Dave Stewart

Has anyone else noticed how different the mainstream media are reporting the dysfunction in Te Pati Māori versus the way they are reporting the dysfunction in the National Party.

Te Pati Māori certainly have some challenges to deal with over leadership, but thankfully they are in opposition.

The National Party, however, is running the country in coalition with New Zealand First and The Act Party.

We know from experience just how divided National is, and we’ve seen a much lower threshold of cabinet standards under Christopher Luxon as prime minister than was acceptable to Christopher Luxon, Leader of the Opposition, which indicates just how fragile his grasp on the leadership is.

We’ve got an open challenge to his leadership going on, which he is now defending as best he can, and, on the extreme fringes, we have the right wing think tank and Act bodyguards, The Taxpayers Union, conducting a hostile media campaign to unseat and throw out the Minister of Finance.

I think we all know that this is now open warfare inside this coalition. How they manage to sit in the cabinet room and not end up in fisticuffs is a miracle.

But where is the in-depth analysis we need to dissect just why the far right are so deeply and bitterly divided?

Instead, we’re getting an MSM running commentary that portrays the return of Atilla The Richardson and Willis as some kind of jelly wrestling sideshow. The country is going down the toilet, and the Government is at war with itself.  I wish Te Pati Māori all the best with its leadership issues.

As for the Government, they’ve made a complete mess of everything they’ve touched, sent unemployment through the roof, borrowed more than Grant Roberston and are in the middle of internally combusting.

Perhaps they need to resign and give someone else a shot before they completely wreck the country?

As an aside I would like to wish all my friends and others out there the very best for the Christmas season.

Bring on 2026.