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. 

This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn’t he go debate about the Prime Minister.&nbsp;
Personally, I’d always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies.&nbsp;
The Air Force is weak but they’re perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to.&nbsp;
It’s said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there’s another way of looking at it.&nbsp;
He could be staying away because he doesn’t want to ruffle Māori feathers.&nbsp;
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?&nbsp;
David Seymour can go and is. &nbsp;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&nbsp;
But our PM doesn’t want to go somewhere where he’ll be yelled at for something he won’t do.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
His weekly media round is becoming increasingly fractious with all sides demanding he actually do something more than cutting all spending.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
Hopefully Christopher Luxon has a pleasant time at Akaroa Harbour because that’s the way he likes it.&nbsp;
A quiet deferential crowd who loves the PM just because he’s the PM.&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/71e63fbe-c708-4827-a84e-b27a011f7a32/transcript