When we look for a leader, be it in politics or sport or business or whatever, we look for someone who has a clear set of values that we can readily identify, has sound judgement, can handle a crisis and articulate themselves clearly.  These traits have been the hallmark of Helen Clark’s leadership, and a reason why people no matter what side of the political fence they are on have admired how she has done her job.

My fear that we really do not know enough about who John Key is or what he believes in has been exemplified in three examples that have come to light in recent days

• Key has been caught out saying to a business audience in the Far North that he would love wages to drop.  Check out the article here.  His expressed concern for workers wages seems to be a message for that audience, with a different message for a business audience.
• Key has been reported by the Southland Times as proposing a Muldoonist style subsidy for the meat industry in the form of a suspensory loan. The description of how this happened, on the hoof, with Bill English wandering aimlessly around a farm, would be hilarious if it were not such a disturbing insight into Key’s style of work.
• Thirdly we have reports saying that National will support amending the repeal of Section 59 Act that they helped put through Parliament last year.  This is extraordinary, only months after Key helped find a compromise that was widely supported. 

I have long suspected the things that made John Key a successful money trader- following the wind, taking the best deal today, and a different better deal tomorrow, are the very things that should make all New Zealanders wary of his leadership. 

It is bad enough in terms of making policy, but what would he do faced with a crisis or a big call like commiting New Zealand troops or intervening in a humanitarian crisis such as the Tampa?

Just not ready to lead.