It occurs that Judith Collins' attack on Jacinda for being "missing in action" yesterday due to not being inside the Beehive Theatrette at 13:00 ... could use some punctuation. Specifically, a comma. Should read "Missing, In Action" - or perhaps even a dash: "Missing - In Action".
Because instead of dropping everything to front a press conference several hundred KM away, the PM was continuing her sustained effort at bolstering vaccination rates on the East Coast. In areas that have been underserved by previous health investment, and which have been worrisomely under-covered by the vaccine rollout thus far.
Some might suggest it's a PR move. And to that I can only say an enthusiastic "Yes." It is literally a PR move. Public Relations. Going out there and engaging with a swathe of the public, in a bid to facilitate their engagement with a particular policy. That being the public health policy which is absolutely vital for them and us.
If it's a "PR move" then it is the best kind of PR move - one which is actually done for the public, in public, and both for and in the public interest rather than being purely theater (Beehive -erette variety, or otherwise).
I have been - I feel rather understandably - critical of the Government's communications this past week, and some of their apparent decision-making as well.
Yet as an exercise in comms, and something which is seemingly irreducibly Kiwi - having the actual Prime Minister turn up to personally do the Government Communication, in your street, neighbourhood, and community ... well, the only time I could see Judith Collins even attempting to do something like this and actually being 'on-theme' would be on October 31st after dark at your doorstep.
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