Mike's Minute: Is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 2 MIN

Mike's Minute: Is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

from The Mike Hosking Breakfast · host Newstalk ZB

I wonder if it's time to ask the question – is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?  In the Herald's vast poll churn that produces the chances of the current Government being re-elected at about 88%, is the real revelation that the Greens have been going backwards since the last election?  The trouble appears twofold;  1) The falls have been slow. Almost so small and slow you most probably didn’t notice them.  2) Chlöe is a media favourite, so no one is really scrutinising her as to whether she's any good.  Now, yes, Marama Davidson is a leader as well and I suppose you can blame her as much as you can Chlöe. But to my eye and mind it's Chlöe who is the head leader, despite their best PC intentions to spread the load, or blame.  She is also not in Government, so you tend to get, if not a free ride, certainly an easier one.  Now obviously I'm not a Green voter so none of this personally matters to me. But I'm all about continual improvement and the Greens are not on a path of any such thing.  Under Swarbrick they have drifted. They have not grown. They are not the environmental party they once were under Fitzsimons or Donald. They are essentially angry socialists who campaign for the homeless and downtrodden.  They are virtue signallers.  She came to prominence because she was young. She was possibly seen as the future.  To give her her dues, she has run a good ground game in Auckland Central and won her electorate and that may be her strength – a good local MP.  Because she is not a good leader.  If the Greens are to excel, they need to be better managed. Obviously, the Tana, Doyle, Kerekere, and Ghahraman shambles adds to the sense the place is a mess.  But it's all unfolded under Swarbrick. The good news is if they want to recognise it, they can fix it.  Certainly if this had all played out as part of a coalition you would have thought she would have been ejected a long time back.  Saving her partially of course is the lack of talent behind her. Do you honestly see Genter or Menendez-March as saviours, or yet more of the same ill-disciplined verbal rabble?  When you pare it back, look at the noise versus the outcomes and include the inescapable numbers, she has failed as a leader.  So is she a bit useless? Yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NOW PLAYING

Mike's Minute: Is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

0:00 2:12

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. The Game Radio Popolare Soldi, lavoro, avidità, disoccupazioni: il grande gioco dell’economia smontato ogni giorno da Raffaele Liguori. Photo Breakdown Scott Wyden Kivowitz Photo Breakdown is a podcast in which we explore the world of photography with a trusted guide, host Scott Wyden Kivowitz. His expertise and passion bring the industry to life as we explore the stories, trends, and ideas shaping it today. Join us as we dissect everything from incredible photographs and creative techniques to the latest gear releases and hot topics in the photography community.In each episode, we break down what’s happening behind the scenes - whether it’s making a powerful image, a candid discussion on industry trends, or a reflection on the tools and technology changing how we make photographs. You’ll get insights, expert opinions, and a fresh perspective on what’s top of mind for photographers right now.Anticipate short, engaging episodes brimming with ideas and inspiration. Be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts, voice notes, and comments. Your participation is what makes our community vibrant and dynamic.It’s more than just photography - everyth The Last Outlaws Impact Studios at UTS In a History Lab season like no other, we're pulling on the threads of one of Australia's great misunderstood histories, moving beyond the myths to learn what the Aboriginal brothers Jimmy and Joe Governor faced in both life and death.Australia's budding Federation is the background setting to this remarkable story, that sees the Governor brothers tied to the inauguration of a 'new' nation and Australia's dark history of frontier violence, racial injustice and the global trade and defilement of Aboriginal ancestral remains. This Impact Studios production is a collaboration with the Governor family, UTS Faculty of Law and Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research.The Last Outlaws teamKatherine Biber - UTS Law Professor and Chief InvestigatorAunty Loretta Parsley - Great-granddaughter of Jimmy Governor and the Governor Family Historian Leroy Parsons - Governor descendant, Narrator and Co-WriterKaitlyn Sawrey - Host, Writer and Senior ProducerFrank Lopez - Writer,
URL copied to clipboard!