Anxious about perceptions of schmoozing in the pandemic, Ministers had no presence whatsoever at yesterday's sailing, and little to say about it
Politicians love a junket – it’s one of the better perks of the job.
And what better than a "day's work’’ watching America's Cup boats race in the sunshine while enjoying a cold beverage.
But it seems this year Government ministers are for the most part avoiding the ‘swanning around’ perception, with absolutely no presence whatsoever in Auckland on the first day Team New Zealand could legitimately have won the Auld Mug.
And some Cup watchers at the Viaduct over the last week have told Newsroom they’ve been surprised in general by how little interest the Government has taken in the race – despite the fact taxpayers have contributed to it and it’s being held on New Zealand shores.
One described the silence from the Government as “deafening’’.
Over the years, Prime Ministers and MPs have strategically attached themselves to sporting success.
New Zealand is a nation of sports-lovers so what better group for a popularity-seeking politician to attach itself to than a successful Kiwi sports team?
Think former Prime Minister John Key and his trips to the All Blacks’ changing room, or Minister for Sport Grant Robertson’s last minute dash to London for the Cricket World Cup.
At the time Robertson told media he thought it was important to be going as Minister of Sport and Recreation to show the Government’s support for the team on behalf of all New Zealanders.
That support hasn’t extended to Team New Zealand though.
Changes to the alert levels in Auckland altered Robertson's plans to go and watch the racing, according to his office.
The Prime Minister had also made tentative plans to head along to racing on Saturday but it’s understood her commitment to be at the commemorations of the second anniversary of the March 15th terror attacks changed that.
Stuart Nash has ministerial responsibilities for the America’s Cup but on Tuesday he stayed put at Parliament to answer a question on tourism.
“I’d much rather be on the water watching Team New Zealand win, there’s no doubt about that, than be in the House.
“But unfortunately my job as Minister means I’ve got to be held to account for the Opposition, which is what I’m doing,’’ he told Newsroom on Tuesday.
Nash was in Auckland at the end of last week and watched the racing on Friday and Sunday.
The latest Level 3 lockdown in Tāmaki Makaurau set racing back by a couple of days and in other circumstances the Cup could have wrapped up while he was there over the weekend.
Nash said he waited to see if he had a question in the House on Tuesday - if he hadn’t he would have sought leave from the Government whip and flown to Auckland for racing.
“I felt as the Minister for Tourism, I’ve got to be held to account and I’m keen to answer my question in the House, but of course given a question of being in Parliament or being out on the Hauraki Gulf watching Team New Zealand win, of course I’d rather be out on the Gulf.’’
Having been there for two race days, Nash said, “I’ve certainly done my time out there’’.
“There’s a fine line between supporting Team New Zealand as the Minister, but actually doing my job as a Minister and member of this Government as well, and I think I’ve got that pretty much right.’’
One Labour MP who has been front and centre at every regatta over the decades is Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard.
He’s attended the last six regattas - three as a Minister and the last three in a more personal capacity as a volunteer for Team New Zealand.
Mallard has an MC role as part of the hosting team and spent time at the Viaduct headquarters over the summer and was also there from Friday through until Monday watching the racing.
He returned to Parliament to fulfil his role as Speaker of the House on Tuesday.
Parliament is sitting once again on Wednesday, which will keep Mallard in Wellington.
Nash will need to check whether he has any questions in the House at 2pm before he can make a dash to the airport.
