Heather du Plessis-Allan: Can we all accept now that Nanaia Mahuta is not great at her job?

Can we all accept now that Nanaia Mahuta is not great at her job? 
It is astounding that she hasn’t once spoken to our ambassador in Russia since the start of the invasion. 
Never mind the fact that – apart from one letter – she also hasn’t been in contact with our diplomats in the Solmons since its pact with China. 
That’s pretty bad as well. 
But not speaking to our woman in Russia is astounding given the magnitude of the invasion of Ukraine and the impact it’s having on everything from food prices, fuel prices, the security of Europe through to the possibility it emboldens China. 
If that’s not enough to get the Foreign Affairs Minister on the phone, god only knows what is. 
Frankly, the fact that Nanaia is not up to the job will not surprise many people. 
She’s been in parliament for 26 years but what has she achieved? 
Not a lot. 
And this term might end and still the answer will likely be 'not a lot'. 
She’s supposed to get the Three Waters Reform through but don’t hold your breath on that one.   
And she’s the one responsible for stuffing it up, by failing to get councils on board, confiscating their assets while telling them she wouldn’t and then making Māori co-governance a must-have part of it. 
The most notable things she’s done as Foreign Affairs Minister is annoy our Five Eyes partners constantly and give a speech about a taniwha. 
I think we all know Nanaia Mahuta is probably only in the job because of the clout of the Māori caucus in Labour. 
They’re big enough to demand jobs and I suspect this is the job she wanted. 
Big mistake. Because with everything happening in the world right now, from Ukraine to China's deal with the Solomons, you need someone capable, not Nanaia.

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