The speed at which moments of outrage fade with time is a saving grace and curse in politics.
So although Christopher Luxon’s clumsy handling of the Treaty Principles Bill and the Hikoi is now old news, the PR failings and public frustration remain live.
It’s not all lost for Luxon. He has six months to put the following principles into practice before the Bill is considered by Select Committee.
Use your power. The role of Prime Minister gave Luxon a platform to make National’s view dominate, but his avoidance of the topic meant he was always seen reacting to other people’s criticisms.
Don’t let the bubble trap you. Luxon’s hesitancy was a response to emotive criticism from peers, but they are not a useful barometer of public sentiment. A Curia poll found almost twice as any New Zealanders support the Bill as oppose it. Luxon did not need to play to this audience, but it should have given confidence for a nuanced position.
Go direct to the people. Luxon had built no foundations for a nuanced cross-community position. He could have built in months of marae visits to his schedule to establish trust and rapport with Māori, and a moral authority to straddle the breadth of public views on the issue.
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