John Key keeps kicking to touch

WILLIE JACKSON

OPINION: Smiling Johnny Key doesn't like to miss a chance to be seen in the company of New Zealand's footy heroes whenever they're in the limelight.

You'll recall him beaming away with the All Whites when they were doing us proud at the soccer World Cup in South Africa some weeks ago.

And he has beamed even more along with Richie McCaw and his teammates when the All Blacks have had yet another win to celebrate.

So it was surprising that he didn't find some way to wrangle a trip to Soweto last weekend to bask in the reflected glory of New Zealand's third win for the season over the Springboks.

Rubbing shoulders with popular Kiwi achievers generally isn't a bad move for politicians who're keen on pretty well any way to persuade the voters to think positive thoughts about them.

And this year that's an even better move because there's a special aura about the All Blacks who're not only on a 14-game winning streak but who're also winning in style.

You'd hope, though, that the prime minister is bright enough to realise that there's more to be gained from associating with the All Blacks than just a series of photo opportunities.

One of those gains is the lesson that there are rewards for being bold.

So far the AB rewards have included the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations title.

Another has been the sheer pleasure and satisfaction for players and Kiwi onlookers alike of setting lofty standards – and going after them full bore. It's a no-compromise approach. It's a commitment to excellence and to what's right.

John Key could do worse than have a think about that.

Too much footy and politics have been about safety first.

It's what's been called kicking for touch.

And for all Key's reputation as a whiz kid, risk-taking, financial wheeler dealer in his pre-politics day, he has had a habit of kicking for touch just like other National prime ministers before him when the need has often been for a bold and moral response.

He had – and blew – that opportunity in the course of the negotiations with Tuhoe over the Urewera land which the Crown stole from them.

He's been just as gormless in the face of the need to reform our school system so that all our kids can grow up with a real grasp of the country's history and both its official languages.

And now, sadly, he's letting slip a great chance to put the brakes on the Kiwi booze culture.

The "reforms" which his government is suggesting aren't much more than tinkering.

There's no hint there of the courage and vision that we're seeing in our footballers.

- © Fairfax NZ News