NZ Politics Daily: 27 April (liberation)

The Act Party appears to be trying to end its nightmare today with an emergency meeting. As of this morning, however, Don Brash appeared to have fallen one vote short in his extraordinary bid for Act’s leadership (Derek Cheng: Brash Act coup shaky as Boscawen backs Hide and Duncan Garner: Brash throws down the gauntlet). While The Standard fingers newcomer Hilary Calvert as a possible waverer (It’s all on Calvert), Deputy Leader John Boscawen is the popular pick as the crucial vote needed on both sides (Act faces ‘oblivion’ without change - Brash and Hide’s future in hands of a single MP). Derek Cheng speculates that Boscawen may have previously indicated support for Brash and thus triggered the coup (Boscawen looks like he's changed his mind).

Although the Act Board has the final say, Hide’s position would be unsustainable if he can’t muster a majority in his caucus. With only one vote in it Brash isn’t giving up yet (Vernon Small: Brash still certain he can beat Hide) and is continuing to wage his very public coup with leaked polls. James Murray (Brash is bold, Colonel Mustard’s in a pickle has the poll details and a good analysis of the coalition dilemma National may face in the next few elections, while Geoffrey Miller (liberation: Don Brash’s move from National to Act) looks at how Brash ended up with National rather than Act back in 2002. The New Zealand Herald editorial (Brash move on Act may also constrain Key) approves of Brash’s growing political influence: ‘He would be a greater irritant to the Key Government than Mr Hide has been, and the Government's economic direction could be better for that. With or without Act, he is back’.

Jon Stephenson’s investigative piece on SAS prisoners in Afghanistan for Metro magazine (Eyes wide shut – The Government’s guilty secrets in Afghanistan; not online) is a must read. As Russell Brown (Public Address: More Secrets and Lies) says:

“It is the kind of journalism we very rarely see in New Zealand: developed over years; reported from the ground, via trusted sources and through scrutiny of the documents of war and politics. Other media organisations have baulked at this story, perhaps concerned about political fallout. Metro editor Simon Wilson did take it on, and worked closely with Jon on the feature that made print.”

What is fascinating is how SAS soldiers are clearly very upset over the treatment of their prisoners by American and Afghani forces but have been let down by their senior commanders and governments (both Labour and National) whose solution to the problem owes more to Pontius Pilate than the Geneva Convention: ‘it seems the NZDF put in place a process it hoped would allow it to cover its legal obligations in Afghanistan — not by ensuring the humane treatment of prisoners, but by avoiding responsibility for any who might be treated inhumanely’.

Although Labour has joined the Greens in calling for an enquiry (Pressure grows for SAS prisoner inquiry) it is easy to see why they were slow off the mark. Phil Goff tries to spin that the problem has ‘been renewed under the National government” but Jon Stephenson is very clear that this started under Labour and has continued up until today under National. [Continue reading below for a full list of the highlights of NZ Politics Daily]

Below are the internet links to all the NZ politics material from the last 24 hours that are either informative, insightful, interesting or influential. This list and the links are taken from a fuller document, NZ Politics Daily, which is emailed out, Monday to Friday, to various researchers, academics, journalists, MPs and so forth. The document is purely for research purposes only, and if you would like to be on the subscription list, please email: [email protected]

Act leadership challenge

TVNZ: Act holding crunch Brash meeting today

James Murray (TV3): Brash to attend ACT leadership meeting

Niko Kloeten (NBR): Rodney Hide tipped to quit

Derek Cheng (NZH): Boscawen looks like he's changed his mind

Derek Cheng (NZH): Brash Act coup shaky as Boscawen backs Hide

Duncan Garner (TV3): Brash throws down the gauntlet (and VIDEO)

Jane Luscombe (TV3): Epsom: Banking on Banks and hiding from Hide?

TVNZ: Act faces ‘oblivion’ without change – Brash

Editorial (NZH): Brash move on Act may also constrain Key

Derek Cheng (NZH): Hide to keep portfolios if ousted as Act leader - PM

Vernon Small (Stuff): Brash still certain he can beat Hide