Hi, Domestic Executive here borrowing MT’s soap box.

Waking up this morning to be reminded that we have a new Government in waiting got me to thinking what it all might be like.  The National party “swept” to power in yesterday’s election so it will no doubt be a flurry of 100 plans that will bring stress and misery to all my friends and colleagues working in Government.

Accepting that the nation has “spoken” the true reality is dawning that one of New Zealand’s stars of political soap operas is holding the balance of power for National to actually form the future Government.  I’m not joking. The next Government of New Zealand will depend on this man.

The lovely Rodney Hide in action in 2006 when he stepped out to participate in Dancing with the Stars – the kiwi version of the UK’s Strictly Dancing. This is a guy that has transformed himself physically in the last couple of years moving from a fat middle aged bloke to a slightly slimmer and now exercise obsessed middle aged bloke.  Oh, he also sits at the far right extremes of politics.

Whatever you might think of Rodney he seems to win the popular vote – he’s just won his constituency seat with 57% of the vote.  This builds on his popularity when he came 4th, yes 4th in the dancing contest and that was after dropping his partner from a great height, and dancing not knowing which was left and which was right.

It’s all going to be very interesting to see how the next few weeks pans out and more importantly whether the National party is going to bring alive a new ambitious New Zealand over the next three years.  I remain cynical that the campaign pledges will bring any more success or happiness for kiwis. But, we’ll see.

In the meantime I’m sure that line by line analysis of Government spending promised by John Key will mean that literally.  I am so relieved that I’m not on staff in Government services now as I can hazard a guess that there will be countless hours put into this exercise for very little return.

OK, I’ll get off this soap box, there really isn’t room for two. I’ll be back reporting on my more mundane, yet fulfilling life back at Domestic Executive HQ.