Devoy may prove a good choice

Susan Devoy is smart, motivated, and pretty decent.

But will she survive the mauling she's getting after her appointment as Race Relations Commissioner was announced?

Minister Judith Collins' testimonial that "she's got a spine that I admire" will be sorely tested in the next few days. She may very well decide that she doesn't want - or need - the position.

It's not yet clear what makes the ideal choice for the role of Race Relations Commissioner. Joris de Bres, her predecessor, obviously had the right qualifications: his CV includes liberal activism, union leadership, general manager of external relations at the Department of Conservation.

And on the face of it, Devoy does as well. Being a woman is quite a good lifelong experience of underprivilege and being a world champion sportswoman in a minor sport would have shown her a few inequalities. But it is comments that the former world No 1 squash champion has made on the wearing of burqas and Waitangi Day that have made her appointment look shaky. She wants New Zealand's national day to be more like Australia Day celebrations, which may seem a little weird if she talked to any Aborigines.

And her burqa comments in their entirety, noted "I do believe that we should work hard to develop a society that is genuinely inclusive and tolerant of other people's cultures and beliefs".

Yes, Devoy has been mouthy. She wants to be able to speak freely but that's not the same as speaking thoughtfully. We all have lots of thoughts that come into our head but we usually don't say everything we think. And saying out loud what you presume most people are thinking does not put you on the side of the angels.

She has been quoted as saying as commissioner she has to be the voice of reason and "it's not a platform to voice my own views, but to advocate on behalf of others".

The role of Race Relations Commissioner is often to advocate for people who do not have the majority of people's opinion on their side. It may well be that Devoy needs to learn the subtleties of her new job.

Presumably one of her first appointments will be a reminder to go to Waitangi and see the celebration.

This appointment is a surprise, not least to Devoy. But what we know of Devoy is that she's quite prepared to go into bat for the underdog, has energy and a broad range of experience. When her attributes are put alongside her weaknesses, she is a good choice. If she survives the slings and arrows of discontent over this appointment, it may turn out to be one of the best.