Two things that have come to light out of the weekend that I think shed a real insight into how shallow we are as a country.  

And don't worry I include myself in this, I’m as shallow as the best of them, and in fact I was front row for both of these sideshows.  

One, whose Toni?  

And two, Luxon’s wife’s arms.  

I mean when Chippy said he wanted to thank a new special person in his life and then went on to announce a new partner by the name of Toni, I almost fell off my chair. Mic drop moment. Was this the outgoing PM coming out? Would someone so intent on family privacy be doing this now? On election night? During his concession speech? Inviting the whole of NZ into his private life?  

I wondered if it was just me frantically googling Toni, but then I saw a story saying Google searches for Toni spiked Saturday night – so fess up, come on, we were all doing it. Not that there’s anything wrong with him having a new partner of course, just that it was odd he would announce a marriage break up a year ago and ask for us all to stay out of his private life, and then to an enormous audience invite us all back into his private life.  

And although I’m very happy for him to have a new love in his life, I also wonder how much of a distraction that was during the year given how often he turned up unprepared for interviews and hadn’t read or seen any media. So maybe that explains something. But all the best to him of course.  

Which brings me to shallow obsession of this country number 2: Amanda Luxon’s arms. 

Given the interest in her unbelievably toned and spectacular biceps, Luxon was asked to explain it. (Of course he was). To which he told media she’s always had biceps, just no one’s ever noticed them before. Imagine the day after you win an election, one of the things you have to explain is your wife’s biceps. But here we are.  

Maybe we’re all desperate for some light relief? Maybe we all just genuinely want the inside scoop on how to have arms like she does? He said she’s fit, runs every day, is a go getter. We also heard she’s a former ballet dancer, and the ballet dancers tell me once a ballet figure, always a ballet figure, so that’s a good advertisement for ballet. But Luxon said she helped him with his exercise and diet regime during the campaign, which was apparent actually, given he lost weight and seemed to gain energy throughout. You know what they say, behind every great man... I feel like we all need an Amanda Luxon at home telling us what to eat and how to exercise, and maybe she could share arm workout tips too?  

So aside from a new government, we got new goss didn’t we? Chippy’s new partner, and Luxon’s super fit one. Hopefully for both of them, that’s it and we’ve had our moment of fascination and they can go back to being behind the scenes which is obviously where they prefer to be. But we just needed some light relief, didn't we? The campaign was too long, the election night was long, and now coalition negotiations could be long too.  

Is it any wonder small distractions —albeit yes, shallow ones— are grabbing us right now? 

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