If there was a list of things that that government should require a 2/3 majority of parliament before they can do it, who gets a sword waved at them and a silly title would be well down my list.

Don't knighthoods all come from the crown via the GG, upon advice of the government?

Yes, currently.

How could parliament make someone a knight anyway? Takes a monarch to make a knight by definition surely?

While it would be unorthodox and would take a bit of getting used to, my…

beer baronet, not a beer baron

A very subtle insult, perhaps..

You might want to check your facts on this one, Douglas Myers has never been Knighted.

You are however not along in making this mistake, it has been made many times over the years by the media.

I stand corrected, sir. He's a CBE, according to the Alumni of Auckland…

He probably didn't need a knighthood anyway, what with his beer baronetcy and all

Beer barony . A beer baronetcy would belong to a beer baronet, not a beer baron.

which is why I've never been interested in them.

So opposite Mediawatch on RadioNZ – a programme that Russell pioneered.

Yeah but it's shit now he's not on it... (kidding)

Fortunately, such are the wonders of the modern age that we live in – I mean we don't have robot dogs that do our laundry or food in pill…

amend the legislation so that appointments to honours at the level of knighthoods and above should be made by legislation in the House with the support of a minimum of two-thirds of its members.

Don't knighthoods all come from the crown via the GG, upon advice of the government?

How…

Now Scotland has its own parliament again, it is theoretically possible for Scotland to once again dispute with those Southern Nancies who is to be OUR monarch (should we even decide to have one). It is known that Liz had her nose put…

You might want to check your facts on this one, Douglas Myers has never been Knighted

He probably didn't need a knighthood anyway, what with his beer baronetcy and all, given that alcohol vending is next to godhood in the NZ pantheon of achievements.

IMHO, one crafty way to dilute…

Funny you should ask, Q+Apremieres Sunday week, that's the 22nd I believe, at 9am, on ONE.

So opposite Mediawatch on RadioNZ – a programme that Russell pioneered.
And what has happened to Atttitude which is usually on at 9.30 – or is Q and A only half an hour?
TVNZ…

"Ta" (long 'a') has many many meanings, and some of them somewhat unfortunate (e.g."excrement".) It is a term of *address* used in some hapu/iwi, originally was translated as 'friend', but has come mean, occaisionally, the equivalent of "Sir" (Taa Tipene O'Regan – whom I'd *never* address as "Taa…

Incidentally, I'm a…

I guess he'll be first on the new Holmes show then?

I happen to know who'll be the first guests on Q+A, and they should both make for interesting viewing.

Services to Curmudgeonliness

Lolnui

Bob Jones is still a self-absorbed cantankerous old scroat, who only gets any airtime at all because the media know he'll say something shocking – he's like a geriatric Howard Stern

I guess he'll be first on the new Holmes show then?

Just to 'distinguish', I will be Lord Christie…

Apparently, it was all Garth George's idea

Indeed, judging by the haggard looking picture, he was probably around when the system was first invented.

Maybe he's hanging out for a gong. Services to Curmudgeonliness?
(If Ralston doesn't beat him to it)

Michael Fay? Thea Muldoon? Embarrassments, but then so is Jonathan Hunt and…

why now?

Apparently, it was all Garth George's idea.

18 months before the last election, I predicted a comprehensive National win and suggested that one of the things a strong National-led Government could do is restore titles to those whom we honour twice a year.

A month or so later, when…

The future Lord Christie?

Yes indeed – he is *Precisely* who I have in mind in such a vision.

'of course I was terribly drunk at the time'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh8CQRerBVA

But that's the thing – these weren't designed as community service awards

Do you think Sir Frank would have sprung for the Renouf tennis centre if a gong wasn't in the offing?

And then there are baronets. My (step) daughter would one day be Sir Maddie, if she were a…

Both are ONZ though, which is theoretically much cooler, but I guess not when people are introducing you.

Nowhere near as cool as being introduced as FONZ

My memory is that Lange didn't, though he could've, and James Brendan Bolger most certainly won't lest his Irish cousins sort him out (as well they should).

Both are ONZ though, which is theoretically much cooler, but I guess not when people are introducing you.

Labour gave Jenny Shipley a…

Who is New Zealand's head of state?

De jure, Elisabeth Windsor, and whoever should follow her under mile primogeniture, or any other succession system the British choose.

De facto, about 80% the PM and 20% the Governor General.

I didn't know MBEs were fatal.

Lovely cars – was he driving too fast?

When he died, I found out that he had an MBE

I didn't know MBEs were fatal.

Sorry, very childish of me

Thank you, I'm here all week

More, more..

Why anyone would like to join a club that includes Michael Fay and Roger Douglas is beyond me.

I'd be in favour of it, as long as some of the other traditions are retained.

I'll be pushing for the newly knighted Sir Tana Umaga or Sir Ritchie McCaw to sort…

Q: How do you titillate an ocelot?
A: You oscillate its titalot.

Thank you, I'm here all week.

On topic: my grandfather was a rural GP in Southland. When he died, I found out that he had an MBE. I…

Of course, were one to be asked...

LOL. Nice.

Refusing honors can be tricky. I tried to refuse a high school prize for Computer Studies, knowing full well that one of my best friends in the class towered above me in the field (and still does). But he was always…

although really all they've been doing is their job

And let's not forget professional sports players. Administrators, coaches and other volunteers I can understand, but athletes? Pah.

Whenever I see the anti-drinking ads on TV I remember that some govt made beer baron Mr Myers, Sir Douglas. Just can't get my head around the hypocrisy

You might want to check your facts on this one, Douglas Myers has never been Knighted.

You are however not along in…

Why anyone would like to join a club that includes Michael Fay and Roger Douglas is beyond me.

Of course, were one to be asked...

And I'm not sure why we need to reinstate an antiquated system that has its origins in the medieval era. What's next? Burning witches? (Oops, better not go giving the Act Party…

Would Clark accept a damehood? Oh wait, it was Bolger who got rid of them wasn't it?

It was not.

Bolger got rid of New Zealand appointments to the Order of the British Empire, the Order of St Michael and St George, The Order of the Bath, Companion of Honour,…

it seemed nine out of the ten people were in favour of the move.

Follow-up questions: Who is New Zealand's head of state?

And (if part one is answered correctly) will you swear loyalty to King Charles?

Whereupon nine out of ten turn out to be very confused.

*sigh* One day the settler class in this country will wake up and realise they've stopped being anxious colonists in a foreign land. God knows when that'll be though.

What Tom said. I'm sorry to see them restored. I know Graeme's right that people don't yet know what our own…

So maybe the dream could come true.

Vice Admiral, as is traditional for dangers to shipping.

Well played!

A. R. D. Fairburn: Roll Out the Knightcart

I think some sort of military honorific – Field Commander Christie, or possibly Rear Admiral Christie – is more probable.

Vice Admiral, as is traditional for dangers to shipping.

I think some sort of military honorific – Field Commander Christie, or possibly Rear Admiral Christie – is more probable.

Probably sometime after their grandparents used the gutted RMA to chop down the last Pohutukawa blocking the last unimpeded view from…

very pleased to be recognised by their peers but would be too embarrassed to get anything that made them stand out too much

Hilary, that's no doubt true of community-oriented recipients. Thrusting status seekers, on the other hand..

If I were a betting man, I'd say Shipley and Brash would be in with a grin – maybe not this year, maybe that's too transparent even for a National Government still early enough in its term not to give a fuck about public perception.

Only an idiot would bet…