OPINION: Lindsay Mitchell
Speaking after his cabinet meeting yesterday, affirming his continuing leadership of the National Party, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said:
“Everyday Kiwis will not be losing sleep over political sideshows in Wellington – they’ll be thinking about their mortgage, their kids’ education and the safety and security of their community.”
It suddenly hit me.
He’s not talking to me.
A good portion of New Zealanders have either paid off their mortgages or are renting. A great deal more than have active mortgages.
Most voters don’t have children at school or uni.
And most people feel safe and secure in their community.
It suddenly hit me that Luxon talks to this small middle ground of young aspirant families who angst over their children.
He doesn’t talk to an older generation who hold grave fears for the constitutional future of their country. Who have no trust that the health system will be reliable as they encounter conditions that may be life-threatening.
He certainly isn’t talking to beneficiaries who largely rent and have no prospect of saving enough to obtain a mortgage.
He isn’t talking to students who face leaving NZ to 1/ get a job and 2/ get a job that pays well enough to make a dent in their loans.
I realise the above statement is just a grab from a presser. But having said that, I’ve felt this generic sense of irrelevancy before and couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Like he talks to the upwardly mobile who go to sports games and cafes and work out in their vast garages.
And it’s not just him. Hipkins is the same. They talk to this particular group. Is it their group? Their friends and colleagues?
Or is that the group that contains the swinging voters?
I don’t know. But I do know NZ is much, much more.
With his leadership confirmed – and frankly, I’m pleased the status quo and some skerrick of stability survived – he needs to start sounding like he knows that too.
