The New Zealand Herald is bringing back some of the best premium stories of 2020. Today we take a look at some of the best politics stories from the past 12 months.
The secrets of PM's Covid-19 response
There is a large whiteboard in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's office, almost completely covered with tiny numbers in rows.
It was visible in the background for a Zoom interview by the Herald with the PM until a staff member moved it aside.
It tracked the daily updates of cases of Covid-19.
For the first couple of weeks, those rows included the potential trajectory of case numbers from modelling, mapping what was happening against that modelling.
That line ceased on March 25 – the day New Zealand went into lockdown with 102 cases.
It is a visual reminder to Ardern of what could have been – "thousands" of deaths as some modelling suggested.
Ardern has often credited science and data for the decisions that led her to that point.
But Ardern's words were just as critical.
Justifiable exaggeration, obfuscation and omission?: Lockdown meant closing businesses, cloistering people in their own homes, and calling off weddings and funerals. Yet we went along with it.
The Herald looks at how Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's words played a pivotal role in this.
Nanaia Mahuta: A life of leadership and diplomacy
Nanaia's Mahuta's appointment as new Foreign Minister was a source of fascination for domestic and international media alike - the first woman, the first Māori woman, and the first "tattooed Māori woman" as international media described her moko kauae.
"I wasn't offended about it," Mahuta told the Herald.
"I wasn't surprised either," she said. "I felt that the reaction signalled a lot of people not really understand what is the Māori culture and who are these people and what are these symbols that they are wearing so proudly on their face?"
"It was also a reflection of 'an other' kind of attitude … but I have to say most of the comments in relation to my portfolio responsibility have been positive."
Mahuta does not make waves, but she does not make mistakes either.
Audrey Young looks at Nanaia Mahuta's path to Foreign Minister.
Chris Luxon on God, John Key, and capsicums
When Christopher Luxon was selected last year he had done a few interviews, getting tangled up in talking about his religion and withholding the benefit from beneficiaries who did not vaccinate their children.
That was a policy National was considering but had not adopted - and Luxon had also said it could cover parents on Working for Families.
In corporate language, he "over-reached". In political language, he stuffed up.
National's campaign chairwoman Paula Bennett had then locked him away, presumably for training on what first-time candidates can talk about and how to talk like a politician rather than a CEO.
In February when he was allowed back out he spoke to Weekend Herald to set the record straight about his religious beliefs, being head-hunted by marijuana companies, his similarities to John Key and whether he is 'instant leader' material.
Poverty, schools, health and a wedding: Jacinda Ardern on her next three years
When the seemingly endless election campaign finally ended, Jacinda Ardern marked the result with a magnanimous victory speech in the Auckland Town Hall, and a quiet glass of whisky at the end of the night.
When did Ardern have an inkling it might be a landslide?
"I didn't," she said.
So where to from here?
Ardern talks to Audrey Young about her personal and political plans for the next term.
Winston Peters on health, happiness and the r-word: Retirement
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is eating buttered white bread with a sprinkle of vinegar and telling us a parable.
The parable of Winston Peters goes like this.
When Peters was in Papua New Guinea once many years ago, a feast was put on at a big sing-sing, a festival.
Peters was given his choice of which part of the pig he wanted.
He asked for the trotter.
His choice apparently caused some consternation and confusion: "They asked me seven times." Each time he asked for the trotter.
Eventually, he was given the trotter, and he ate the trotter.
"It did not matter if it was good or not. That was not the point."
Why would he ask for the trotter?
So he did not look as if he thought he was superior or pretentious, he told us.
And did it work?
"I have got no idea."
Herald journalists show a different side of our politicians in the series Leaders Unplugged. Here, Claire Trevett dines with NZ First's Winston Peters at Wellington's Green Parrot.
