KEY POINTS:
Former National leader Don Brash has entered the Herald's greatest living New Zealander debate, nominating one of the country's most controversial figures.
Dr Brash also attacked those who have nominated former labour Prime Minister Helen Clark for the title.
Choosing Sir Roger Douglas, who is most remembered as the father of "Rogernomics" and was elected as an Act MP in last year's election, Dr Brash said he "did more to transform the New Zealand economy for the better than any other New Zealander".
He said Sir Roger was responsible for ending inflation, simplifying the tax system, freeing up imports and allowing New Zealanders to invest overseas.
However, he was much less complimentary about Helen Clark, who has been running as the second most nominated figure by readers in the week-long search for someone to take over Sir Ed Hillary's title as greatest living New Zealander.
"You've got to be joking!" Dr Brash said in his submission to the Your Views debate.
He pointed to paintergate, the row over her speeding motorcade and the Electoral Finance Act as reasons Helen Clark was not worthy of the title.
And he added her government had shown a "total failure to meet her announced goal of getting New Zealand into the top half of the OECD, despite nine years of a highly benign international economy".
Among those who have shown support for Helen Clark is David from Orakei, who said: "As New Zealand's "front person" for many years, she was always rational, reasonable, and hardly ever put a foot wrong."
Among other nominations, VC-holder Willie Apiata is the clear leader while sportspeople Colin Meads, Peter Snell, Mahe Drysdale, Barbara Kendall, Sir Murray Halberg, and John Walker have all been suggested by readers.
- NZHERALD STAFF
