His attack on Prime Minister John Key at the party's annual convention last weekend, in which he likened Mr Key to Sir Robert Muldoon, was, as the nation's foremost political commentator, John Armstrong, wrote in the New Zealand Herald, "certainly headline-grabbing" but also "verging on ludicrous".
"Sir Robert Muldoon," wrote Armstrong, "was without question our most belligerent, abrasive, polarising, dictatorial and vindictive politician.
"Norman is correct in saying National is displaying worrying levels of cynicism. That is not untypical of the arrogance that governments develop during their second term, however. And it falls way short of being Muldoonist."
The irony I find in this is that the Greens' proposal, accepted by Labour, to establish a single state entity to retail electricity, is as Muldoonist as you can get.
His constant interventions in the economy brought this country almost to the verge of bankruptcy. The lesson to be learned from that is never elect an accountant as Prime Minister or Minister of Finance. But that's bye the bye. I have said it before and I say it again: the Greens are dangerous, and the more sinister planks of their policy are, to say the least, frightening to those of us who care about what really matters.
They are dedicated to making our laws on abortion more liberal so that any woman can demand an abortion for any reason.
They strongly support making euthanasia legal; have all voted for same-sex marriage and favour same-sex adoption; and they endorse an education system which teaches that homosexuality is normal.
What that all means is that they are far more concerned with flora and fauna than they are with human beings.
They will fight to save the Denniston Plateau from coal mining because, in the words of Mr Norman, "It's [sic] sandstone plateau ecosystem is home to bonsai gardens of rata, tussock and pigmy pine; home to great spotted kiwi, carnivorous giant snails and green geckos".
But when it comes to the sanctity of human life, particularly that of defenceless foetuses and the frail elderly, the Greens have no interest at all.
So where do we look for help? Right now there is only one rescuer in sight - that venerable and masterful politician Winston Peters and his NZ First colleagues.
If Mr Peters and his team do nothing else between now and the election late next year, they must patch up the rift with John Key and National.
Even if he has to humble himself, Mr Key must do whatever it takes to bring Mr Peters into the fold.
A far-left government, with no conception of the sanctity of life as the bedrock on which civilised society is built, is the last thing this country needs.
