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Home / New Zealand

Steve Braunias' Secret Diary of Waitangi

Steve Braunias
By Steve Braunias
Senior Writer·NZ Herald·
7 Feb, 2020 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Dawn Ceremony at the Upper Marea, Waitangi Treaty grounds, PM's breakfast, Girlie Clarke is served breakfast by Christchurch Central Labour MP Duncan Webb, PM Jacinda Ardern, Green Party leader James Shaw and Dover Samuels. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Dawn Ceremony at the Upper Marea, Waitangi Treaty grounds, PM's breakfast, Girlie Clarke is served breakfast by Christchurch Central Labour MP Duncan Webb, PM Jacinda Ardern, Green Party leader James Shaw and Dover Samuels. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Steve Braunias
Opinion by Steve Braunias
Steve Braunias writes for the Listener and Newsroom.
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JACINDA ARDERN

Together we stand on the bridge.

JAMES SHAW

Where exactly should I stand?

WINSTON PETERS

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Shaw, you bloody idiot, make yourself useful for once. Here. Stand next to Bridges so I don't have to.

SIMON BRIDGES

I won't stand for it. I'm telling you now, I won't stand for it. I'm rebelling. You want to know what I'm rebelling against? Here's my answer: What've you got? Okay? Because I'm the wild one. Because I'm looking for trouble and brother, let me tell you, I've come to the right place.

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JACINDA ARDERN

Together we shall cross the bridge.

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JAMES SHAW

Where exactly should I cross the bridge?

WINSTON PETERS

I never saw a bridge I didn't want to burn.

SIMON BRIDGES

There's a new bridge in town and it's me. Simon Bridges. Cross me at your own risk. Also, lay off my blue suede shoes.

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JACINDA ARDERN

By our deeds you shall know us.

JAMES SHAW

I'd like to sit down, but I don't exactly know where.

WINSTON PETERS

I know this. I don't care that Simon Bridges has ruled out National forming a coalition with New Zealand First. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, not a jot. Not one bit. I haven't given it a moment's thought. Hardly noticed it. I'm happy as.

SIMON BRIDGES

I know what the quiet New Zealander thinks of Waitangi Day. He thinks it's a day off work. And it should be, except who can relax under a Labour government? They've promised to deliver and they haven't delivered. And I'm not happy about that. I'm mad as hell about that and I'm not going to take it anymore. And that's what I'm YELLING, because if there's one thing a quiet New Zealander wants, it's someone YELLING.

JACINDA ARDERN

Who would like a sausage?

JAMES SHAW

Do you have a gluten-free sausage?

WINSTON PETERS

Of course I don't want a bloody sausage. I've got important things to get on now that Simon bloody Bridges has closed the bloody door on New Zealand First. And the last thing I need right now are questions about the New Zealand First Foundation, which has a totally transparent funding structure. It's so transparent that I don't need to answer any questions about it. Anyone who persists in asking questions is playing politics and I'm not at Waitangi to play politics. I'm at Waitangi to eat sausages.

SIMON BRIDGES

The thing about the Labour Government is that it's all sizzle and no sausage. Apart from the hundreds or more likely thousands of sausages that Jacinda Ardern is sizzling at her traditional Waitangi Day cook-up. Well, that's nice. But sausages aren't going to fill you up. Well, all right, they are. If you eat enough of them and there does seem to be enough to go around at Waitangi. But we can't all be at Waitangi. Forget Waitangi.

JACINDA ARDERN

It's about Waitangi Day.

SIMON BRIDGES

It's about Election Day.

JAMES SHAW

It's about Waitangi Day and Election Day. And, you know, the planet. I think?

WINSTON PETERS

It's about me.

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