Clark blunders again

Watching TV3 News last night, it appears clear Clark has blundered again with her boycott of the full Waitangi programme.

John Key didn’t just look comfortable at Waitangi – he looked Prime Ministerial, and was almost greeted as such, while Clark was missing in action.

I did enjoy the only in NZ absurdity of Key being greeted by, and shaking hands with, Tame Iti who was arrested by the Police for allegedly being the leader of a group which aimed, amongst other things, to assassinate John Key.  However only once he had actually become PM! Could you imagine this in any other country.

And even more bizarrely the costs of the Iti family going to Waitangi are being paid for by Television New Zealand.

Colin Espiner blogged yesterday that Clark no-show was a risk

Key, too, is on to a winner whatever happens. While National leaders have not always been welcome at Te Tii, Key is so easy-going and charming that he is unlikely to cop a faceful of mud like his predecessor. But even if he was abused, it simply plays into his favour. It shows that he’s prepared to face up to criticism, while his counterpart is not.

… Being the Prime Minister is a little different, of course. One does have to keep one’s dignity. But I wonder whether this would have been the year to take the risk and return to Te Tii.

Audrey Young also blogged about Key at Waitangi:

It has been John Key’s Waitangi so far today, not Helen Clark’s who is just about to land in the Far North.

And the bizarre spectacle of the PM who refuses to turn up, criticising the warm reception John Key received. She just sounds bitter and small. And her lack of judgement comes through even more when she suggests that Key is not being honest about his agenda – because in fact the media have been reporting that Key has not been delivering a different message to a different audience, and despite the unpopularity has confirmed National policy is still to abolish the Maori seats and not abolish the Foreshore & Seabed Act.

Finally on radio this morning, I hear that John Key was asked to lead a prayer of his own at the dawn service, as the PM wasn’t there. Again this just makes him look like he is the PM, not just wanting to be.  Clark has surrendered her most important weapon – incumbency.

The result of the next election is by no means already determined.  But Labour needs a error-free year, and so far there have been two blunders barely one month in.