Results Of ACT Primary

ACT New Zealand Party President Catherine Judd was today pleased to announce that, after a long and robust process, the ACT New Zealand Board of Trustees has accepted the Caucus' recommendation of the selection of a new leader and deputy leader.

"There was a large turnout in our Primary ballot. It was a close race, going to three counts under the preferential voting system. Rodney Hide reached the 50 percent plus one threshold on the third count, getting 53.64 percent of the vote. Stephen Franks gained 46.36 percent on this count," Ms Judd said.

"The ACT leader is ultimately determined by the MPs. Today, the Caucus elected Rodney Hide as leader, and Dr Muriel Newman as deputy. This decision, which coincides with the collective wishes of the Party in the primary ballot, has been endorsed by the Board.

"I am also pleased to announce that Ken Shirley has been unanimously voted as whip, and wish to publicly congratulate the new team on their election.

"The challenge for ACT is great, but I know that Rodney will lead our powerful team, ensuring that ACT is returned after the next election and is able to be part of a Centre-Right government.

"The Party is committed to ensuring that ACT New Zealand is the first third party under MMP to change leader successfully," Ms Judd said.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>