Rt Hons
Buckingham Palace has announced:
At The Queen’s request, new rules for the granting and use of the title “The Right Honourable” will apply in New Zealand to preserve an important mark of distinction for the holders of the Nation’s highest public offices.
Henceforth, those appointed to the offices of the Governor-General, Prime Minister, Speaker and Chief Justice will be granted the title “The Right Honourable” ex officio, for life. This will bring a measure of association and continuity with the recent past; formerly, the most senior members of the Judiciary and the Executive in New Zealand gained this right upon appointment to the Privy Council, a practice which no longer exists.
John Key, up until today, was looking to be pretty much the only NZ Prime Minister not to be a Right Hon. He comments:
Prime Minister John Key says while he was personally content to have the title “Honourable”, he appreciates the Queen’s wish to recognise service in the office of the Prime Minister.
“Her Majesty believes it is appropriate also to acknowledge the service of the Governor-General, the Queen’s representative in New Zealand, the Speaker, the highest officer in the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice, the head of the judicial branch of government.
I understand this is normal practice in other realms. and makes more sense to me than appointing people to the UK Privy Council. I really don’t think this is something the PM would have pushed.
The Chief Justice was already a Rt Hon – the second to last one appointed before today. Joining her are the GG, the PM and the Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith.
Personally I feel the title got devalued back in 1998 when Winston was made a Rt Hon.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Until the next one.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Great Stuff and about time. That treachorous Clatk should have been taken to the Tower and beheaded in the order of all who have betrayed Queen and Country.
And dont get me started on the Privy Council. Look at the disaster that is the Supreme Court. The only thing Supreme is the cockups of its decision.
The quality of the members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council are such that the members of the Supreme Court are mere legal clerks by comparison.
Their own importance is only matched by the lack of depth and breath of their legal knowledge compared to the Judicial Committee
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Well, In regards to Winston maybe a Private Bill to amend that particular title is in order
I like this action, though Canada seems to have patriated their privy Council, Why can’t we do the same… it also resolves the nostalgia issue of people wanting to return to appeals to the Privy Council..
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Honour n – personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles.
Let’s stop kidding ourselves … there is no honour in the vast majority of our politicians.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:30 pm
The “Rt Hons” handed out when Winston got his traditionally lapse upon the death of the Sovereign, as it’s a title given in recognition of being his or her advisor (I wonder what Elizabeth II needs Winnie’s advice on? Perhaps she just lets Prince Phillip chat to him on Twitter about “bloody darkies” and the distrustfulness of these “slanty eyed buggers” and other items of mutual interest).
Anyway, no Lizzy, no “Rt Hon” for Winston.
Just sayin’…
I mean personally I think she’s a great lady, but she has had a good innings, and well…
[The penalties for treason aren't that bad, are they? :-/ ]
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:34 pm
So who had more honour Sir Edmund Hillary or a bunch of self serving politicians ?
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Glad to see Klark goons Cartwright and Wilson will miss out on the ‘tittle’.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Colonel – You sir, are far more worthy of the title of ‘honourable’ than any of our current MP’s. You served us, while they serve themselves.
Edit: Not often I agree with you grumpy, but we’re on the same page here.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Honour apparently comes with the job krazy.
In the infantry we were a little more fusy about who we shared a hole with.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
On R&R?
I think fancy titles like this are unnecessary fluff. Don’t see that they do anything for the country. Ed had sufficient respect without needing to be ponced up.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
@Murray – That’ll be why Chris Carter is in parliament, not the infantry
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Thanks Krazy, but I think you have me confused with Lt Colonel John Masters.
My non de plume stems from this fellow: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Aliases_of_the_Master
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Colonel Masters at 3.57:
If you are not Lt Col John Masters, then that’s a bit rough, Colonel Masters. You have let posters confuse you for a year or more, including praising Lt Col Masters’ book, defending “Colonel Masters” posts in the belief it was Lt Col John Masters, expressing support in Lt Col John Masters in his battle with cancer, and pleasure at his reunion with the Gurkhas.
If indeed you are not Lt Col Masters, why have you allowed the charade to continue so long? Many earlier posts were highly obviously in reference to Lt Col John Masters.
Were you having a joke at Lt Col John Masters’ expense?
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
The venal Winston is capable of devaluing any possible epithet. For example, say “Peters whore” and all whores are forever tainted. Same for murderers and rapists.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Right Hon bullshit… most of our forbearer come to NZ to get away from this sort of bullshit.
Sir Dick Hon Wankers… they only get my respect if they earn it… a giving status title or a mark of distinction won’t change my view.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Hi Jack5,
My WordPress login was chosen a long time before I had heard of Lt Col John Masters. His recent (2009/2010) ‘rediscovery’ by the media has pushed him more into the public eye and perhaps this has generated some confusion here.
I certainly have never traded on his reputation or attempted to pass myself off as him. I am not sure which posts you are talking about that are “highly obviously in reference to Lt Col John Masters.”
It should have been fairly obvious that a gentleman like him would be unlikely to adopt the handle “Colonel Masters”. Nevertheless, I apologise to anybody who feels ‘had’ and am happy to change my screen name if people feel this is warranted.
CM
Edit to add: (My login was chosen in September 2007)
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Oops… edited because in wrong thread.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Chris Hipkins MP is being a total Twat over at Red Alert, suggesting that Mr Key sought the Rt Hon title when it seems to me to have originated from the Palace. His comprehension of the constitutional issues and our democratic traditions as regards our Head of State seem to be somewhat cavalier to say the least.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm
“Personally I feel the title got devalued back in 1998 when Winston was made a Rt Hon.”
Salute the uniform not the person, DPF.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I agree with krazykiwi at 3:48pm
Very few of our politicians would be considered “right” and even fewer “honorable”.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 pm
lol. so true.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:43 pm
No, way before then DPF. It was devalued when Robert Muldoon was made Tt Hon. back in 1975, only to be exacerbated when he awarded himself a knighthood a few years later, while still PM.
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:03 pm
For the first time I have to agree with toad: The slippery slope started with the crook and petty tyrant Muldoon.
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Somebody asked me why John Key wants to be PM if he’s so rich. Well he gets a few perks: Rt. Hon. title, $800k of travel in a year, etc.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:02 pm
You can bet the Queen in London didn’t come up with this idea for remote NZ. It will have been the result of lobbying or requests from NZ, probably via the Governor General.
These nobs can put whatever honorifics they like on the business cards, they can’t make us use them.
As for Reid at 6.46:
When it comes to bowing to politicians and the like, anyone with backbone surely prefers William Tell’s response to Gessler.
August 4th, 2010 at 8:39 am
The Queen only acts on advice – for UK honours from the UK PM for NZ from the NZ PM. About time the bullshitting and faux modesty stopped.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:32 am
That doesn’t mean it wasn’t her idea. John Key rocks up to meet the Queen at about the time he was advising her to re-instate knighthoods. She says … you’re the PM why aren’t you the Rt Hon.? He explains, though she knew already. She says she would welcome advise to change it because that’s how they do it elsewhere, he’s the PM, should be Rt Hon., etc.
Some time later, after officials have looked into it, he gives the advice.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Key’s finger prints are all over this. What a jumped up, pretentious little jerk. Reminds me of Muldoon’s knighthood, when he ‘left the room’ while the decision was made. Mallard is correct, the Queen only acts on advice from Key. The idea she took pity on him for not being a ‘Rt. Hon’ is laughable.