Voting now open
Voting is now open in the 2008 Kiwiblog Awards. They close at 3 pm Friday 3 October. You can vote in the sidebar.
The most popular nominations in each category are:
MP of the Year
- Rodney Hide – not even a finalist last year but a popular nominee for his campaign to expose Peters, amongst other things
- Bill English – a repeat nominee – his year of picking apart the EFA was often cited
- Pita Sharples – has become the Maori MP, Pakeha love to love, and helped position the Maori Party as Kingmakers.
- Phil Goff – a China FTA plus a possible United States FTA endears Goff to many readers
Labour MP of the Year
- Phil Goff was nominated by many but disqualified as the 2007 winner
- Michael Cullen cited by many for his mastery of the House
- David Cunliffe also impressed several with his determination to improve the Health sector
- Winston Peters was nominated multiple times in this category, so who are we to stand in the way of the public!
National MP of the Year
- Simon Power had the most nominations, having impressed with his constant highlighting of law & order problems, and also superb Chairmanship of the Privileges Committee.
- John Key is still the country’s Preferred PM
- Bill English was disqualified having won this category last year
- Gerry Brownlee also often nominated for his take no prisoners methods in the House
Minor Party MP of the Year
- Rodney Hide a popular nominee for many
- Pita Sharples had 12 nominations in this category – will it be Minister Sharples in a few weeks?
- Sue Bradford has had a quieter year than 2007 when she was runner up, but still gained some nominations
- Hone Harawira also gained multiple nominations – the once reviled radical has been impressing a few people
Press Gallery of the Journalist
- Audrey Young – Winston still has not apologised to her, but she was a favourite nominee amongst Kiwiblog readers
- Duncan Garner – his “straight talking” doesn’t always win friends in Parliament, but has proven popular with some readers
- Guyon Espiner – cool, clam and collected – the most viewed gallery reporter has some fans
- Colin Espiner – the blogging journalist has many online fans
Public Servant of the Year
- Grant Liddell – the SFO Director was a multiple nominee for doing what was right, regardless of what the Government wanted.
- Owen Glenn – okay not technically a public servant, but many nominated him for having performed a public service.
- Helena Catt – the Electoral Commission CEO wins the sympathy and nominations of many for having to try and work out what the Electoral Finance Act actually means, and for her willingness to criticise the law she has to enforce.
Enjoy voting.