Press Gallery Party

Now that was one of the better ones, despite an attempt to do a TARDIS and have the party in a room far too small (it spilt outdoors eventually). I really should have grabbed a meal beforehand though as I am somewhat hungover from six hours of continous red wine consumption.

I really enjoy the mixing and mingling from across the spectrum, with friendly chats with Ministers, 9th floor and other staff, third parties, journos etc. Hell I even ended up chatting to NZ First MPs on how they can best campaign in 2008!

One of the nice things about the parliamentary environment is that generally there is a healthy respect for people across the spectrum. Of course everyone thinks their policies and party are best, but you don’t regard your side as universally good, and everyone else bad. The vast majority of MPs and supporters genuinely believe in what they do. Hence people don’t spend social events sledging each other off.

Sadly there was a rare exception this year (the first time I can recall at one of these parties) where a couple of ideological zealots thought it amusing to try and have a inquisition along the lines of “Why do you hate the working class” and “Why are you racist” with me. Yes such sophisticated arguments. Luckily it was midnight by then, and happened literally just as I was heading home, so didn’t go on too long.