Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene?

Does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature?

He rolls into Auckland to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good and everyone has moved on from the lockdowns. His lockdowns.

The home handyman from the Hutt, telling Auckland what's what.

What an arrogant twat.

He was in Auckland to build rapport, to patch up the damage, to scope the joint and to see what sort of chance his party has come November.

Love or hate Auckland, elections are won and lost in the city. No one gets to Government without a good day in Auckland.

Even for a small country it is true to say there are countries within countries, or cultures and vibes within cultures and vibes.

It took me a while to get a grip on Wellington before I moved there. It's different to Christchurch. It's different to Dunedin, and Auckland is different to each of the other urban centres.

I think Chris Bishop has found that out by suggesting his two million home debacle. He's from Wellington too. If you are too entrenched in Wellington, you don’t get Auckland.

Hipkins suggested the only people who ever ask him about lockdown these days is Newstalk ZB.

1) That’s not true and yesterday was an example given the person who asked wasn’t from Newstalk ZB.

2) Newstalk ZB is the biggest game in Auckland and by a long way.

Dismissing the biggest radio player in Auckland, and the country, is about as stupid as saying Aucklanders have moved on from lockdown.

Ultimately, it's another example of why I have said all year that this election is over before it starts.

Labour will not win.

The pain, suffering and incompetence of 2020-23 is still too raw, real and recent to forgive and forget. Making it worse is the fact the very same people who did the damage are still there waiting for another crack.

Judging by yesterday, they’ve learned nothing, want to learn nothing and are as arrogant as last time.

Hipkins may well realise that, come election night when he loses and inevitably has to resign given he will have lost twice.

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