Costing the earth
The understated politician sounds like an oxymoron, but as tributes to the recently deceased Stan Rodger remind us, there’s a lot to be achieved under the radar.
Rodger, nicknamed “Sideline Stan”, was a steely, wily reformer in the Lange Labour government, but his affability and old-fashioned reticence about showing off masked his efficacy, making him all the more effective.
The art of good stealthbomber politicians is that even when they talk softly but carry a thumping great stick, everyone discounts the stick because “that’s just good ol’ Stan”.
Few would have guessed the Beehive’s current custodian of the lethal invisible stick is Commerce and
