I mean Ardern was PM and Peters her deputy. I don’t understand the angry at Jacinda. Her covid lockdown, vaccines, and border control rules were much more MILD than most New Zealanders wanted. There was overwhelming public pressure for her to go stronger. Almost everybody I talked to her about the anti-vax protesters thought they should be jailed and tried for treason.

From the outside she was driving the policies, but I think she was actually managing a difficult to control situation and putting the breaks on the extreme measures most kiwis wanted.

I know #[2]​ and I don’t have similar politics, despite both being American emigres to Aotearoa New Zealand. So his views are probably different.