Next Governor-General "pick of the Wellington establishment"
The Sunday Star-Times reported yesterday that Sir Wilson Whineray, an ex-All Black has been tipped by the "Wellington establishment" as the next Governor-General. Whether Sir Wilson is right for the job is beside the point, although it is good to see that potential former politicians have been excluded:
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Don McKinnon, 72, whom Labour opposes, is another contender.
He was a National Party MP from 1978 to 2000 under both Rob Muldoon and Jim Bolger. He was foreign affairs minister between 1990 and 1999, resigning to take his Commonwealth role from 1999 to 2009.
Labour opposes Sir Don? That's news to everyone I've spoken to, none of whom could confirm that any actual consultation had taken place (which is understandable given Chrischurch's tragic earthquake). The article concludes with an interesting sentence:
Although a government can appoint anyone, convention requires multi-party consensus.
This would be nice if it were true, but sadly it isn't. Of the 5 Governors-General appointed since 1985, only one has truly gained multi-party support: Anand Satyanand. Every other appointment had some sort of controversy attached to it - Sir Paul Reeves because he was a priest, Dame Cath Tizard because she was a Labour Mayor of Auckland, Sir Michael Hardie-Boys because minor parties in parliament weren't consulted, and Dame Silvia Cartwright because the opposition weren't consulted. So far from being the norm, consultation has only ever occurred once.
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Isn't a claim by monarchists that direct-election will lead to.... a sports-star? Curious.... I can't find precedent in other countries where the President (via direct-election) has been a sport-star. I do see alot of Professors of Political Science, Law, Economics, a few scientists and judges (and any former politicans tend to also be well-respected, and Professors of something!).
Although a former All-Blacker could make a good GG, don't get me wrong - he'll tackle the government head on in times of a constitutional crisis! Really put those bastards in place....
In fact, the opposite Publius: in Ireland, a pop star ran for President in 1997. From memory, they came a very distant fourth behind the other candidates, including a law professor (who won) , a human rights campaigner and a lawyer.
Manny Pacquiao will be the next president of the Phillipines or the one after that is a given for sure and he is a sports star.
Also jose estrada was president and was a b-grade movie actor.
Mind you the republic of phillipines has social issues that create this.
True, and then there's the case of Pres. Ronald Reagan and Arnie in California. Clint Eastwood was Mayor of his town at some stage. And also, I see Donald Trump is going to run for president.
Not that any of these examples prove anything other than fame being a factor in decisions. But it's interesting that all of these are executive rather than ceremonial positions.
No, no - they argue a pop-star or sportstar will become the President. Never has a popstar or sportstar actually become President of any country, even though one or two have run for President.
Finland had a sportstar (6ft 3 blonde wrestler and heavy metal musician, I think, run for Presidency but only got 3% of the vote). Plus, my understanding the Irish example also sung ballads; personally, I don't see why people like that wouldn't make a good President if its culturally appropriate.
Sorry, I was agreeing with you.
Essentially monarchists are saying the public are stupid, and would judge a candidate based on their looks. Sadly that isn't the case, and the evidence shows it.
Would it not be better for celebs to be ceremonial than executive. I mean sonny bill williams could be president and veto government bills.
Mind you, you get who you vote for under a democratic system.
Exactly - as George Bernard Shaw once said, "democracy is a way of ensuring the people get what they deserve, good and hard."
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