More like ‘impossible’ coalition partner

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Was it the National Party or RNZ news that chose the wrong word, in admitting New Zealand First as a “possible” coalition partner, when history has proved it to be, when in coalition, quite an impossible partner? “Potential” would be better.

Only a little more accurate is the word “kingmaker”. In this context, when a party can merrily jump left or right just to get power, it clearly means “unprincipled kingmaker”. Sadly, the journalists seem to enjoy this terrible prospect as a game. Otherwise they would always apply the adjective.

Gavin Maclean