Perspective with Ryan Bridge: Jacinda needs to face the Covid inquiry music

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Should Jacinda Ardern return to the country and face the Covid inquiry music? The answer, I think, must be yes.

I confirmed this morning on my Herald NOW show that the Royal Commission has reached out to Jacinda and asked her to attend in August.

The KC running the show would not answer whether she'd replied or whether she'd lawyered up, but he did say that the only way to get out of attending is if you're not the in the country because they don't have jurisdiction.

So the question is: as a former Prime Minister who wielded more power than Muldoon - war-time executive powers - as somebody who's always claimed their intentions were good, and as somebody who's claimed they were in politics for the children, will the former PM front this inquiry and be honest?

Honest about what really went on behind closed doors and behind those PPE masks?

Boris Johnson appeared at his country's inquiry, and twiddled his fingers and answered all that was put before him. Isn't there a moral obligation to the people of New Zealand, too? They still live with the consequences of decisions that she and her Cabinet made.

She's making money off books and all sorts while many businesses here never recovered from lockdowns. Isn't a little truth-telling in order?

I was one of just a handful of interviewers who grilled her on a weekly basis during this time period. I'm saving the best bits for a book one day, but there was image and stage control happening behind the scenes you wouldn't believe.

The problem for Jacinda if she decides not to front is this - and it's a question Kiwis will be asking themselves - what has she got to hide?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.