Whatever it Takes Trust, (WIT) runs a Napier outreach centre, but does not have the staff to run it at the moment. The building also needs repairs. Photo / Ian Cooper
Whatever it Takes Trust, (WIT) runs a Napier outreach centre, but does not have the staff to run it at the moment. The building also needs repairs. Photo / Ian Cooper
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has handled health and terrorism crises in this country before. But not simultaneously.
Friday's terror attack in New Lynn in the midst of level 4 lockdown tested Ardern's leadership like never before.
New Zealanders are now very familiar with the calm, measured delivery of bad newsfrom Ardern. And as Prime Minister, she is used to the intense scrutiny that these situations bring.
As debate continues over the National leadership, Ardern is rock solid at the helm of Labour.
National, it seems, remain an internal leadership shambles. The latest leader touted publicly is Simon Bridges (again), who has made it clear previously he doesn't want the job.
National, it seems, are going to have to bide their time until voters can be convinced that former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon has enough political air points to take on the role.
More challenges have arisen around Clive Square and Napier's homeless population during lockdown. Photo / Ian Cooper
As for Labour, the cynics say the Delta outbreak has taken the focus off the political struggles that Labour was enduring post-2020 lockdown.
We have a housing crisis that at one end of the scale, has created unprecedented demand for homes. New Zealand can't build homes fast enough, right now.
In the meantime, struggling families live in unhealthy conditions, and motels are purchased to provide a band aid to the crisis.
Lockdown has not been a complete political distraction for voters, though.
The true blue National seat of Whangarei was one of several that swung to Labour when the red tide swept in last year. But lumping Northland in with Auckland under level 4, even if only for a few days, has angered many in the North.
Northlanders don't consider Warkworth to be part of Northland, and Ardern may just have riled enough voters to make things interesting at the next election.
It's an example of what not to do in a marginal seat.
Here in Hawke's Bay, our rough sleeping population has its own housing crisis.
An outreach centre in Napier has been closed for three months, as a home for homeless continues fruitlessly.
Whatever it Takes Trust, (WIT) runs the outreach centre, but does not have the staff to run it at the moment. The building also needs repairs.
