Are there really 2,498 people in New Zealand following the Facebook page, “NZ Swim”? Unbelievable. 15% of Swimming New Zealand’s (SNZ) total membership admit to following the page’s semi-literate rubbish. The author’s most recent rants involve the COVID regulations. If you have any interest in understanding that subject stay well away from “NZ Swim”. The dog’s-breakfast and muddled thinking on “NZ Swim” will sow confusion in the minds of 2,498 struggling New Zealanders.

A far better idea is to go to the decision-making source, the SNZ webpage. You will find that Dale Johnson and Chloe Francis have set out clearly, logically and in English we can understand how various swimming events are affected. Thank you SNZ.

But for the love of all that’s good in a swimming pool stay well away from the “NZ Swim” Facebook page.

Mind you it may be of interest to know that, on the third Saturday after the second Tuesday in December 2022 Jacinda Ardern may open the Waitemata Harbor to all eleven-year-old boys who have had their first COVID injection, but girls who turn twelve, two days before and have had both jabs can swim in a restricted area around Mission Bay but must not travel to Taupo or Wanaka because Dr. Bloomfield is not sure how fresh water affect the virus and only if they have paid SNZ double their normal membership fee.  

See, I can write a 93-word sentence that means nothing just as well as the author of “NZ Swim”. I get one impression from the “NZ Swim” rants. The author dislikes whatever Jacinda Ardern does to control the pandemic. He dislikes SNZ and Ardern in equal measure. His opinions are irrational nonsense.

What causes me to say that? Afterall, Eyad’s swimming training has been impossible for 13 weeks. That is a serious blow. In 50 years coaching I have never stopped training before for 13 days, let alone for 13 weeks. In addition to all that I encouraged Eyad to become a refugee here in part to access freedoms, safety and opportunities that were not possible in his home. The current lockdown has put all that at risk. So yes, I am pissed.

In addition, I recognise the good people who have invested millions in pools and swim-schools are in danger of losing it all. Government aid that is a third of a swim-school’s fixed overheads only serves to extend the financial torture. The spectre of insolvency is just as real. For private pool owners, it is a terrible, terrible time.

However, I also recognise that leaders must lead. In times like the mosque murders we expected Jacinda to show compassion. And she did. In fact, during her time in power she has been called to respond to earthquakes, volcanos, treaty negotiations and international military changes. In all cases her leadership has answered the challenge well.

But the government and Jacinda’s greatest challenge has been COVID 19. Her problem is simply that doing the right thing is also unpopular. Politicians hate that. Just listen to the cheap shots radio morons like Hosking and du Plessis-Allan fire at Jacinda’s leadership. It is not hard to work out why Jacinda is the leader and the other two braindead loudmouths.

Doing the unpopular but right thing is the ultimate test of character. Whether David Wright, Eyad Masoud, Mark Bone or whoever else hates Jacinda, medical people are clearly telling her, “Do not open Auckland pools.” And so far, Jacinda has had the courage, the backbone and is deep down tough enough to say the right thing is for her to say, “No, the pools stay closed.” And if you think about it, that is the sort of leader any country, including New Zealand needs.

Left school at 16 Hosking and Pacific Island opponent du Plessis-Allan might not think so. But I suspect they may think Prime Minister is no job for a woman either.

Anyone can lead a country in the good times. In week 13 of a pandemic – not so much. And so, yes, I am right pissed with Jacinda. She is closing my pools. She is stuffing up the financial health of good swimming people. She is putting years of training in preparation for the Commonwealth Games at risk. I hate all that.

But I also admire her leadership for standing firm. That’s the sort of leader New Zealand needs. That’s the sort of leader I want. And that is also the sort of leader I will vote for next time.