The reason why Labour leader Chris Hipkins has an uphill battle leading into this year’s election, regardless of what the polls say, has been on show this week. I am not talking about awkward personal posts. I’m talking about his politicking.  

About a month ago, Chris Hipkins delivered his State of the Nation speech in Auckland. Some described it as boring. Others saw it as an effort to come across as mature and disciplined, to convey a reassuring voice to Kiwis that Labour would act calmly and firmly to deal with cost of living and affordability issues.  

But credible Hipkins was replaced with snippy Hipkins this week when he was asked how Labour would deal with the fuel crisis if it was in power. His response was to say “the Government needs to come up with a plan.” He went on to add, “they are the ones sitting in the hot seat.”  

Now, no one expects a politician to come up with a solution on the fly - but in an election year voters are looking for more than performative politics. We want to understand how the opposition would handle a crisis. We want to be reassured they would respond with ideas and constructive competence.  

In his State of the Nation speech Hipkins said he would put affordability at the heart of all decisions. But the impression he gave this week is that he can’t be bothered putting some thought into how he would deal with the biggest affordability problem currently impacting New Zealand homes and businesses. It was an opportunity to impress, and he gave it a miss.  

The Hipkins quip irked for another reason. We shouldn’t be paying opposition MPs just to perform occasionally in the house and in front of the media. We’re paying them to understand their area of responsibility and show leadership. We’re paying them to have the expertise to challenge the government and advocate effectively for better outcomes for Kiwis. And right now, many of these Kiwis are worried about the price of fuel.  

The other news that made it a difficult week for Hipkins was the revelation he knew something he claimed he didn’t. In its efforts to put Covid to bed once and for all, the Labour party is relying on the Royal Commission largely accepting that the response was appropriate and well managed, and on Hipkins, the former Minister of Health, taking a humble line and acknowledging they didn’t get everything right.  

But there was a hiccup this week with the discovery of a paper trail implying Hipkins knew more than he was letting on about risks associated with a second Covid vaccine dose for teenagers.

Did Hipkins just forget or did he get his timeline mixed up? Who knows. But it’s not a good look and makes the negative legacy of Hipkins’ role as Heath Minister and Prime Minister during the Covid years harder to move on from.  

The success of Hipkins staying on as leader of the Labour Party depends on being able to shed the past and grab the future. Neither has gone well this week. The bigger problem for the party is there is no one to replace him.  

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