PM John Key responds to criticism the Government needs to pick up the pace - Audio

Prime Minister John Key delivered his first official address for the year outlining a four point strategy that would focus on fiscal management, improving productivity and competitiveness, delivering better public services and rebuilding Christchurch. But as Harvard School of Government adjunct lecturer and former US politician Marty Linsky pointed out in an article in The Listener last year, politicians, post the GFC, continue to avoid facing up to the difficult decisions. "One of the issues we’re dealing with is that people want their politicians to take care of them and tell them everything’s going to be better. They don’t want their politicians to force them to face the complicated, difficult issues that are going to require sacrifice, discomfort and adaptation to survive and thrive.” Thoughtfully, he goes on to say "My favourite definition of leadership is: it’s about disappointing your own people at a rate then can absorb.” In this interview John Key responds to criticism that the Government needs to pick up the pace.