So the Prime Minister wants to develop a compassionate government.

What do you think that means?

Different things for different people. Different strokes for different folks probably.

Ardern talked about the sort of politics she likes to practise. She said you have to have a robust democracy but rejects that it should be about egos and scoring hits against each other.

Well if you want a robust government then the hits will never stop because it is part of it.

Show me a democracy anywhere in the world where the hits don’t come thick and fast, you won't find one.

You might find a government that is unopposed, but there is nothing compassionate about that because they have to enforce their will upon the population.

And egos. You cannot be in politics without an ego, you simply can't. The last person who I recall was Bill Rowling, that is a long time ago, and he failed, nice guy but he failed.

If you want to get anywhere you have to have an ego, if you want to get anywhere you have to drive things and you have to make hits.

And if you don’t, the other team gets away with it. It is really that simple.