The State of Democracy

Chris Trotter on my Select Committee appearance

The Law Association of New Zealand (not to be confused with the New Zealand Law Society) publishes a journal named Law News.

In times gone by this was a weekly publication, put out in print, and sent to subscribers. It was de rigeur Friday morning reading for lawyers before the phone began to ring or one had to undertake the trudge up to Court.

The articles were great and were relevant and were useful and it was advisable to keep copies in a drawer or file photocopies of relevant articles against a later need.

More lately Law News has moved online and rather than weekly, the stories are posted as and when the editor, Jenni McManus - an experienced and reliable journalist - deems it appropriate.

I have written for Law News on a number of occasions. The online format allows me to be my usual verbose self, rather than within the word limits imposed by print and which I have to work within for my writings for the Listener.

So it was rather a surprise to see myself being written about, rather than occupying the byline.

Readers will be aware of my recent contretemps with the “Justice” Select Committee and my oral submission on the Treaty Principles Bill. I posted an article about it on 31 January.

That seems to have attracted the attention of no less than Chris Trotter, a commentator of many years’ experience and a writer for whom I have a considerable degree of respect.

He writes in Law News (which you can see here and I strongly recommend a reading) about the treatment I received. I am flattered and gratified by his kind remarks and for his support. From a commentator of his stature that means a lot.

But more importantly I share his misgivings about the state of our democratic processes when citizens who wish to voice their concerns are treated in such a cavalier fashion by elected representatives.

Although Chris doesn’t put it this way, it seems that there was an ignorance of the fact that as elected representative they are our servants. As such they should accord citizens respect. But rather the ideological flags were flown and the meaningless rhetoric of insult characterized the incident.

For me my attitude towards democracy has shifted from an assurance that it flourished to an article of faith - I believe in it although there seems to be reducing evidence that it truly exists.