As another "surreptitious distortion", is there any issue with non-Maori nominating themselves on the Maori roll when the option comes up? I have wondered if this would be a way for non-Maori in general electorates with large majorities (most South Island electorates, for example) to then have the ability to influence parliament with their electorate vote for Te Tai Tonga, the most marginal of the Maori seats.

Late contribution - following cyclone/typhoon/hurricane naming conventions, how about Crisis <<name>> for each new one. The names could be economics noble prize winners, as further proof that it's a dismal science...

Wow. Vote Slarty for president. Great post

The All Blacks seek perfection...
Achieve perfection with Whisky Galore

Last time I was in M'sia there was a bit of America's Cup coverage but otherwise football & motorsports. Try reading the New Straits Times or the Sun for a bit more independent news (as much as is permitted). The various subsidies are less attractive when you realise they are almost exclusively for the Malay majority and generally inaccessible to the Chinese, Indian & other minorities.

With fear and trembling, I'll attempt to defend Justin. For the record I'm a Tasman fan and will cheer on most provinces playing against Canterbury. Remember Justin is a halfback - players in his position do a lot of talking on the field, so stream-of-conciousness comment comes naturally. And I believe the All Blacks lost the semi-final four years ago due to two things: that intercept (why didn't Carlos run instead of pass?); and the Wallabies George Smith crunching Marshall in a very late tackle. Smith should have been yellow-carded or possibly sent off for (what looked like) a calculated vicious attempt to take Marshall out. Marshall tried to play on but the injury prevented him making his usual top contribution to the game.