If you want an example of how electoral law and regulations are normally the result of party political self-interest (rather than fairness or democracy), look no further than how Labour and National continue the farce whereby they take seats on electoral agencies such as the Representation Commission - see this press release from Electoral Commission. After each census, this body meets to review and alter the electorate boundaries. National and Labour have made the rules such as that no other party is on the Commission. [Read more below]
Labour and National always represent the Government and Opposition on the Commission, and the smaller parties just have to accept or trust that Labour and National will be honest and just! Likewise, when the Electoral Commission meet every three years to decide on how much money to give to parties to advertise themselves in the general election - Labour and National refuse to allow any other party on board, and then they go and give the lion's share of the resources to themselves, often with very contention results.
The funny thing about this year's Representation Commission is that as usual, Labour is being represented by David Caygill, who this Government has appointed to a huge array of boards and committees. Amusingly, they didn't realise that their 'representative' was no longer the Labour supporter they thought he was. It was revealed in The Hollow Men that Caygill had written an incredibly enthusiastic email to Don Brash when he was leader:
Don, I wish you all the very best... I am confident of your capacity to lead National and ultimately the country. And I have no doubt that the country needs the kind of clear, radical leadership that I am sure you are keen to bring... I'm less certain that the country yet appreciates the need. The task now is to build the case for change without either alienating the electorate or so compromising your manifesto that the mandate you ultimately secure isn't worth having. This is by no means an easy and certainly not a quick task. Kindest regards always, David C.
Labour was pretty dumbfounded and angry when the true political nature of Caygill was revealed. So although he's already been appointed to 'represent' Labour on a number of boards, he won't be getting any more from that party. Like many in Labour, Caygill has been revealed as an undercover and unreconstructed Rogergnome.
