Her Excellency Alison Holst?

The Republican Movement's constitutional adviser, Dean Knight, gave me a call yesterday to say he'd almost fallen of his chair on hearing a rumour via Radio NZ that celebrity chef Alison Holst has met with the Prime Minister and agreed to be our next Governor-General. The rumour emanates from none other than Josie Pagani, a well-connected and self-described "political animal" who we can probably put stock in this rumour.

Josie thinks it's a cynical move by the Prime Minister. It reflects once again that we are pushing against an open door: if the Prime Minister must now appoint someone who is popular, the appointment has become a pseudo-democratic process. And ironically, it seems Paul Henry might just get his way with the choice of Governor-General after all.