From what has been said so far concerning the appointment of Susan Devoy to the post of Race Relations Commissioner I am guessing that she originally put in for one of the other eight Human Rights Commissioner positions. Devoy mentioned the disability commissioner specifically in her interview with Duncan Garner, but there are five part-time positions - my guess is she was applying for one of these. But Collins - and Key - wanted a symbol and representative of the Nat's concept of "middle NZ" in the race relations role. There has never been a female in the position and so that tipped it for her. They asked her if she wanted it and she - just like with her knighthood - said yes very quickly.
Pita Sharples would make an excellent RRC. Is this where he will end up if she crashes and burns? It would trigger a by-election, so that mess might preclude what may otherwise happen. Anyone seems better than Devoy at this point. I'm reminded of the time George W Bush tried to appoint his small-time family lawyer as a Supreme Court Justice. That lasted all of a withering 48 hours from memory; but in NZ there is no committee to intervene, no pressure release or time to stage a back down if the stakeholders for that portfolio are rankled, it is up to the Minister entirely who holds the Commission.
Pita Sharples would make an excellent RRC. Is this where he will end up if she crashes and burns? It would trigger a by-election, so that mess might preclude what may otherwise happen. Anyone seems better than Devoy at this point. I'm reminded of the time George W Bush tried to appoint his small-time family lawyer as a Supreme Court Justice. That lasted all of a withering 48 hours from memory; but in NZ there is no committee to intervene, no pressure release or time to stage a back down if the stakeholders for that portfolio are rankled, it is up to the Minister entirely who holds the Commission.
