Well it looks like ol’ Helen didn’t make the cut for the election this year. It was sort of to be expected, considering the length of time they had been in government. I think she’d just gotten too comfortable with things and didn’t really push herself.
Nevertheless, she was good for NZ I believe. I believe her stance on Iraq was correct and understood when she made comments about it (“I cannot think it is a credible or tenable position to say that we should do something that we deeply believe is wrong for some material pay-off and I wouldn’t be party to it”). She was sensible, straight-forward and approachable, which can’t easily be said about politicians in general.
Thanks Helen for all your work – NZ is a better place because of the work you did.
I only hope Key can live up to be half the person she is.