Author(s): Stephen I. Levine

Current Affairs & Politics

The Baubles of Office is the story of a cliff-hanger election, New ZealandâÃÂÃÂs closest yet under MMP. For nearly two weeks no one knew who had won, Labour or National. On election night it was Don Brash who was cheerful and elated, Helen Clark who seemed grim and shaken. New Zealand acquired a government only when Winston Peters ignored a last-minute written appeal from the leaders of four other parties to come to a meeting to agree on terms. Instead, he met with Helen Clark and became the countryâÃÂÃÂs Foreign Minister âÃÂàaccepting âÃÂÃÂthe baubles of officeâÃÂàthat he had so openly disdained in a major campaign address. The contributors to this book include political party strategists from all of the parties elected to Parliament. Rodney Hide, upset victor in Epsom in 2005, tells how it was done. Media personalities, including Radio New ZealandâÃÂÃÂs Kathryn Ryan, describe what it was like covering a campaign where the likely winner changed with every new poll. New Members of Parliament âÃÂàthe Maori PartyâÃÂÃÂs Pita Sharples and LabourâÃÂÃÂs Shane Jones âÃÂàspeak about their first campaigns, successful beginnings to new political careers. Listener and Dominion Post political columnist Jane Clifton provides her usual witty and insightful observations, describing MPs both new and old, brought into Parliament by the 2005 election. The book includes first-hand accounts of the campaign from United FutureâÃÂÃÂs Peter Dunne and Labour Cabinet Minister Steve Maharey, new Green Party leader Russel Norman, and the National PartyâÃÂÃÂs campaign manager Steven Joyce. Academic commentators frequently seen on New Zealand television âÃÂàincluding Therese Arseneau (TV3), Jon Johansson (TV One; Sky TV), Colin James (TV One) and Nigel Roberts (TV One) âÃÂàoffer their perspectives on aspects of the campaign, including NationalâÃÂÃÂs mischievous use of billboards and its leaderâÃÂÃÂs use of rhetoric on sensitive Treaty issues. First published March 2007