Mike's Minute: The Government has had a good week

Now that we actually have things underway, this Government had a good week. 

Taking almost two months after voting to open things is ludicrous, the three weeks of counting that is now under investigation anyway given they cocked it up, the swearing in and speech from the throne on two separate days when it could have been done in one - but at least after all that they have promised a shortened summer break given all there is to do. 

The media, having not learned their lesson about being Labour Party apparatchiks, did their best to undo a Government that has barely started by banging on about ignoring Treasury advice over FPA's, despite yesterday's revelations about their beloved Labour Party making it a habit on things like uncosted infrastructure. 

They also tried their best on Māori bonuses and went to town over smoking. The smoking had some merit given that was, to many, a surprise out of the coalition deal. 

But the media, like a lot of the unions and lobby groups who have gnashed their teeth, seem to fail to grasp that a change of Government actually means things get done differently and the reason they are to be done differently is because we voted for it to be so. 

An uplifting aspect of the week, if not a small irony, was the Māori side of the National Party capped off by the comments of James Meager, who was surely the star of the show. 

In the heavily Māori ceremony of swearing in Tama Potaka spoke for National, reminding us that the stereotype of a white male grouping is not remotely realistic in 2023. 

That was followed by Meager, who gave a wonderful reminder that too much of the Māori political story in this country is portrayed in a light of misery, deprivation and handouts, when in fact Meager is most probably closer to reality, being young, bright, determined and successful. 

Getting rid of Onslow was easy and the light rail mess in Auckland will follow suit. 

In these early days a lot is easy, tangible and reminds us that help is on the way for the economy. 

But Mark Mitchell's letter, although creative, is not perhaps the outcome you were led to believe when the rhetoric was flying in Opposition. So, the lesson is that delivery is everything. You can promise all you like but the voters goodwill extends only to the point you pony up. 

But there is momentum. Chris Luxon looks fit to burst with energy, Nicola Willis lined us up for the bad news this Wednesday week, Erica Stanford spoke so well in response to the PISA shambles and Winston Peters called for a cease fire in the Middle East (he might want to apply that to himself in general). 

All in all, a week in for this country, I am hopeful. 

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