2 February
Is this the funniest thing ever?
It was thirty-six years ago that a young part-Maori fulla by the name of Winston Peters entered Parliament.
Just look at the roll call of people who have been and gone since Winnie first hooked his carpark at Parliament House:
Rob Muldoon
David Lange
Mike Moore
Bill Rowling
Jim Bolger
And they're just the Prime Ministers Winnie has shared the benches with!
1978, he was first voted to Parliament, as a mere 33 year-old. Wind forward and he's now about to turn 69, and still highly visible in NZ politics, still leading his NZ First Party.
While I have no time at all for the man - he is a lying, cheating, dirty, underhand, manipulative, hypocrite - I cannot help admiring his achievements. After rising to cabinet, he was sacked from National in 1991, when he started NZ First. Then getting the last laugh on his former Nat allies by holding the balance of power in 1996, securing himself the job of Deputy PM under Bolger.
Last election, when National didn't need Winston, Key totally dismissed the idea of going with Winston & NZ First.
This year, all of his coalition partners having imploded, Key has held out the olive branch to Winston.
Is there anything more appealing than the idea of Winston yet again forcing his way into a position of power with National - his natural allies - for a second time.
Keep watching - this poll is most enlightening.
Copyright © Alan Charman