It's hard to imagine Jim Anderton having much in common with the special celebrity guest who visited him at his Beehive office this week. But the white boy from Wigram actually seemed to find plenty to talk about with bad-ass black American rapper Coolio when they spent 45 minutes ensconced
in the minister's office on Wednesday. The topic of conversation? Drugs. In Coolio's case, he shared his extensive past personal experience with illegal substances, including cocaine. Mr Anderton's thoughts were more focused on how to drive the evil drug industry out of New Zealand.
English chooses his words:
National leader Bill English was spotted on the steps of Parliament this week reciting poetry. Maybe not standard behaviour for a Southern Man but this day there was a camera pointed in his direction. English was taking part in a documentary, described as halfway between Heartland and Mikey Havoc, for which he had to choose a poem to recite. English, who holds a first class honours degree in English literature from Victoria University and a special prize in renaissance literature, chose something more contemporary, Sam Hunt's New Words. English apparently left his Sam Hunt-style rendition back in his office, where he had shared it with staff and delivered the poem with an authentic Dipton brogue.
Mad dogs and cows:
Green MP Sue Kedgley probably knew she would get a ribbing when she tackled the Government this week on concerns that imported beef fat was linked to mad cow disease. The food safety campaigner just wanted to know what the Government was doing to protect New Zealanders from potential infection. Acting Food Safety Minister Damien O'Connor did his best to reassure her. While beef fat tallow oil was used in cosmetics and soaps, he was confident Ms Kedgley would not contract mad cow disease if she had used the products. "You can't catch it twice!" interjected Act's Richard Prebble, roaring with laughter. He seemed to forget that his own nickname is Mad Dog.
It's all in the timing:
Social Services Minister Steve Maharey was quick off the mark this week, issuing a dossier of counter-literature a few hours in advance of National's welfare policy release on Wednesday this week linking the yet-to-be-announced document to Jenny Shipley's code of social responsibility. Unfortunately for Mr Maharey, National's spokeswoman, Katherine Rich, has had to postpone the launch through ill-health.
- Compiled by Herald political reporters.
It's hard to imagine Jim Anderton having much in common with the special celebrity guest who visited him at his Beehive office this week. But the white boy from Wigram actually seemed to find plenty to talk about with bad-ass black American rapper Coolio when they spent 45 minutes ensconced
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