Author: Colin James

Has anyone in authority consulted you as to when the election should be? After all, elections belong to the people, don’t they?

Nope. Elections belong to the politicians. By royal prerogative, the election date is the Prime Minister’s to decide (subject to some constitutional niceties).

In the United States the President doesn’t decide election dates. They are fixed. The New South Wales Parliament has a fixed term, too. Here you are treated as fodder. It’s the politicians’ election and don’t you forget it. read more

You know something’s up when a National party conference, liberally grey-haired, starts proceedings with the Maori version of the national anthem and sings it with as much gusto as the English version.

It wasn’t long ago that half the country was aghast that the anthem was sung in Maori before an All Blacks game in Britain. What is going on? read more

Exhuming long-gone statesmen for political DNA tests has become a sport of academics in recent years. Last weekend it was Sir Robert Muldoon’s turn. He would have hated it.

Muldoon, Prime Minister from 1975-84, had a fetish for the “ordinary bloke” and practical commonsense. It suffused his entire policy range, including foreign affairs (which he equated with “trade”, though actually he was also driven by a dated sentimental attachment to Britain) and the economy, to the wreckage of which in the early 1980s he contributed considerably. read more

Michelle Boag is promising a third heavy hitter to add to her haul for National’s list of Don Brash and market-friendly green guru Guy Salmon.

For this election these icons will principally lift the morale of the faithful. Brash’s announcement certainly did that for regional conference delegates at New Plymouth at the weekend. read more

There is a point at which a government turns bad, like an apple. This one is still miles from that point but this past week it gave us a glimpse of what it will be like.

* Arts Minister Helen Clark’s signature on creations she didn’t create spawned much raucus and scathing mirth and made her an international laughing stock. The mirth was therapeutic for a nation mourning for its national sport. read more

Winston Peters is the most important candidate in this coming election. His fate in Tauranga might well decide whether Helen Clark gets a majority. And unless you live in Tauranga, you don’t get a say.

Let’s say New Zealand First gets around 4 per cent of the vote, a generous estimate, judging by recent poll ratings. Let’s say all parties (leaving aside New Zealand First) which don’t get seats in this election total 5 per cent (their total was 7 per cent in 1999). read more

Is it the first step to a republic or an overdue overhaul of the courts? Where is Attorney-General Margaret Wilson taking us with yesterday’s announcement that legal appeals to the Privy Council are to end?

She will bring a bill to Parliament this year to set up a new Supreme Court as a final court of appeal with five permanent judges headed by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias. The bill will likely pass next year if Labour continues to lead the government. read more

The proposed Supreme Court to replace the Privy Council revives arguments about how fairly and competently the needs of business will be handled.

The government is to announce today [Monday 15 April] the structure it will apply if it abolishes appeals to the Privy Council in London, as expected — a bill is expected in the House this year for passing next year. At the moment the highest domestic court is the Court of Appeal, from which litigants may appeal to the Privy Council. read more

It was a bad bill and it is proving to be bad act. Predicated on moral indignation, it is now a moral sham. But what’s the fuss? What counts in politics is winning.

The misnamed Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act turns out to be a screen for, not a ban on, party-hopping. It’s all legal — Bill English should give up pronouncing on the law — but it’s hardly ethical. The “integrity”, note, is in parentheses. read more