Political diary

SUNDAY

The Prime Minister may have picked up the title of "sexiest politician" in a survey conducted by a condom company, but John Key comes nowhere in a similar, though less scientific assessment undertaken by Victoria University's student magazine Salient. The winner in the eyes of Salient's anonymous judges is - to use their word - the "foxy" Green MP Kennedy Graham. Second is Labour list MP Jacinda Ardern, while National's Tauranga MP Simon Bridges - described by Salient as "smokin' ..." - comes in third. Fourth in the Salient list is new Green MP Gareth Hughes, whom the Greens' Frog Blog website describes as a "hunky spunk".

MONDAY

With roughly 600 sleeps to go, it might seem a bit premature to be pondering the date of next year's election. But the big question is how the election is going to fit around New Zealand's hosting of the Rugby World Cup - not the other way around. Hosting the cup means things are going to be a bit tight, given no one will want to be campaigning during the tournament. Key rates the chances of the election being before the cup begins as "very unlikely". The tournament runs from September 9 to October 23. The latest date the election can be held is Saturday, January 7 in 2012. However, an election in the middle of the summer holidays is also not a goer. Further limiting Key's options is the constitutional requirement that the new Parliament meets before the Christmas break. Thus, allowing for a four-week election campaign, put a ring around the last Saturday in November next year.

TUESDAY

Despite the cries of anguish over New Zealand musicians missing out, John Key is unconcerned that an overseas song has been chosen for the advertising campaign to sell tickets to games in next year's Rugby World Cup. "It's an international event and sometimes using an international song that's so well known makes a lot of sense," the Prime Minister says of The Feelers' cover of Right Here, Right Now.

WEDNESDAY

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson's task is to get an amending bill passed into law to rectify a drafting error in the Immigration Act. After a long day, he cannot resist hamming it up - much to other MPs' amusement. "So that is why we need to get on with it as quickly as we can," Finlayson begins. "[That] is why the Immigration Act 2009 Amendment Bill has been needed, and why I have come down to the House in sack cloth and ashes to accept blame on behalf of the Government. I will flagellate myself later on and then I will go to confession. There we have it; a mistake was made, and I have manfully and with some courage accepted it. Now, having accepted it, we move on, as I am exhorted by the chief Government whip. I commend the bill to the House." The House agreed and duly sped the measure through all its stages.

THURSDAY

April Fool's Day. We weren't fooled by the party's press release announcing a "renewed focus" on transport issues. A month back, the Diary noted with some astonishment that the Greens had no fewer than four spokespeople on transport - Gareth Hughes (Transport), Keith Locke (Auckland Transport), Sue Kedgley (Wellington Transport), and Kevin Hague (Cycling and Active Transport). The press release announces the appointment of even more spokespeople - Kennedy Graham (International Transport), Russel Norman (Water-based Transport), David Clendon (Motorbike Transport), Catherine Delahunty (Time Transport), and Metiria Turei (Active Transport except cycling or walking - roller derby, for example). A nice try, Greens.