Ryan Bridge: Peeni Henare strikes again

At the rate it’s going, this by-election could cost Labour the real election.

Peeni Henare’s popping out policies toxic to the general electorate but popular with the 10,000 odd voters he’ll need to win Tamaki Makarau. 

First it was bringing back the gang patches, which left middle New Zealand scratching their heads.

We’ve been there, done that with the gangs. We’re over it. We want them sorted out. 

When people started getting bullet holes through the front window on a Saturday night, kids cowering in the hallway, we all decided enough was enough.

Labour lost the war on crime and with it, the mandate to govern.

You might think it’s an issue they’d steer clear of, but not Peeni - Labour’s electoral kryptonite. 

Last night he was back at it. I was watching the Tamaki Makarau by-election debate with Oriini and Peeni, which was a good watch. Good debate. 

Peeni was asked about cost of living. He said when Labour was last in power, they were in talks with iwi to build a third supermarket chain across the country to compete with the current duopoly. Last night he said they'd support it again if elected. 

So, the question is, what does support mean? Does that mean taxpayer funding? 

In 2023, they were talking about dolling out loans, maybe even grants, or taxpayer support to secure land for a third entrant. 

Now, there's nothing wrong with an iwi-led supermarket chain. There's nothing wrong with a third chain - hell, we'd all like to see that. 

But do we want it to be taxpayer supported? If private capital can't make it work at these prices, what chance would the state have? 

The problem with this stuff is it feeds the perception the only response Labour has to anything is more money. Kiwi build, anyone? 

There's a philosophical question in all of this which Hipkins is yet to answer because of his no policy rule. 

In the meantime, Peeni's certainly keeping us guessing and getting tongues wagging. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
At the rate it's going this by election could cost
Labor the real election. Penny Henade is popping out policies
toxic to the general electorate, but very popular with the
ten thousand odd voters that he will need to win
Tammocky Mikoto. First, it was bringing back the gang patches.
You would have heard about that. Labor then had to
hose that down, left Middle New Zealand scratching their heads though,

(00:20):
didn't it because we've been there, done that with gangs
where over it. We just want them sorted. Labour lost
the war on crime and with it the mandate to govern.
You might think it's an issue that they would just
steer clear of, but not Penny, Labour's electoral kryptonite. Last
night he was back at it. I was watching the
debate well with Ordine in Penny, which was actually quite

(00:40):
a good debate. I enjoyed it. Penny was asked about
the cost of living and he said that when Labor
was in power, they were in talks with EWI to
build a third supermarket chain across the country to compete
with the duopoly. Last night he said they'd support it
again if elect it.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Here is what he said when we were last in power,
we were working closely with EWI to introduce a third
grocery provider into the market, to allow our funer to
experience cheaper cope and to make sure that EWE are
part of delivering the answer for our finance. So are
you talking about a Kiwi Kai supermarket chain. We're talking
about EWE lead New Zealand chain that will supply our

(01:19):
funer ere we.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Lead, but funded by who? This is the question what
does support mean? Does that mean taxpayer funding? In twenty
twenty three they were talking about doling out loans, maybe
even grants or taxpayer support to secure land for a
third entrant. Now, there's nothing wrong with an e WE
lead supermarket chain. There's nothing wrong with a third chain

(01:40):
at all. Help We would all like to see that,
But do we want it to be taxpayers supported? That's
the question. If private capital can't make it work at
these prices, what chances would the state have the problem
with this stuff is it feeds that perception and the
only response Labour has to anything is more money, more money.

(02:01):
Can we build anyone? There's a philosophical question here which
Hepkins needs to answer. But of course Hopkins isn't answering
in questions because he's got a ban on policy till
at least Christmas. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge,
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