Heather du Plessis-Allan: Ihumātao decision only the beginning
19 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
4 minutes to read
The occupation at Ihumātao in January, 2020. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
OPINION: Generally, the closer to Christmas a government announces something, the more unpopular that thing probably is. It s the old trick of slipping out bad news while voters are too distracted by present-shopping and too worn out to care.
That was the case with this week s Ihumātao announcement. Left until a week before Christmas Eve, held until three hours after the Prime Minister had finished her last media conference with journalists for the year.
There is a list of reasons this announcement may be unpopular with voters. First, the use of $30 million of taxpayer money to reward the land occupiers. This, in the same week Treasury warned the Finance Minister that money is now so tight that strong management of revenue and expenses is required .