The NZ Herald editorial calls for the de-politicisation of the Honours system.
I think this is a good call, for far too long the system has been corrupted by the awarding of dubious honours.
On this week’s list, the last of the Clark Government, a number of people have received high honours even though it is hard to see what special service they gave to the nation over and above the jobs they were paid to do.
Former Speaker of Parliament Margaret Wilson – Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit – and former Cabinet minister Steve Maharey and former State Services Commissioner Dr Mark Prebble – Companions of the Order – all played prominent roles in the period of the Labour Government but it can hardly be said they achieved great things beyond what is expected of people who take on such roles.
Indeed, Wilson was ineffective as a Speaker and Prebble, as the country’s top public servant, failed to deal firmly with ministerial pressure being applied over staff appointments in the Environment Ministry. It is hard to escape the conclusion that such honours are given partly for merely occupying a particular job and partly for services rendered to a political party rather than the community as a whole.
Wilson in particular should never have been honoured. I know that it is tradition to honour the former Speaker but that, I beleive should be predicated by the fact that they deserve the honour or that honour is indeed contained within their job and/or actions. Wilson doesn’t even remotely qualify, she was perhaps the most partisan Speaker ever, she ruled nothing except without the nod from Cullen and constantly failed to maintain order in the House. It is a travesty that she was so honoured. Likewise Maharey and Clem Simich. Both men have had a lifetime of sucking off the public tit and of having less than spectacular if not invisible careers in parliament, they deserved nothing but the pay and perks they got for warming a seat, and some would say that was too much.
