I BELIEVE the High Court has set an awkward precedent in allowing a minor party, the Conservative Party, to take part in TV3's minor party leader's debate, and I'm hoping it won't translate downward to electoral debates in our communities.
What possibly caught TV3 was that it was specifically a "minor party" debate, not just a leaders' debate. On those precise terms, Colin Craig was able to argue successfully that his party was as "minor" as the ones already chosen.
Generally speaking, media are not obliged to give precisely equal voice to everyone if there are two or three main contenders who are realistically carrying the show.
In a Wairarapa situation, this means the parties of substantial influence - National, Labour, Greens - will deserve more column centimetres than the minor parties.
I also feel confident the readership want to hear from the big three, which will set government policy one day.