The Indian Weekender, September 25, 2020

The Indian Weekender Friday, September 25, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 3
First Leaders’ debate: Judith improvised
progressively, but Ardern held her ground
SANDEEP SINGH
National Leader Judith Collins
improvised progressively
after initially appearing
slightly off-colour in the first leaders
debate at TVNZ, while Jacinda
Ardern did not lose much ground
despite not appearing her usual self
of an eloquent communicator.
Many political pundits were
surprised to see Prime Minister
Ardern not at her eloquent best
and progressively losing sheen in
her conviction and performance as
opposed to her counterpart Collins
who on the contrary improvised
towards the end of the debate.
This is when both leaders had
walked into the debate on the news
of recently released Colmar Brunton
polls that accentuated Labour
Party’s massive lead (48 %) over
the National Party (31%) despite
both experiencing some fall in
their numbers.
Against that backdrop, many
experts who had hoped that Ardern
could come up with an impressive,
eloquent performance akin to many
such performances as in Covid-19
related public health updates that
have dominated public memory
in recent times, would have been
clearly disappointed.
Similarly Judith Collins, who
many National’s ardent supporters
have long hoped to be the party’s
most potent response to Ardern’s so
called fluff, would also be equally
disappointed as she was not able
to make any significant dent in
Ardern’s popularity.
In a tale repeated several times
in the last three years, where Prime
Minister Ardern had remained
unscathed by any political-torpedo or
seeming inadequacy in performance,
the leaders-debate also ended
with the same script, with Ardern
walking away with limited damage
to her reputation despite Opposition
Leader Collins doing her homework
well and coming up with several
pointed interjections.
Leadership is not just about policy
and plan, but vision and hope
However, what saved the day
for Ardern against Collin’s spirited
charge, disapproval, and the
challenge was her key message that
leadership was not just about having
a plan, but also vision and hope for
the future.
Ardern’s seeming lack of plan,
especially among her detractors,
is oft-repeated, and so is equally
depleted supply of hope and
optimism in Collin’s flat-faced
stern outlook.
In the end it is left to prospective
voters to choose from the two
contrasting options.
So far the successive polls have
shown that the majority of New
Zealanders are choosing to stand
resolutely besides Prime Minister
Ardern, despite some relentless, and
in some case mindless, criticism of
the government’s Covid management
in recent times, contrary to what
many experts argue otherwise.
If that is any clue, then despite
some experts giving round one
to Judith Collins in the leader’s
debate, it is apparent that Prime
Minister Ardern would have walked
away with few more supporters
from the leader’s debate than her
main adversary.
ONLY ACT HAS A
A ROADMAP
TO RECOVERY
DAVID SEYMOUR - ACT LEADER
BROOKE VAN VELDEN - DEPUTY LEADER
New Zealand needs a government that lives
within the same constraints as the rest of us.
Only a vote for ACT ensures that the other political parties are held
to account. ACT is the party of small businesses and self-starters.
We are committed to helping you thrive and grow, ensuring a strong
economy and that our children aren’t saddled with unnecessary debt.
The ACT Party will fight for freedom of speech, freedom of choice
and less Government interference in your life. With more MP’s we
will ensure that we protect your freedoms.
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Rongotai Candidate
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Te Atatū Candidate
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