Labour's David Parker had The AM Show hosts in hysterics on Friday with a ruthless tease of National's Simon Bridges, who released his much-anticipated book this week.
Wednesday not only marked the first day of New Zealand's latest alert level 4 lockdown - imposed on Kiwis after a case of the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant was detected in Auckland on Tuesday - but it was also the release date of Bridges' book titled 'National Identity: Confessions of an outsider'.
The former National Party's leader's biography promises not to be a political memoir but an "open, honest, and at times intensely personal" story about "race, fatherhood, marriage, masculinity, fitting in, and the things that shape our national character".
Unfortunately for fans and followers of politics hoping to get their hands on a copy, the lockdown means book stores are closed and many online retailers aren't shipping. Paper Plus, for example, has deemed Bridges' book "non-essential".
Speaking to The AM Show on Friday, the MP for Tauranga said it "wasn't an ideal week" to release a book.
"I suppose it goes to show David and his mates will do anything to rain on my parade," Bridges jokingly said with reference to Labour's David Parker, appearing alongside him on the show.
He wasn't yet aware of how many copies had been sold. The book can still be purchased to read electronically on devices like Kindles.
"Sadly, you can buy it online - and I am not trying to pump it right now, I promise you - but what is also true is you can't go to a book store. I believe there are Paper Plus' and Whitcoulls' with it in the front of their store all around.
"But I am not, you're not, allowed to see those at this time. But I am sure at some point in time, I don't know when, we will get out of lockdown and people will be able to purchase a copy and I hope the story resonates."
Parker said he would "certainly be buying a copy" as he was "interested to read Simon's thoughts", which Bridges said was "very charitable".
"I invited him to the book launch that we couldn't have," the National MP said.
Parker then out of nowhere teased Bridges: "There won't be many six-syllable words in it."
The burn had The AM Show hosts and Bridges himself in laughter.
"I am catering for the market David. That is the education system you guys are presiding over," Bridges replied.
Host Ryan Bridge, still laughing moments later, said: "That is not very nice, David, that is not very kind at all."
Bridges' book is said to discuss an infamous Facebook post he made during lockdown last year criticising a decision to extend alert level 4 for a week.
"New Zealand is being held back because the Government has not used this time to ensure best practice of testing and tracing and the availability of PPE hasn’t been at the standard it should have been," part of the post, published in April 2020, said.
The tone of the post was widely criticised, including by National Party supporters, and Bridges was rolled as leader a month later.
He was asked on The AM Show if he thought some of those reacting to the post were bots and that the negative reaction was contrived.
"Having possibly indulged in a conspiracy theory about David and his mates trying to stop my book launch, I probably shouldn't go into this one in too much detail," he said. "I don't know. I think it is possible. Certainly, others have made that case.
"I don't have any regrets. I do think it is the role of Opposition to be holding the Government to account at times like these. If we go back, I think my criticisms in the end were very moderate. If we look at this [outbreak], we have a situation where the rollout of vaccines has been far too slow. I think there is a role for Opposition fairly but firmly prodding and pushing the Government along.
"I paid a price for that, that is life in the fast lane. You are not going to see Judith Collins and my colleagues shying away from valid criticism of the Government at this time either."
Bridges was rolled by Todd Muller, who went on to step down from the role less than two months later, citing health problems. Muller, who was succeeded by Collins, announced his retirement from politics earlier this year after admitting to badmouthing a colleague to media.
