.”
2) The Herald’s Derek Cheng also focuses on Robertson’s contested achievements: “while his value to Labour – not only as a policy wonk, but also as a polished political salesman – is unquestionable, his success as a politician is less black and white” – see: Grant Robertson’s value to Labour has been unquestionable. His success as a Finance Minister is more ambiguous (paywalled)
It’s Robertson’s financial management during Covid that is most contested: “the massive cash injection that kept people spending also saw house prices balloon by 43 per cent in the first two years of the pandemic. This was a pattern that occurred in other developed economies where, as in New Zealand, the subsequent rampant inflation led to a cost-of-living crunch. Robertson has repeatedly defended his decisions as keeping people afloat in the toughest of times, but the Coalition Government points out that the level of government spending hasn’t abated - from $81 billion in 2017/18 to a forecast $140b forecast for this financial year.”
3) Some are raising questions about Robertson’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Otago, as it’s unusual for a non-academic to be appointed to the position, which will pay him $629,000 – a pay increase of multiple times his current salary, and higher than that of the prime minister. And because it comes after the appointment of former Health Minister David Clark as University Registrar, and former Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran to the University Council, some suggest it's another case of the “revolving door” in action, which plum positions for former politicians. One academic, economics professor Robert MacCulloch of the University of Auckland has penned two scathing blog posts about this – see: Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson? He's not qualified & does not deserve the job and It's Mates Rates: Keeping our education system in the Labour Party Extended Families Association
For a further critique of Jacinda Ardern going to Harvard University, see his post: Ardern in the USA: Harvard's Kennedy School should be using her as a Case Study of the Dangers of Charisma
4) The focus is now on who is left in Labour, and today Stuff’ Bridie Witton looks at the promotion of Labour’s new finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, pointing out she is “the party’s first woman, and the first Pasifika finance spokesperson. It also made Labour’s frontbench - sitting opposite the National-led government in the House - 70% women” – see: What does 2024 hold for the Labour Party and leader Chris Hipkins?
She also quotes lobbyist and Labour Party insider Neale Jones singing Edmundson’s praises: “She knows her community inside out… I think this will help keep her in touch in the finance role and I know it informs every decision she makes.” Jones also argues that Chris Hipkins is safe as the leader.
5) For anyone wanting to know more about Robertson’s time as a student and student politician at Otago University, including his time flatting with Prof Andrew Geddis, you can watch my old interview with him, especially this 13-minute excerpt: Vote Chat - Grant Robertson Part 2 of 4
Dr Bryce Edwards
Political Analyst in Residence, Democracy Project, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington
Cartoons today
NZ Politics Daily – 21 February 2024
GRANT ROBERTSON, LABOUR PARTY
Derek Cheng (Herald): Grant Robertson’s value to Labour has been unquestionable. His success as a Finance Minister is more ambiguous (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): You can’t always get what you want (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): Robertson leaves big shoes to fill (paywalled)
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Grant Robertson's political history: A contested legacy
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): Grant Robertson a master of political contortion
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Forced reshuffle gives Labour a chance for much-needed refresh
Jo Moir (RNZ): Grant Robertson, the consummate political support partner
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Grant Robertson retirement: Labour loses heavy hitter, leaving Chris Hipkins emotional
1News: Timeline: Grant Robertson's legacy in politics
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): Grant Robertson’s career in nine moments
Bridie Witton (Stuff): What does 2024 hold for the Labour Party and leader Chris Hipkins?
David Farrar: Grant goneburger
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Political opponents, allies offer parting words to Labour's Grant Robertson
Gray Gibson (Newshub): Tributes, criticism flow for former Finance Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Grant Robertson: Why he’s leaving politics, and why he never became PM
1News: 'Thank you': Jacinda Ardern posts tribute to Grant Robertson
Grant Duncan: Grant Robertson quits – goes back to uni
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Grant Robertson: An honourable legacy
Herald: Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago
Anna Whyte (Post): ‘I gave every single inch of myself’: Robertson retires to head Otago University (paywalled)
RNZ: Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson to retire from politics in March
1News: 'Emotional day' as Grant Robertson calls time on politics
1News: Grant Robertson retires from politics, takes on new uni job
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Grant Robertson quits politics, takes up role as Otago vice-chancellor
Brent Edwards (NBR): Grant Robertson retires, leaving Labour ‘in good heart’ (paywalled)
Hugh Askerud and Nina Brown (Critic): Daddy Grant Announced as Otago's New VC
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RNZ: Labour must settle on 'a clear fiscal plan' in time for next election - Edmonds
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Grant Robertson makes way for Barbara Edmonds in key finance spokesperson role. But what next for Labour?
Derek Cheng (Herald): Who is Barbara Edmonds, Labour’s hope for future finance minister?
RNZ: Who is new Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds?
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Who is Barbara Edmonds, the Labour MP picking up Grant Robertson's finance portfolio?
RNZ: Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson
Matthew Rilkoff (Stuff): Former New Plymouth Labour MP Glen Bennett back in Parliament
1News: Hipkins' poor poll results 'pretty normal' for politics - Little
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