Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss Paul Henry standing for ACT, The Opportunity Party
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What opening topics and tone do Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen set on Politics Wednesday?
Time for Politics Wednesday, and Mark Mitchell is with us, along with Ginny Anderson. Morning to both of you. Morning, Mike. Morning, Ginny.
Morning to you both.
Yep. She's already been told. Now, Ginny, I detect a hint of something in your voice there.
No, no, just, you know, I was just reminiscing on my journey from out west to my parents' house in the taxi. to your studio with a bottle of wine when I got that call saying to turn the taxi around and go back to my house. That's what I was thinking about.
Now, Mark, you've turned up.
It is your fault, so you need to make a culprit. Yeah, make a culprit. So I was told we were going to delay for a week, but obviously the message didn't get through. So, Ginny, I apologise for that. But we'll reconvene in the studio again. Don't worry about it. You're not going to miss out on Mike and I. Right.
I think there's like a little boy conspiracy going on here. There's a little kind of Mason's handshake and a nod and a wink.
No, I can assure you there is no conspiracy. Now, listen, let me get some advice from you. Mark, you first. Paul Henry, so he will be potentially, if you guys get re-elected, he'll be jettisoned and most likely into Cabinet straight away. So a bloke who's never been in politics will potentially end up in Cabinet. Your advice is what?
Yeah, I think that, look, I mean, he's got lots of life experience. The beauty about a democracy in New Zealand, anyone can have a go. You know, and that's a good thing. It's helpful, I think, that you should bring some life experience when you become a lawmaker, because you've got to understand the impacts and the effects that you have on people when you change laws, and life experience helps you be equipped with that. We have had people come into Cabinet. Casey Costello is a good example. Stephen Joyce, who was outstanding, he went straight into Cabinet. So it does happen. Karen Shaw? Karen Shaw, yes. I think she's a minister outside Cabinet. The reason I'm asking is the workload. Does he have any idea of what he's in for?
I think that you'll learn very quickly exactly what's involved with the workload. It's a huge privilege to be a minister. You go into politics to be in government so that you can make positive change for the country. But the reality is it's seven days a week. And you just accept that and get on with it. What do you say, Ginny?
I'd say read all of your cabinet papers, not just the ones that pertain to your portfolios. I think that makes a real difference between a cabinet minister because there's so much reading to do. If you really want to go, as he says, and make a difference and get in there, that's a huge opportunity. But you get the opportunity to comment and have influence over all of those papers at cabinet, not just the ones that you bring. And if you invest the time to understand what they're proposing, then you get a whole lot more opportunity than what you would if you just did your own.
See, that's the encouraging thing about that. That's just a basic discipline. Reading is something anybody can do. What about the machinations and the inner workings of a political environment when you've never been in it?
Well, I think that's going to be tricky to navigate for him. And I think always when someone's had a really high profile outside of Parliament and then comes into it, they do struggle a little bit. So I think that will be the big challenge for him to be able to show some discipline within his party, because it's those relationships with your own colleagues and with your own leader that are critically important to your success.
What about the way you get into your party? If I join your party tomorrow, Mark, and I go to Luxon and I go, look, I'll get into politics, but you've got to give me a decent spot on the list. I'm not standing in an electorate and I need a cabinet place. Is that possible within your party or do you have a series of rules and regulations?
Well, I mean, if you're expressing an interest, then we can find out whether you're on the list. No, I'm not.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What opening topics and tone do Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen set on Politics Wednesday?
0:00–3:48
2
What advice do MPs give about Paul Henry joining ACT and possible Cabinet appointment?
3:48–6:56
3
How do Mark and Ginny describe the workload and responsibilities of a new Cabinet minister?
6:56–8:05
4
What practical tips do they recommend for a first-time minister to succeed in Cabinet?
8:05–11:39
5
How do parties recruit high-profile candidates and what role does celebrity play in elections?
11:39–12:01
Speakers
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