Peter Luke retires

Peter Luke writes in The Press:

Perhaps the most awkward moment in my now extinct career at The Press concerned 9/11, the 10th anniversary of which is tomorrow.

Peter was in the press gallery for my first few years in Parliament. He was, and is, a top bloke. He was also a excellent journalist who had a real flair for political reporting. It was a sad day when he moved back to Christchurch to be their leader writer.

Journalism inevitably has its moments of embarrassment. I recall in my first year in the job in 1986 covering, well into the evening, an industrial dispute involving local bus drivers.

As we went to print, it was clear that the next day there would be a drivers’ strike. Whether I had downed a few drinks at the Media Club before crawling home I can’t recall.

But that might explain why passing motorists the next morning gave me puzzled stares as I sat at the bus stop for the bus which was never going to come.

Heh.

Having followed politics for so many years, it has often been asked of me who were the MPs that I most respected. So, in my final column, here is my assessment.

Michael Cullen. Simply the wittiest and smartest politician in recent history.

Jim Bolger. The most under- estimated prime minister I have come across. He made up for his lack of education by having an innate ability to relate to the aspirations of ordinary Kiwis. And, as many civil servants discovered to their cost, his image of being a simple King Country farmer did not mean that he would not understand their reports and unfailingly point to the flaws in them.

Rod Donald. His ability to combine his Green politics with political pragmatism was uncanny. We used to meet up weekly for a drink, initially at the Font Bar at the Heritage Hotel. Younger reporters would be puzzled when they took a message from Rod asking if we would be celebrating “communion” that afternoon.

Jim Anderton. One of the hardest politicians to interview (he can talk non-stop). But in the years of Rogernomics he had the courage of his convictions which must be admired.

Then there is the enigma which is Mike Moore. Just before heading overseas to campaign for the top World Trade Organisation job Mike summoned me to his Parliamentary office.

Mate, he said, in winter you’re officially having to go out into the cold for a smoke. But Mike told me I would be free to use his office, against the rules, for a smoke, to the point where he said where his cigarettes and ashtrays were stored, not to mention where the booze was.

I hope Peter enjoys his retirement.