Duncan Garner: Dear Prime Minister, just what is the plan to stop Kiwis leaving?

Dear Prime Minister,

So, you’ve started the new year with a cabinet reshuffle. Seriously?

Isn’t that designed to look like things are happening and that your government is all action, giving us the (false) sense that you’re moving along apace? I suppose it’s all about perception and you’re as desperate as the rest of us Kiwis for the economy to kick into life.

You declared 2025 to be all about economic growth, but, really, shouldn’t every year be about economic growth?

Sadly, it seems the more you want it to happen, the more stubborn and difficult it is to achieve. Maybe – just maybe – could you have your policy mix wrong? And shouldn’t you have been focused on this last year, too, rather than the nonsense distractions of race politics?

Anyway, I can see why you’ve done your mini-shuffle thingy.

In health, the headlines don’t match the hype. That’s hurting you in the polls and Simeon Brown appears to speak in commonsense sound bites and to get things done. Hopefully, that might sort the health system but, of course, if might prove to be more complex.

After all, Shane Reti was an actual GP with direct experience of working in the health system. Maybe, as you’re finding out, Reti knew it would be hard to fix something as gnarly as the health system within a year or two.

Perhaps the new minister will “kick some ass” and sort it that way – here’s hoping – but, in any event, this looks like momentum: start the year in charge, no nonsense, get the economy moving.