Newsroom's 2022 Political Awards: It's been a slow crawl to the finish line of this monster political year full of highs, lows and everything in-between, writes political editor Jo Moir
For those who have forgotten some of the lighter moments of the year in amongst the cost-of-living crisis, the war in Ukraine, covid, and climate change - we hope you enjoy our 2022 political awards for the year.
Next year we're in the swing of the build-up to an election and look forward to bringing you all of that coverage, and so much more.
But for now, Newsroom's press gallery awards:
Hot Mic of the year Award
Jacinda Ardern certainly meant to call David Seymour an “arrogant prick”, she just didn’t intend for anyone other than Grant Robertson to hear it. That’s the unfortunate risk you run in the House with microphones everywhere. In the end charity was the winner after Seymour and Ardern signed a copy of the remark recorded in Hansard and sold it to the highest bidder.
‘Do as I say, not as I do’ Award
Only hours after the “arrogant prick” comment Seymour made a show and dance about, he was sat down chatting with Newsroom for his end-of-year interview. Becoming distracted by what was happening on Parliament TV, Seymour called National MP Jacqui Dean an “idiot” knowing full well there was a tape recorder right in front of him.
Award for Academic of the Year
Constitutional law expert Andrew Geddis says he’s used to academics being ignored. That wasn’t the case when he floated in a Newsroom story in June an idea, that he doesn’t personally support, of a 60 percent entrenchment provision for Three Waters. Green MP Eugenie Sage loved the novel idea so much she ran with it and got it passed in the House (albeit for just a few days) much to the horror of Geddis.
‘Fool me once, fool me twice’ Award
Ardern already had a book published about her in 2021 from a series of interviews on women in leadership, which she says she was “misled” about. Now she’s found herself tied up in a Netflix documentary produced by Harry and Meghan, which she says she didn’t mean to be part of. Ardern says she did the interviews for a project being run by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and was blindsided finding herself in the middle of this latest drama. You just can’t trust the entertainment industry!
Worst Coup Attempt Award
Green Party members decided they didn’t want James Shaw to be their co-leader anymore so they got rid of him, thinking Chlöe Swarbrick would be better. Turns out Swarbrick didn’t want the job, and nor did anyone else. So, after a big tour of the country re-convincing the Greens he really was the man for the job, Shaw was once again reinstalled as co-leader. You can’t help but laugh.
Hot Potato Award
National leader Christopher Luxon knew he was on a hiding to nothing with plans to scrap the top tax bracket in such hard economic times and saw an easy way to get rid of it on a busy day of inflation announcements where the Government was under pressure. Some would call it strategic; others would call it cynical. Either way, Luxon read the room in this economy.
Award for Wardrobe Malfunction of the Year
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi hadn’t planned to do an Insta Live in his undies with his co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, but after a technical failure trying to do a practice run that very much went live, Waititi had no choice. It was Waititi’s son who exclaimed his dad had no pants on, which had Ngarewa-Packer in fits of laughter while she continued to ask whether they were live or not. If in doubt Debbie, always assume you’re broadcasting.
The Mark Twain Award for Premature Obituaries
Covid-19. Talk of how the pandemic is over brings to mind the American writer’s (slightly embellished) response to a newspaper report about his imminent death: “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
The ‘Will They Won’t They?’ Award
Plenty of political leaders hate the rule in-rule out game in Parliament but sometimes the answer is just so simple it doesn’t require any contemplation or refusal to engage. Coalescing with some people (Brian Tamaki) is just an obvious and easy big fat no. Why it took Christopher Luxon so many days to work that out, we’ll never know, but congratulations to the newbie to politics for getting there eventually.
Goneburger Memorial Award
To every prominent person in the world of politics who has decided to call it quits over the past year – we goneburger you. From Kris Faafoi to Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Trevor Mallard to Gaurav Sharma and Jacqui Dean to Simon Bridges – we say farewell to you all.
Speaking of goneburger – Newsroom's press gallery team is goneburger for now too.
We look forward to being back in 2023 and are so grateful to all our subscribers, readers, and commenters who keep us going.
– Jo, Sam, Marc and Emma
