Verity on Gerry

Verity Johnson writes:

But I did spend, over the period of three days, over five hours talking to Gerry Brownlee one on one. We see the world completely differently. We have nothing in common. And I don’t think we share a single similar opinion. I don’t think he agreed with a single thing I said the whole time.

But I don’t think I’ve ever had someone listen so sincerely to what I was saying.

Nor engage so thoughtfully, and genuinely, in the points I’m trying to make.

And, above everything, care.

Now, I talk a lot of smack about politicians. About an indifferent, unshakable, elite old school mentality of The Establishment that has screwed over a whole new generation of New Zealanders.

I assumed he’d be the poster boy for that. And I got him totally wrong. I arrived thinking I’d loathe him. I left thinking I should go drinking with him next time I’m down here.

In other words, I wrote him off as a pale stale boomer male who’d bounce between patronising me and dismissing me. And in doing so, I learnt a lot more about myself than I did about him.

I’m pleased Verity got beyond the caricature.