Once again, some of our most Machiavellian politicians are on tour together in the South Pacific. National's Murray McCully has taken Winston Peters and former Labour MP - now Pacific Economic Ambassador - Shane Jones to the Cook Islands (right). Apparently, this is to open a new solar power unit, but who knows what new schemes they will come back with. Labour's David Shearer was also included in the "cross Parliament" delegation. Who knows what ideas the "naughty boys" may put in Shearer's head.
FISHY PLEA
In Wellington, the Environmental Protection Authority's board of inquiry has been hearing consent applications from Shell Todd Oil Services to continue exploratory drilling in the Maui field. Despite the field's long history and contribution to the economy, this is being opposed. Some opponents are just against any oil and gas being used, while others are worried by more specific environmental effects. Among the arguments was this plea to the board: "Let us return to our origins, returning to the time prior to common knowledge, returning to the time of the ancient knowledge, searching, understanding the evolution of life, absorbing the energy of Mother Earth to truly understand who I am. Internalising this learning, I now know who I am. I am the first shiny scale of the Great Fish."
SPILLED BEANS
Former finance ministers Ruth Richardson and Bill Birch took all the fun out of Budget Day. Richardson's Fiscal Responsibility Act means anyone with an interest in the state of the Government's books is always pretty much up to date. Birch's tactic of pre-announcing anything capable of getting a headline, to maximise the Budget's impact, has been followed by his successors. With more announcements due, by Sunday we should know pretty much everything, unless next Thursday's Budget contains some really dark secrets.
IN AND OUT
Politics can be brutal, even for the victors, as proven by the recent election in Britain. The Conservatives' New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne tweeted about how he worked out that he was losing his ministerial job. He posted: "No calls. Arrived DFID (Department for International Development): Pass didn't work; All my stuff packed in boxes. The End?" FRONTLINE FIDOIt's strange the things that can be found on the Government's tendering website. Case in point: the Defence Force is looking for "dog cameras". Apparently, it has introduced a Military Working Dog capability to "defeat combatants and terrorists". One job for the doggy warriors is clearing buildings and areas, which requires a harness-mounted canine video transmitter and handheld receiver.
DIGITAL DELAY
Digital enthusiasts hoping for a trial of online voting at next year's local body election are starting to think it won't happen. While the Cabinet has approved the idea of councils going ahead with a trial, there are many hoops yet to be jumped through. Ministers have ruled out councils having to use the "Real Me" identification system to verify voters' identity, but there is still a chance they will say no to the idea if the issues aren't all resolved in time. The decision that councils will have to fund any test of online voting is hardly likely to boost their enthusiasm. It will be a brave council that goes ahead with it.
