Some well-known New Zealanders have announced plans to stand for parliament.
There has also been a chorus of detractors, and while I understand that I don’t agree with the negativity.
I don’t know any of this new crop of potential politicians, though one would have lived a fairly sheltered life not to have heard of them.
Taine Randell was an All Black captain, and obviously a leader of people striving to achieve at a very high level.
Stuart Nash I’m less sure about. He suffers from a mild dose of foot in mouth disease. Apart from that though, my impression of him as a cabinet minister in a Labour-led government, was first class until it wasn’t. He seemed to me to have ability in spades.
I’d used to listen to Micheal Laws on the radio, as I drove my digger. At the least he was entertaining, and at best provided a fairly intelligent radio show that was thought provoking. Also from where I sit , he was a positive mayor of Whanganui who did that pretty city no harm in raising its profile positively.
Paul Henry is a darker horse to me as I try to avoid too much rubbish entertainment on TV and on talkback radio. What constitutes rubbish is, of course, my opinion.
Richard Steele
But these four have something in common I heartily applaud, and that is quite simply, that they are successful. In a world that’s tough on people who stand up, or stand out, they all have proven ability, and that is the greatest lacking in so many of our political leaders.
I don’t want you to lead our country because you are a good campaigner, I want you to take time out of your successful life because you have the ability to do so, and will be good for us all.
I see success breeding success, and ones track record before entering the political world has never been taken seriously enough.
I’m not too fazed by which party they are standing for as I believe that most who enter the fray do so for the right reasons. That’s generous of me, I know.
I would love to write a column in which I could name those whose time has passed them by, but I may get the sack. Best I speak to the editor first.
There is the money too. I’ve absolutely no trouble with people being well paid – if they earn it. But I do have a bit of difficulty accepting a rate of perks that are indecent, and more as well. If you need the money to be there, well you shouldn’t be, and if you need the money to survive there, you had best go and make a bit more before throwing your hat in the ring.
These well thought out comments apply to every tier of governance as well. Be warned.
