Neil Young - good bloke.

[Lilith7]

Ardern, herself, said the government would "continue to be your single source of truth".  I'm sure she didn't mean it literally, but it was more than just a "slip of the tongue". It provided an indication as to what she thought of the general public and her role as leader.

I'm with you on Key but that doesn't disprove the validity of my comments with regard to Ardern.  Anytime a politician gets a large following of unquestioning adoring followers, it doesn't tend to be great for society. And there is no rational denying that, until recently at least, Ardern has enjoyed a lot of support from a general public that see her as essentially being able to do no wrong.  Crediting her with things she really had no influence on and vehemently defending her when she was shown to have lied, stuffed up, acted in her own interests etc.

Then if its so very obvious that it wasn't meant literally, there's little point in pretending that it was, except to score silly political points.

I think the reason for the PM's popularity may be that she's the first PM I can recall to show what I think is called 'emotional intelligence', which she did at the time of the terrorist attack here. To the best of my knowledge, no previous leader here or anywhere had impulsively hugged someone enduring huge suffering - it just 'wasn't done'.
But she did it, & made political history; that's likely to stick in the minds of voters & while there may be some few who adore her unquestioningly, most will not.

Politicians lie & avoid things; that's par for the course with them & most are well aware of that.