Man is born free but everywhere we are in supply chains. Rousseau’s point was that we are greater slaves to others than we realise. We are slaves to the quantity of oil and gas getting out of the Persian Gulf.

Iran is not falling apart yet, so it’s hard to see shipping moving freely around the Persian Gulf any time soon.

Nicola Willis is right to focus on targeted support through the tax system. But the Government’s talk of “worst case scenarios” and possible rationing shows they have learnt nothing from the mistakes of Covid, when local fruit shops and butchers were wiped out and supermarkets preferenced.

I have limited sympathy for businesses that did not hedge by buying political risk insurance or options to buy extra fuel if needed. If businesses didn’t know there was a risk that conflict might metastasise in the Middle East, and that fuel supplies might be disrupted, well congratulations. You’re the prime minister.

Josie's column in the Post is here.

Josie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan and Trish Sherson on Newstalk ZB for the Huddle to discuss a downgrade in New Zealand's credit rating g by ratings agency Fitch, and Winston Peters' State of the Nation speech.

What Christopher Luxon should have said was: We call on all parties to respect international law.

He could have said the Iranian regime was wicked and needs to be held to account.

The Prime Minister should have said problems in the world are not caused because international law has failed but because it has been absent.

What he actually said was: “Well, I mean, we obviously understand. We’re not saying that, what we’re saying is. We understand there’s. I don’t know how to be any clearer guys.”

The drums are beating for him now. This is not the leader we need in times of war.

I can’t be any clearer guys.

Josie's Post column.

Josie was on Newstalk ZB to discuss the US and Israel strikes in Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other topics.

Josie was The Huddle on Newstalk ZB to discuss the Leader o the Opposition's State of the Nation speech, pay for local councillors, and move along orders for rough sleepers.