Liam Hehir

Guest writer

Liam Hehir is from Rongotea, a small village in the Manawatū hinterland. He was formerly active in the National Party and writes about politics, religion and popular culture. He really hates it when people put cute or quirky references in their online bios.

Chris Luxon addresses the National party conference, August 7, 2022

A deathly dull conference that National will be delighted with

It went off without controversy – or even any real excitement – and that's all the party could wish for.

By Liam Hehir | 8th August, 2022

Screengrab: Q&A, addition design: Tina Tiller

What Luxon should have said

The leader of the opposition didn't do as badly on Q&A as everyone says, argues Liam Hehir, but he could've been better.

By Liam Hehir | 27th April, 2022

Simon Bridges in 2020 (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images; additional design by Archi Banal)

For Simon Bridges, it just wasn’t written in the stars

Very few people are fated to lead their country – and nobody should feel too badly about not being among their number.

By Liam Hehir | 16th March, 2022

Health minister Shane Reti (Photo: Lynn Grieveson – Newsroom via Getty Images)

After a year of acrimony, Shane Reti is the nice guy National needs

The elevation of Dr Shane to the deputy leadership may not set the world on fire, but his calm capability will be a balm for the wounded political party, writes Liam Hehir.

By Liam Hehir | 11th November, 2020

Could the social safety net be differently arranged? Photo: Getty

One big idea for the National Party to show it’s up for fresh thinking

The case for a dramatically different way of distributing benefits.

By Liam Hehir | 27th October, 2020

Jacinda Ardern, conservative

Jacinda Ardern, conservative

The prime minister is no free-market ideologue, but there is a conservative streak to her leadership, and that delights committed conservative Liam Hehir.

By Liam Hehir | 6th August, 2020

National Party leader Judith Collins addresses media with support from party members following the emergency caucus meeting on 14 July. (Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone)

The National Party is not an ideological movement

Why being a conservative party isn't the same as being a party with conservatives.

By Liam Hehir | 19th July, 2020

Simon Bridges addresses the 83rd Annual National Party Conference at Christchurch Town Hall as leader in 2019. (Photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Simon Bridges was brought down by his own shortcomings – and by terrible luck

Bridges will be licking his wounds right now, but don't count him out for good.

By Liam Hehir | 22nd May, 2020

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller (Getty Images)

National needs the leadership challenge to be a clean kill. It won’t be one

The divisions roiling National might be forgivable if they resulted in a newly invigorated party. That seems highly unlikely now.

By Liam Hehir | 21st May, 2020

Welcome to Rongotea, a village of 600 people organising to fight a pandemic (Image: Amanda Hodge – @amandahodge_itsthelittlethings)

‘Rongocare’: How a small NZ village is helping its people through the pandemic

Rongotea has created a pandemic support network with not much more than a cellphone, an email address and goodwill.

By Liam Hehir | 23rd March, 2020