Chris Finlayson - Yes, Minister: An Insiders Account of the John Key years

Me sitting with Ohariu MP, Hugh Templeton (right), and other members of the electorate team, with me barely sneaking into the picture (far right), at the lower North Island conference held in Whanganui in 1978. Whanganui Chronicle At the Privy Council in 1990 for Holt v Holt. Chris Finlayson

Speaking at the swearing in of a High Court Judge in Wellington. Simon Woolf The legal team in the Court of Appeal in Green v BCNZ with the late Hughie Green (centre). Chris Finlayson Me with two great lawyers, George Barton QC (far right) and Peter McKenzie QC. George Bartons wife, Ailsa, was also present for the dinner. Chris Finlayson In front of the Peace Palace when appearing on behalf of New Zealand at the International Court of Justice. New Zealand Embassy, The Hague Me standing with New Zealands ambassador to the Netherlands, George Troup (next to me, at centre) and members of the legal team at the International Court of Justice. New Zealand Embassy, The Hague The 2005 National Party intake. New Zealand National Party A special day: meeting Pope Francis shortly after his inauguration. Vatican News Being introduced by Prime Minister John Key to the GovernorGeneral Sir Jerry Mateparae at the swearing in of cabinet in 2011. Government House With my mothers second cousin, Annette King. Chris Finlayson With John Key and Nathan Guy when John returned to the House for valedictory speeches of his colleagues. New Zealand Herald With Parekura Horomia, late MP for IkaroaRwhiti. Parekura was always very supportive of my Treaty settlement work. The Crown A recent cartoon in the New Zealand Herald on dealing with my views on cogovernance. Rod Emmerson, New Zealand Herald With the late Koro Wtere and Tiwha Bell, a great leader of Ngti Maniapoto. Crown With the late Inge Woolf at a Holocaust Remembrance Day function in the Great Hall, Parliament. Chris Finlayson

Writing a book is always a timeconsuming and difficult exercise. I was very grateful to have the assistance of some excellent research assistants, most notably Sunni Fredstad, formerly of Wellington and now back home in Norway. Her assistance in interviewing some of my former colleagues was invaluable. When she left to go home to Norway, I engaged a bright young law student from the University of Auckland, Hayden Rayen, who worked with me over the summer of 202122. He also interviewed some of my former colleagues and assisted with drafting and planning this book.

I have had the opportunity, with the assistance of Sunni and Hayden, to interview Wayne Eagleson (former chief of staff ), Maurice Williamson, Anne Tolley, Wayne Mapp, Tim Groser, Kate Wilkinson, Phil Heatley, Nikki Kaye, Nathan Guy and David Farrar, and have also had discussions from time to time with Bill English about a couple of matters.

I also acknowledge the assistance of James Christmas and Peter McKenzie QC, who reviewed draft chapters and gave me valuable advice.

I particularly acknowledge the assistance of the team at Concept Secretarial, who worked with me in preparing the manuscript. They provided prompt and excellent service, and I am very grateful to them for their help.

The usual disclaimer: all errors and omissions are mine, as are the opinions and judgements expressed in this book.

Lord Bingham, The Rule of Law, London: Penguin, 2010, p. 38.

Quoted in ibid.

Economics and the rule of law: order in the jungle, The Economist, 13 March 2008, pp. 9597.

Jacinda Ardern, Why does good government matter?, speech to the Australia New Zealand School of Government, Melbourne, 18 July 2019.

Templeton v Jones [1984] 1 NZLR 448.

Douglas Hurd, Robert Peel: A biography, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007, p. 3.

Green v Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand [1989] 3 NZLR 18, [1989] 2 All ER 1056.

Wilson v Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand [1990] 2 NZLR 565.

Porirua City Council v Gerard Aloysius Wall, M. 478/88, Decision of Judge D.A. Ongley, 17 March 1989.

For example, OBrien v Social Credit Political League [1984] 1 NZLR 84 and [1984] 1 NZLR 68 (among others).

Black v Taylor [1993] 3 NZLR 403, and its aftermath, Gazley v Lord Cooke of Thorndon [1999] 2 NZLR 668.

Fletcher Challenge Ltd v Commerce Commission [1989] 2 NZLR 554.

Holt v Holt [1990] 3 NZLR 401.

Governor of Pitcairn and Associated Islands v Sutton [1995] 1 NZLR 426.

Sodexo Pass International SAS v Hungary [2021] NZHC 371.

Dairy Containers v NZI Bank Ltd [1995] 2 NZLR 30.

E.W. Thomas, A Return to Principle in Judicial Reasoning and an Acclamation of Judicial Autonomy, Victoria University of Wellington Law Review Monograph 5, Wellington, 1993.

D.F. Dugdale, A polite response to Mr Justice Thomas,

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