Chris Hipkins is once again facing questions over his credibility, after claiming this week that he never advised New Zealanders to get vaccinated.
The problem is, there is clear footage of him doing exactly that.
At the time, Hipkins wasn’t offering neutral information or simply outlining options. He was actively encouraging uptake, telling people “we need you to do that now” and describing the mRNA vaccine as “one of the safest vaccines you could possibly get.” That is not passive communication. That is direct advice aimed at everyday Kiwis.
Now, with those comments resurfacing, the attempt to rewrite history is hard to ignore.
This raises a broader issue that goes beyond Covid policy. Trust matters. When a senior political figure is seen to contradict their own public statements, it inevitably calls their word into question across the board.
That brings us to the allegations made by his ex-wife. Hipkins and his supporters have been quick to dismiss them, but situations like this do little to reinforce his credibility. If the public can clearly see one instance where the truth is being bent, it becomes harder to take outright denials at face value.
Hipkins may hope this moment passes quickly. But for many, it simply reinforces a growing perception that what he says now cannot always be squared with what he has said before.
