It was put well in a comment piece by political editor Thomas Coughlan: “Burnt in the self-immolation of the party’s last poll-induced coup in 2020, few in the caucus are keen for a repeat of the experience. Over two days, three Labour frontbenchers targeted him about spending on a footbridge in Melling on two counts: one for a supposed conflict of interest because he is the MP for the area, and secondly because the funding for the bridge came from a funding source that was originally designated for Kāinga Ora infrastructure (not houses), but was switched. • Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced his engagement to partner Toni Grace with a corny joke (he didn’t win Powerball but he hit the jackpot), but he made up for it with important detail, such as the fact that he proposed on a park bench in the Botanical Gardens in Wellington overlooking the rose garden, it was on her birthday, he presented her with a three-set diamond ring – and she said yes.
Author: Audrey Young
Published at: 2025-11-19 22:58:56
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