There’s no better illustration of the differences between the leadership of the current government and the previous one than than Helen Clark’s criticism of John Key because he’s having a holiday.
She was all-controlling, he trusts his ministers.
She thinks the government is the answer, he knows the last one was a big part of the problem.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, on holiday in Europe, criticised the Government for taking a “laissez-faire” approach to the economic crisis.
“The rest of the world is aware there’s an economic crisis on, they are aware there’s a huge international crisis in Gaza, and the New Zealand government is on holiday,” she said.
“At the end of the day, when you’re elected, you don’t have a 100 per cent holiday.”
Even without the hypocrisy shown by criticising Key for taking a break while she too is on holiday, this is more than a bit rich coming from the woman whose government left an economic mess for National to clean up; and whose election promises included a secret mini-budget to be announced before Christmas.
National made its policy and 100 day plan clear before the election, formed a government in record time and passed legislation to deliver on some key parts of its pledges before parliament went in to recess last month.
They were criticised then for moving too fast and now they’re being criticised for not doing enough.
But what would she be doing if she was still in control? Cancelling the tax cuts, calling meetings, commissiong reports and reviews and achieving little or nothing as she did for nine years?
Key and his family have made significant financial and personal sacrifices so he can be Prime Minister. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them taking a rare opportunity to have a holiday together.
Although, it won’t be “100 per cent holiday” for him. He’s contactable by phone and email, he’ll be keeping up with news, reading and as many people in leadership roles do when supposedly on holiday, he’ll be making plans.
Hat Tip: Keeping Stock and Kiwi Blog
P.S. – someone whose political memory is better than mine may correct me on this but didn’t Clark carry on with an overseas trip after the 9/11 attacks and wasn’t she not just out of the country but unreachable after the tsunami in Thailand?
Homepaddock 
Yep and Yep
LikeLike
[…] Unlike Clark, the new regime does not see the need for strident but meaningless megaphone diplomacy on every issue. This is noted by others including the excellent Homepaddock. […]
LikeLike
What would she do? Screw it up just like she screwed up Fiji.
LikeLike
Agree wholeheartedly HP – surely we should be celebrating the fact that John Key values his wife and children so much that he takes a decent holiday with them – it’s also called balance – something that Helen Clark wouldn’t know much about methinks!
LikeLike
PACE people of Israel and Gaza please, The peace can win !
LikeLike
Surely the most progressive of HR experts often comment on how valuable a break is for the overworked executive.
Surely after a frenetic 100 days or so passing various policies the new PM is entitled to having a break.
He can then rest and be fully charged to tackle the rigours of whatever 2009 will bring.
John Key will need every ounce of energy in him for this.
Here in Britain, I see Gordon Brown announcing this that and the other. But is it owrking? It seems not. Many of his rushed policies are failing because they weren’t thought through properly.
Yes, it all seemed okay for Uncle helen to holiday when she was in power. Didn’t she always disappear in Norway at this time of the year.
To target John Key like this is the ultimate form of hypocracy.
Furthermore, we might need to think of security issues.
I am sure we don’t want hordes of security staff, vehicles, etc, on the rampage around the Prime Ministerial bach at Omaha spoling everybody’s holidays.
I am sure Key is showing more consideration here. By being out of the way in Hawaii, perhaps he needs little or no security detail at all.
LikeLike
someone whose political memory is better than mine may correct me on this but didn’t Clark carry on with an overseas trip after the 9/11 attacks and wasn’t she not just out of the country but unreachable after the tsunami in Thailand?
She was on a prime ministerial visit to Europe on September 11 and heard of the attacks when she arrived at Hong Kong from Auckland. She immediately got on the same plane back, abandoning the official trip she was making.
The entire Herald story you refer to is a silly season beat-up. Of course John Key and ministers should have holidays. They need and deserve them. The Helen Clark quotes in the story were to induce knee-jerk reactions such as you have jerked, and were almost certainly taken as much out of context as everything else in that appalling story.
LikeLike
Poneke – I thought Helen Clark carried on to Europe after the 9/11 attacks then came back but I accept your knowledge is better than my memory.
Yes the story is a beat up – but Clark said much the same thing in an interview on RadioNZ Summer Report this morning as she was quoted saying in yesterday’s Herald. But when you’re in Opposition you take your opportunities for attacking the government and self publicity when you can.
LikeLike