The real issue with the Governor-General

Paul Henry questioning of whether the Governor-General is a New Zealand has become tiresome, and misses the real issue: the Prime Minister gets to choose whoever he wants as our next Governor-General. That was the reason why Henry got in trouble in the first place - they were meant to be discussing the nominations put forward by the Republican Movement for the job.

Luckily, some have realised this and keep asking the important questions. First up, Cactus Kate asks:

The real issue is not what the Governor General looks like or whether they even are a New Zealander.

It's why the hell New Zealand has to have one in the first place?

Then there's the rumours that Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast might get the job. This would be great for our campaign, as Mayor Prendergast is a former National Party candidate.

The Prime Minister let slip a few too many details of the appointment process for the next Governor-General at his post-Cabinet meeting press conference:

"We haven't made any decisions yet," Mr Key said.

"I've been kicking around a number of names with senior
colleagues in the last few months but we haven't had a
serious discussion about it."

He said it was important that any choice had the support of
the Labour Party, and ideally all parties in Parliament,
although that might not always be possible.

"As a general rule we would be cautious about the names we
put up and we acknowledge the neutral role the
governor-general has to play," Mr Key said.

"We wouldn't want to cause a domestic political spat that
would embarrass the Queen, so we will do our very best to
select a name that is acceptable to the Opposition."

Mr Key said he had received advice from the Cabinet Office on
the criteria that should be considered, and the office had
come up with a list of recommendations.

"But there are also other names we are considering," he said.

We wonder what that advice from the Cabinet Office is. Meanwhile, the Canadians have just installed their new Governor General, David Lloyd Johnson. Not exactly an inspiring candidate, but Johnson has some very well polished constitutional law credentials that may come in very useful should Canada's parliament again result in an minority Conservative government.