Editorial: Civil liberties bulldog a hard act to follow

Keith Locke. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The changing of the Green Party guard in Parliament started some time ago with the exit of the likes of Jeanette Fitzsimons and Sue Bradford and the untimely death of Rod Donald.

In essence, it will be completed this year, with the retirement of Keith Locke.

He and Sue Kedgley, who has also announced she will not stand for re-election, are the last survivors of the seven-strong intake of 1999 that marked the party's debut as an independent entity.

In some ways, Mr Locke was a typical Green politician. His views have never wavered during his 12 years in Parliament. In other ways, however, he did not totally fit the bill.

The party's primary focus on environmental issues was not for him. Rather than being outspoken on climate change and suchlike, he made his name as an advocate for civil liberties and peace.

New Zealand's anti-terrorism law may, as he suggests, be less draconian than that of other Western countries partly because of his efforts.

There were mistakes and misplaced stridency along the way. His rallying of opposition to the building of a waterfront stadium in Auckland was not the work of a visionary.

But he was also ahead of his time in putting the case for a republic on the parliamentary stage with his Head of State Referenda Bill.

Most of all, his reputation as a human rights watchdog made him a worthy member of an intake of particularly tenacious MPs. This final departure leaves their successors with a tough act to follow.