More National leaders than Labour leaders at Moore’s funeral

Newsroom reports:

His own Labour tribe, including the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and cabinet ministers and numerous MPs old and new, was there in force, with both Green Party co-leaders and the leader and two ministers from NZ First. The Labour list was a roll call of the past four decades: Jim Sutton, Rick Barker, Ross Robertson, Trevor Mallard, Annette King back from the High Commission in Canberra, Bob Harvey, Maryan Street, George Hawkins. There was Richard Prebble from the deep Labour past and Phil Goff from the Independent present. Helen Clark was overseas. 

There were mandarins, officials, lobbyists, High Commissioners and veterans. Most of all there were mates. 

But the breadth of Moore’s political history and impact, and personal warmth and relationships, was most evident by the blue party grandees who came to pay tribute: National leaders Sir Jim McLay, Jim Bolger, Dame Jenny Shipley, Sir Bill English, Don Brash, Sir John Key, and Simon Bridges. 

Beyond them, there seemed to be almost as many National MPs as Labour: Sir Don McKinnon pushing Paul East in his wheelchair, Sir Lockwood Smith, John Luxton, Murray McCully, Simon Power, Katherine Rich, Philip Burdon, John Banks, Gerry Brownlee, Scott Simpson, Chris Bishop and Paul Goldsmith.

Great to see so many MPs and former MPs there from across the spectrum.

I think all seven living National Party leaders attended. As best as I can tell from the story, there were two Labour leaders there and four not there.