The new Speaker
January 31st, 2013 at 2:21 pm by David FarrarIt is no surprise that the Rt Hon David Carter has just been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Labour put up Trevor Mallard as a candidate. Not sure that was the best way to try and get the Maori Party or Tau to vote for you 
There were no proxy votes allowed for the election.
After the speeches of congratulation, Speaker Carter will go to Government House to present his credentials and the House adjourns until the week after next.
The vote was 62-52.
Tags: David Carter, Parliament, Speaker, Trevor Mallard
January 31st, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Mallard! They are taking the piss!
Vote:Why are we paying these clowns so much for these antics?
January 31st, 2013 at 2:28 pm
David, how do you interpret the abandonment of the convention (if it is indeed a convention) of at least the pretense of cross party consultation?
[DPF: I'm not sure it is a convention. However FWIW I think consulting is a good idea and should have happened]
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Can’t say I think too highly of National’s pathetic selection either, although there aren’t exactly any quality candidates in the National party. Definitely a step down in competency when compared to Smith.
John Key is a smart planner. Not discussing the speaker role with Labour so that Labour would put up Mallard at the last minute, falling right into the trap of allowing attention to be detracted from the useless appointment that is Carter.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Lockwood Smith wasn’t highly regarded as suitable for speaker until he had proven himself as a groundbreaking speaker.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Carter is a long time National Party drone and one who has been a big help in making it what it is today, one of the most useless and impotent collection of politicians that the Nats have ever mustered.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Mallard would have been a good option – Near the end of his career, knows the standing orders inside out, vast experience in the debating chamber, centrist, etc.
I had forgotten that David Carter even existed until the issue of speaker became a hot topic.
Probably best to avoid Tau.
January 31st, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Rt Hon David Carter?? When did the Rt Hon happen???
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Lockwood will be a hard act to follow. Hard to see Carter being up to that standard but who knows.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@ Mark – no-one expected Lockwood Smith to become one of the best Speakers in living memory when he started out either. Carter may yet prove to be an excellent choice.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Great to see David Carter, as the new Speaker elect. Very pleased it is not Trevor Mallard.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:57 pm
“no-one expected Lockwood Smith to become one of the best Speakers in living memory”
Speak for yourself. I knew he would do good.
(and its “no one”, without the hyphen. If you’d had an education instead of an indoctrination, you’d know that)
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 2:58 pm
@BeaB, that was my thought too, I mean talk about not respecting the position of speaker, Mallard would not have a clue how to be an impartial speaker…. let alone the patience to deal with one Winston Raymond Peters
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 3:15 pm
@tvb: The title “The Right Honourable” (abbreviated to “The Rt. Hon.”) is granted to and may be used and retained for life by those persons who currently hold, and those persons who after the date of the signing of these rules are appointed to, the following offices:
The Governor-General
The Prime Minister
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Chief Justice
http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/overview/rthon
Sorted.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Cam Slater on WO blog pointed out that Labour nominating Mallard was a stupid move. They should have nominated Maurice Williamson
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 3:23 pm
National seem to have misstepped, but Labour in return threw a hissy fit. Real school yard stuff, and it made both look really petty. Bure much more on Labour since they were the ones doing all the screaming.
One wonders if that is really what they were after.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Mallard as Speaker?? Imagine it…
“Fuck you, sit down and shut up, shut the fuck up you tory wanker! Oh you want some do you? Do ya?! You wanna taste of my fucking hammer?! Step outside and say that you prick!”
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Redbaiter said:
“Do good”? Surely you mean “do well”. Perhaps your education wasn’t that crash-hot after all
January 31st, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Ah, yes, but the situation would have been richly deserved by them both.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Does this mean Shearer has finally decided that that bullshitting hypocritical and disgraceful little prick is headed for the sidelines?
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Anyone hear Kenny rogers and his point of order? What a muppet.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 5:56 pm
@Richard Hurst – yep but Parliament would be worth watching – could put it on prime at 7pm to rival Shortland Street!
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 5:59 pm
I thought the speaker elect was supposed to be dragged kicking and screaming to the chair (Lockwood did resist a little when he first was appointed. as part of the tradition.) Though Carter practically sprinted to the chair!
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Mallard as speaker would have been HUGELY entertaining but, as a tax payer, I must decline the entertainment in favour of fiscal prudence and decorum. His ego would have cost us more than he was worth. By many, many degrees.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 7:18 pm
I note that some here are hoping that Carter is as good as Lockwood. I am sure he will be, hopefully without the sense of self importance that Lockwood displayed.
As for Carter being neutral, hell I hope he is as biased as Wilson. I want to see the Labour scum scream and yell as they have to suffer through the same crap that Labour forced upon us when they elected Wilson as speaker.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 7:49 pm
It’ll be hard for Carter to outdo Margaret Wilson or Gerard Aloysius Wall!
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Keeping Stock (8,538) Says:
January 31st, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@ Mark – no-one expected Lockwood Smith to become one of the best Speakers in living memory when he started out either. Carter may yet prove to be an excellent choice.
Vote:—————-
Like Reddy, I also thought he would be great.
If you thought or hadn’t thought about it then that show’s how much notice you have taken of his years in Parliament.
No wonder you can’t pick decent MP’s in the Nat ranks. Can’t tell the good from the useless.
Which is why there is so many .– Useless ones.
January 31st, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Russell Redbaiter giving spelling and grammar lessons…how’s the prostRate today Russell? How many times do you normally have to micturate during the night?
Interesting (and valid) point that Lockwood has proven to be the best speaker in living memory, whereas no-one would have thought so prior to his election…but when you think about it, the guy had prior form as a performer and speaker (with a small “s”)…I somehow can’t see Carter living up to the very high standard set by Dr the Rt. Hon. Lockwood Smith…always a little puzzled that a guy so lacking in pretension insisted on the full title…
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Not as pretentious as say: “His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular”.
But I get your point DG!
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Johnboy: I think you actually quote the late dictator’s title accurately! Not sure about “Lord of all the Beasts”…
Now there would have been a post for Russell…Head of Security for the Field Marshall….
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 8:25 pm
You and Russell should play nicely.
Vote:January 31st, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Johnboy: My favourite African dictator was Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbengu wa za Banga, which I’m reliably informed means “The cock who leaves no hen untouched”.
Vote:February 1st, 2013 at 6:54 am
Congratulation speeches for David Carter in parliament yesterday, text and video.
http://yournz.org/2013/02/01/tributes-to-new-speaker-david-carter-from-parliament/
Vote:February 1st, 2013 at 11:26 am
Let’s face it nobody could have been as bad as Margaret Wilson – even Trevor.
Vote: