A portfolio for Banksie
July 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am by David FarrarUnless there is a major upset, John Banks will become the MP for Epsom after the election. Now I don’t think Banksie is coming back to Parliament so he can sit on the cross-benches. It is highly likely that John will want to be a Minister again, especially as he has significant experience as a Minister.
So the question is, what portfolio would John Key give Banksie if they win the election? He could take Police again, but do you want to go back to your exact old job? Plus Judith seems very attached to it.
Thinking about it, the perfect ministerial job for Banksie is to be given Judith Tizard’s old job, and made Minister for Auckland! Wouldn’t that just be delicious.
Could you imagine the cries of horror from Len Brown’s mayoral office when he finds out his new Minister is Banskie 
July 25th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Thats a great thought, DPF! You come up with gems sometimes and that was a good one!
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Is there still such a portfolio?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:20 am
You have a wicked sense of humour, David.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Minster for Annoying Blokey-sounding Nicknames?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Delicious Irony
and you had better give Him Arts & Culture while you are at it.
What an ego boost.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:32 am
Given ACT’s penchant for recycling ageing politicians, perhaps he could become Minister for Senior Citizens?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:34 am
For that reason (relationship with Len Brown and his team) it would be unwise for Banks to be involved in local government or Auckland issues.
Probably best he stay clear of portfolios relating to compliance and/or financial markets too, but that’s more Justice.
He’s done police in the past, but why go back?
Defense, infrastructure, economic development (or subsets of that portfolio), and maybe even Energy, Transport or Revenue.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Minister of Rail Loops?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:40 am
bloody backdoor mayors…
rejected by the people in a fair vote and getting back in charge after being gifted a soft electorate.
We need to abolish first-past-the-post.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 10:02 am
That would have all the Labour MPs looking as if their pet dog had been run over by a SUV with Roger Kerr, and Don Brash in it. Joking adide a Minister for Auckland, who actualy did something would be a reasonable idea.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Wicked!
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 10:10 am
banksie is pro growth and its “great opportunities” he is the man for the rentier classes: those who capture the capital gains and rents around Auckland and whose view improves with their wealth.
Fast track to Hong Kong:
http://www.chinaworker.info/en/content/news/1501/
Of course:
“people are our greatest asset”
[(especially) if they enter the property market].
“New Zealand’s population is tiny”
[the world population is exploding- it's a "J" shaped curve].
“New Zealand is only 1%? urbanised” and “the Auckland City Councils care more about cows”
Vote:[might have a point as compared to Japan we are more urbanised
but
The savings Working Group has pointed out that house prices have risen after waves of immigration and have remained high and incomes haven't risen as the general population has to pay for new infrastructure.]
July 25th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Of course God is ruling everything and God wants me to be rich. There can be no global warming and We Won’t Run Out!.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 11:08 am
SCHADENFREUDE ???????????????????
Yes!
To those who believe Brown is a legitimate Mayor (having regard to ” who pays the piper”, I understaand from GOOD SOURCES that if the vote had been of ratepayers, Brown may have been down the list. How those sources come to this conclusion I have no idea. But look at London as a precedent. First, The Red Mayor…and now Boris. Red Brown and then …….. (who) ?
Lightenup folks.
Also..
Miken…
JK can certainly, if he was so disposed, do what Helengrad did with Tizzie.
The Govt could actually create a Ministry for the abolition of Mikens……
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 11:10 am
It would be interesting if the politicians of yesteryear faced off todays politicians. Would they think Auckland was better?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 11:50 am
What about making him Minister of Local Government?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Minister of Big Mouths on Small Men?
Associate Minister of Failed Roading Projects?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
And Maori Affairs for Brash?
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
It would be delicious if he wins the seat but without enough votes to carry Brash into parliament
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@Mark 2:02 pm
It would be even more delicious if the good people of Epsom decide they have had enough of these turkeys and vote en masse for Goldsmith. While ACT’s economic liberalism may appeal to many in the Epsom electorate, I expect a good number will be put off by Brash’s renewed vigour in appealing to the racist underbelly of NZ society. Epsom voters tend to be socially liberal too.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Here’s few portfolios that could reflect his likely importance after the election:
Minister for the Rugby World Cup (after it’s finished)
Vote:Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
Mniister of Women’s Affairs
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
July 25th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
toad (2,935) Says:
July 25th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I expect a good number will be put off by Brash’s renewed vigour in appealing to the racist underbelly of NZ society. Epsom voters tend to be socially liberal too.
Are you sure you have this right. I can’t recall Brash ever supporting Hone and Mair and the Maori Party et al.
They are the real racists in NZ.
But you wouldn’t recognize them as such would you.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Good Luck to Brash and Banks.
NZ does not actually need either of them, having lived in Epsom and been to school in the area, I think we can do with out extreme right wing people who have issues with the Maori Race and the less fortunate in society.
In NZ we measure people by their wealth no matter how they acquired those funds.
A true measure of the health and well being of our society is how society is operating as a whole.
NZ must realise something is going wrong with social statistics and develop some sound strategies to improve society as a whole, the trickle down theory has not worked.
Dr Brash has mainly worked in the macro economic field where Treasury plays with interest rates, inflation rates and currencies and policy. What we need is a growth strategy whereby people and industries that actually produce goods and services grow and increase our export income. Small to medium size businesses need Government support to grow and develop as the NZ market is small however the cost and the risk in developing overseas markets is great.
Our primary sector which has been primarily funded by the private sector and tourism are still our major income earners.
We have been stagnating for a long time and need to think long and hard where we are going and how we are going to get there.
Vote:July 25th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Perhaps you should listen then to Brash and ACT.
Might be a revelation for you.
Act have always had clear policy about these things.
and before you rush into print go do the research.
Vote:Its not that hard to find.
That’s what gets me about people like you. Its all been out there for years but you have failed to be bothered because you just too bloody lazy to be bothered to educate your selves.
And you see that’s the problem here. Too many lazy people.