To keep the faithful, Jacinda needs to be clearer on the plan – Stuff.co.nz

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Jacinda Ardern and John Key. Verity Johnson voted for one, but was impressed by the other last week.

OPINION: I thought about John Key a lot last week.

Its weird. Im a young, relaxed left, Jacinda voter. (You know, that type of leftie who has a keep-cup but cant be arsed harassing you into getting one.) So I cant remember ever agreeing with him on anything before. Hes always given off that helpful-dad-in-Bunnings vibe to me. Someone whos perfectly nice, and will help you find laminate flooring, but I really dont want to hear his thoughts on immigration.

So I was staggered to find myself listening to his Covid commentary comeback tour last week. Especially because most of it was like an 80s band reunion concert, designed to get a certain type of middle-aged man fired up again.

But he shot me through the heart with the line hope isnt a strategy.

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With that one quip, the golden oldie showed he still had it. He hit upon the faultline of confusion that is running through heartland red-green voters like me.

Because what exactly is our Covid strategy?

I dont know. And for gods sake, dont say elimination. I know you dont know what that means any more either. I used to think it meant we had to get to zero cases, because the word eliminate has Dalek-like exterminate everything connotations to it. But now were being told it doesnt mean that, it means we can have controlled outbreaks.

So, is that a suppression strategy? A managed risk strategy? Are we trying to just stay at level 3 until everyone gets vaccinated? Can someone please tell me whats up.?

RNZ

Covid-19 elimination is possible but that does not mean New Zealand will necessarily get to zero cases, the Director-General of Health says.

And this confusion over the name of the strategy is just the start of it.

Jacinda & co know that they need to step up. Hence the Auckland roadmap, the one that, as I write, is due to be announced at 4pm on Monday. But this is also much bigger than just giving Auckland a plan.

So far, theyve been vague on what were doing about national vaccination strategies, vaccination passports, hospo, travel and tourism business revival, increasing ICU nurses availability, MIQ... and the hinting-and-flirting-but-never-quite-revealing approach is making even faithful reds restless.

Were sinking into the mindset of an overtired toddler at 3pm. Were irritable, irrational, and in desperate need of a nap. Can someone just tell us, preferably with a picture book and some biscuits, what the future will look like?

In 2020, they were good at spelling out that if we go hard, go early, well get back to level 1. But in 2021, there hasnt been the same level of clarity. Thats why JK was a smash hit last week. He articulated clearly what his plan would be. I didnt agree with it, but I did understand it.

Robert Kitchin/Stuff

Verity Johnson: Can someone just tell us, preferably with a picture book and some biscuits, what the future will look like?

Its made worse because theyve messed around like this before. Labour won the last election by saying, Hey, we nailed Covid! So do you really care that much about our plans for transport or housing? Well, yes. Look, I still voted for Jacinda, but I was grumpy about being fobbed off with such lax forward planning.

And now it just feels like the same thing is happening again. The Government is in danger of proving the recurring criticism that its great at being reactive but not proactive.

But heres the thing. I still trust them. I still want to do my part. And I really dont want to side with the opposition and yell, screw it!, storm off the pitch, give up all our progress and let a riot kick off. Thats like giving up at half-time.

What I want is a clear, well thought out plan from the team captain on what winning looks like.

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To keep the faithful, Jacinda needs to be clearer on the plan - Stuff.co.nz