Peters to be full PM

Jacinda Ardern announced:

“I have sought advice from the Cabinet Office about the proper governance arrangements during my parental leave.

The Cabinet Office has advised that a Minister is normally only appointed Acting Prime Minister when the Prime Minister is out of the country. There is no precedent to have both a Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister in the country at the same time.

To avoid any confusion, Cabinet has decided that during my parental leave the Rt Hon Winston Peters will be sworn in as the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand.”

Winston finally gets to be Prime Minister – his life long desire. Cynically you have to wonder if this was an unofficial part of the coalition deal – Labour could give him the one thing National couldn’t – a place in the history books as Prime Minister.