Who will be the next Speaker?
September 10th, 2012 at 4:00 pm by David FarrarIsaac Davidson at NZ Herald reports:
National MP Tau Henare has put his hand up for the job of Speaker when Lockwood Smith leaves to become High Commissioner in London later in the year.
Mr Henare confirmed he was interested yesterday and said he had raised it with Prime Minister John Key.
He would not say what the response was – and Mr Key has also approached Maurice Williamson and David Carter.
Other names I hear mentioned are Anne Tolley and Peter Dunne. I do not believe Dunne wants the job. I also hear that David Carter’s preference is to remain a Minister, but will serve if needed.
If a Minister becomes Speaker, it is thought likely Nick Smith will be reappointed to the ministry. If Carter or Tolley become Speaker, then the vacancy would be in Cabinet. If Williamson becomes Speaker, then the vacancy would be outside Cabinet – and that might be seen as unsuitable for an MP of Nick’s experience.
Mr Henare is an outside chance – but believed he could do the job, including controlling the “argy bargy” of Parliament. Asked whether he had ever added to that “argy bargy” he admitted he had, but said that was valuable experience.
“I’ve spoken to people who’ve said, ‘That’s like giving the keys of the bank to the robber.’ I laughed at that, and I thought, ‘They might be right, but who better than someone who knows about how people operate in the House and enjoys the cut and thrust of the Debating Chamber.’
“What we are looking at is somebody who can handle the argy bargy, who can bring an amenable style, who enjoys the House and can see the serious side, but also the lighter-hearted side of the House as well.”
Tau is obviously campaigning on the poacher turned gamekeeper theory!
It would be nice if multiple candidates actually stood, so the House has a genuine election. But I suspect the National caucus will have an internal vote on a preferred candidate and all vote for that person.
Whomever does become Speaker will certainly have huge shows to fill. Lockwood had made a massive change in the way Parliament operates – and for the better. He will be missed.
Tags: Speaker
September 10th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Should be given to white motherfucking bullshit nigger Hone Harawira. Pretty much represents what a waste of time Question Time is in Parliament.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Endorse last paragraph. No Speaker in recent times has come within a bulls roar of him.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Tau is obviously in it for the perks given that he does sweet fuck all otherwise anyway. Useless MP.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Maurice Williamson? The minister who reduced the validity of NZ passports from 10 to 5 years on the grounds of improved security? The one who didn’t know how to disguise a blatant revenue-gathering, money-making excersise? The same rapacious politician?
Parliament is fucked with such talent as Speaker.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Now it’s on telly I guess it’s an opportunity for show ponies.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Hone and throw the Tau has no sense of decorum or truck with ye olde customs,they’d both rush to the chair with no pretence of reluctance.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Smith has been fantastic, mind you, Micky Mouse would have been a huge improvement on the previous dead-loss speaker
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Williamson can’t be trusted so he’s out.
Vote:Tau same thing.
Nick Smith isn’t credible either way.
Tolley No way.
Carter would be good.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Lockjaw Smirk sucks big hairy balls as speaker…IMHO
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Lockwood has been effective, but it must be remembered that for the majority of his time as speaker Winston the pratt has been absent. It’s like saying the police have reduced crime, when all the crims are in prison.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
who cares about your ” HO “
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
For me, one mp stands head and shoulders ahead of all others in his knowledge of the ways and processes of the house, with almost 30 years as an mp having served at the highest levels of Goverenment.
Speak forward speaker Winston Raymond Peters.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Crusher Collins is the obvious choice. Mallard and Little need not bother turning up if she got the job
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Winston could almost be a good choice. Keeps him away from anything important, and he’d probably be reasonably even handed.
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
liarbors a joke…hahaha
dipshit can’t even speel!!!…fuck you!!!
Vote:September 10th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
BWAV 5.34 … a candidate for the dipstick/most offensive post on this thread.
WRP … give me a break. Pay back the $155k (plus interest) he rorted from you and me to fund his election campaign and then, and only then, will I consider him a candidate for the most venial politician around.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:11 am
Being a successful speaker is about having the right temperament. That rules out Henare, possibly Williamson as well. Not sure qbout the rest. Lockwood had it easy in that Wilson was so bad. I will never forget the way she shreaked her way through question time. Just dreadful.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Tau’s made such as ass of himself in select committee that you’d have to be a nutter to select him.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Don’t care who it is so long as the wanker Smith doesn’t get invited back by his equally usless brat pack mates. Some of them have grown up but Smith never will. He is a walking disaster area.Not done a singlke Job in cabinet properly.
The word zealot describes him. We don’t need zealots.
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