The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has this morning finally acknowledged that there is a cost of living crisis, and she's indicated the Government will announce some kind of relief, presumably at the petrol pump.

She was able to choke out the C-word today - crisis; despite refusing to concede there was one just a few days ago. And this was probably so as not to be seen as buying into National's narrative. Christopher Luxon was the one who coined the 'cost of living crisis' phrase and he's been hammering that at the Government in the house. 

But by refusing to acknowledge it, by refusing to concede that such a thing was even possible under her leadership, despite the fact that many of the contributing factors are beyond to control, it may do look out of touch and obdurate in not conceding just how hard so many families are doing it right now. 

People are doing it incredibly tough. They are going to be doing it tough for a long time yet. And if the Government can do something to alleviate that, then they must.