Chapter 1: Is Chris Hipkins out of touch with Auckland's current sentiments?
Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene? Or does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature? So he rolls into Auckland yesterday to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good, everyone's moved on from lockdowns, his lockdowns. The home handyman from the hut telling Auckland what's what. What an arrogant twat.
He was in Auckland to build rapport, to patch up the damage, to scope the joint, to see what sort of changes party has, or chances party has got come November.
Love or hate Auckland? Elections are won and lost in the city. Of course, no one gets to government without a good day in Auckland, even for a small country. It is true to say there are countries within countries or cultures and vibes within cultures and vibes. It took me a while, for example, to get a grip on Wellington before I moved there. It's different to Christchurch.
It's different to Dunedin. And Auckland is different to each of the other urban centres. Chris Bishop, I think, has found that out by suggesting the two million home debacle. He's from Wellington as well. If you're too entrenched in Wellington, you don't get Auckland. Hipkin suggested the only people who ever ask him about lockdown these days is ZB. Two things there.
Chapter 2: What factors contribute to Auckland's unique political landscape?
One, that's not true. And yesterday was an example, given the person who asked him wasn't from ZB.
And two, ZB is the biggest game in Auckland and by a long way. Dismissing the biggest radio player in Auckland and indeed the country is about as stupid as saying Aucklanders have moved on from lockdown. Ultimately, it's another example of why I've said all year that this election is over before it even starts. Labour will not win.
The pain, suffering and incompetence of 2020 through 2023 is still too raw, real and recent to forgive and forget. And making it worse. is the fact the very same people who did the damage are still there waiting for another crack.
And judging by yesterday, they've learned nothing, want to learn nothing, are as arrogant as last time, and Hipkins may well realise that come election night when he loses and inevitably has to resign, given he will have lost twice.