It is responsible for asking questions, for challenging Ministers, and for generally holding the Government of the day to account.
All of this is supposed to be on behalf of the New Zealand public.
What it is not supposed to do is peddle baseless conspiracy theories and sow the seeds of fear in the middle of a national crisis.
Covid-19 has reared its ugly head in New Zealand again, and all the information we have suggests the Ministry of Health and the wider Government response plans kicked in quickly.
Testing has ramped up, contact tracing is under way, and information is being disseminated to the public quickly and clearly.
But National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee questioned when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern knew about the outbreak, outlining a series of apparently suspicious events to imply the Government was not being transparent with the public.
Those events included director general of health Ashley Bloomfield telling New Zealanders to prepare for a second wave, and to have masks prepared.
"Then you saw the Prime Minister’s visit to the mask factory ... along with Dr Bloomfield, after 103 days of no community transmission having a test himself — all very interesting things to happen a matter of hours before there was a notification of the largest residential part of New Zealand going into Level 3 lockdown," Mr Brownlee said.
The fact that Dr Bloomfield and the Prime Minister have both been saying a second wave was inevitable for weeks appears to have been conveniently forgotten.
In contrast, Act New Zealand’s initial response to the new outbreak was a prime example of the role of the Opposition.
"We see our role as offering helpful feedback where possible and constructive criticism where necessary," leader David Seymour said.
"We will be asking the questions that need to be asked to help people have certainty and transparency through this period."
It was measured, clear and concise, supporting the public health response while also asking tough questions to ensure that response was robust.
Mr Brownlee’s response was instead reminiscent of how former National leader Simon Bridges misjudged the mood of the nation in the early days of the outbreak. That did not end well for either Mr Bridges or his party.
If the horror show of 2020 has taught us anything, it is that the public have no time for partisan political bickering and fearmongering during a genuine emergency.
If the National Party wants to present itself as a Government in waiting, it would do well to take heed.
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Comments
They really are the Gruesome Twosome are Judy and Gerry. In attempting to introduce Trump like tactics into our national political discourse they are showing their hand as to how they would govern us.
What's wrong with them trying to drain the swamp? Another Kiwi with Trump derangement syndrome. Orange man bad! Very bad! Only an idiot would make a comparison between New Zealand politics and American politics. Most Kiwis make really stupid comments about Trump and the American political system because they don't understand it. Like it or not, Trump's victory was a huge win...a landslide.
Yep, Hillary won the popular vote. So what! Every US election is measured by the electoral vote, not the popular vote. Why? It forces the government and candidates to go to all the states, not just New York and California. The states with the largest populations are Democrats.
The founding fathers created the electoral college so no corruption in any state could taint "the great body of the people" in their selection of the president. It was created to combat majority tyranny and support federalism and continues to serve those purposes. The Electoral College is also part of compromises made at the convention to satisfy the small states. Without it, votes in the small states count less than those people living in medium and large states. So, your complaint is about American politics not Trump!
Thank you for the history lesson. You are quite wrong about my understanding of the American political system though as I spend quite a lot of my time in New York and was there when Trump was inaugurated (I joined the protest marches). However, my point about attack style politics and Brownlee's egregious use of conspiracy theories to promote a political campaign is indeed a tactic employed by the sitting president of the USA and has no place in NZ. Also, please avoid the use of 'idiot' to describe people who think differently to or disagree with you in future as ad hominum attacks such as this only proves my point. No need to thank me for the advice, it is freely given.
I always thought it was odd that we Kiwis try and demonize our politicians by comparing them to Trump? There are far worse politicians than Trump to make a comparison? Equally, Trump-like tactics? He's a nationalist. So what! Half the stuff published here about Trump is total BS. People here still believe he stole the election from Clinton but are unable to explain exactly how. In looking at the latest news it actually appears all the negative stuff published about Trump actually came from the Clinton campaign. I realise people like this author think their comments are witty but they are really stupid and ill-informed; not to mention old and outdated! I don't mind reading funny and witty comments but these are dull and dimwitted. If your going to make comments like this, try and at least have some level of fact in them!
You and WandaW represent the insulting, exercised element of Social Media.
Everyone is ill informed in your Worldview.
Please, disagree with me if you like but I think you might do better to concentrate on your argument rather than calling me stupid for having a different view to your own. Mind you, it does illustrate my point about Trump like tactics being used in NZ.
I think the most I'll informed comments come from the Hill!
Interested to see what Trump like tactics your so outraged about? Boredom? Narcissism? Tweeting? O no, maybe lying? Mate, we already have Trump like tactics here in our politics. It's not on the scale of the US but it's definitely here. If you can't see that then you probably are what most would consider a wasted vote! Maybe consider politican as your next occupation.
National will look into anything, anything that bleeds so it can lead. Judith's first response once elected: We are going to crush the lot!" Judith has made many mistakes and bad choices and you can tell when she is not serious that her eyebrows will raise. Well the Opposition has diminished because of their dirty politics coming to the surface. They are a bunch that graduates in making bad choices.