What’s it called?
Cross Party Lines
Where’s the name from?
This is a new political podcast with Phil Goff from the nominal left and Chris Finlayson from the nominal right. So they are talking cross party lines.
Why should you give it a listen?
Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson are hugely experienced individuals. Goff was a Labour MP for 30 years, leader of the Labour Party and most recently High Commissioner to London (where he got royally told off by our friend Ngira Simmonds). Finlayson was a National MP, Minister for Treaty Negotiations and might be the most widely-read human in existence. They bring vast experience and insight and their analysis is well worth a listen. In the first episode their thoughts about Te Pāti Māori were insightful and yet welcomingly cautious – they know what they don’t know and aren’t out to shock or just pundit for the sake of it. And again, their knowledge of political history brings enlightening context, rather than living in the moment. I felt a bit sorry for the host Sam Collins who is very much there to get the tea. And his attempts at humour fell pretty flat, because…
Is it banter and filler or does it get right into the kaupapa?
So I don’t think either of these two men know how to banter. Or how to do humour. Sam Collins would have a go and get awkward responses. So Kaupapa it is. But that’s all good, because the Kaupapa is so good.
Check this out
Phil Goff’s korero on TPM’s need to bring non-Māori into the waka so they can get into successful coalitions was right on the money.
Which leader would have made this?
It’s a bit tautological but Goff and Finlayson. Its just so… them.
Does it make you wanna ka whawhai tonu?
No. It doesn’t make me want to fight, which I think is the purpose and of course a good thing most of the time. Instead its doing its purpose of one-time political adversaries engaging in polite, informed discourse for the betterment of society. If only more politicians did the same. Big ups to Sam Collins for making this happen. Having said all that, it does make me a little rebellious. When Pākehā men find political consensus it always leaves a twinge in my mind, because historically very bad things have happened in Aotearoa when that has been the case. But these are good people trying to find a way, and so let’s be happy with that.
Bangin’ quote from the podcast
Goff: “Chris Luxon ain’t a John Key, and Barbara Edmonds isn’t a David Cunliffe. So I think that changes the odds quite markedly”
Where can I listen?
https://crosspartylines.substack.com/
