• Andrew Dickens: My theory on why the PM is avoiding Waitangi

  • Feb 4 2025
  • Length: 2 mins
  • Podcast

Andrew Dickens: My theory on why the PM is avoiding Waitangi

  • Summary

  • This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn’t he go debate about the Prime Minister.

    Personally, I’d always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies.

    The Air Force is weak but they’re perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to.

    It’s said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there’s another way of looking at it.

    He could be staying away because he doesn’t want to ruffle Māori feathers.

    He has publicly said repeatedly that the Treaty Principles Bill is going nowhere so why go somewhere where he’ll get the heat for something he’s never intended to do?

    David Seymour can go and is. It’s David’s baby and he’s more than happy to stand to it. He’ll take the heat, and he’ll give it back

    But our PM doesn’t want to go somewhere where he’ll be yelled at for something he won’t do.

    So maybe this isn’t a snub of Māori but it is one of his right wing supporters.

    They are getting increasingly vocal that they’ve been sold a damp squib. That he’s no different to the other mob. A liberal. A globalist. A Māori apologist. And worst of all, a man without a plan.

    His weekly media round is becoming increasingly fractious with all sides demanding he actually do something more than cutting all spending.

    Questions about policy is being answered repeatedly with “we’re looking at that down the track”. Which is this year’s version of working groups and announcements of announcements.

    Hopefully Christopher Luxon has a pleasant time at Akaroa Harbour because that’s the way he likes it.

    A quiet deferential crowd who loves the PM just because he’s the PM.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less

What listeners say about Andrew Dickens: My theory on why the PM is avoiding Waitangi

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.