Larry Baldock is seeking to register the long-awaited party based on 'Judeo-Christian Values', with Gordon Copeland as another intending candidate though no longer would-be co-leader. The name they propose is 'The Kiwi Party'.

On reflection, that is and apt moniker. Reasons for this include, but are not limited to:

• The new party and the flightless bird are both endangered.


• Both are freakish throwbacks, representative of a species that their advocates think can only thrive in a protected environment.


• Both have a problem with rodents in their nests.


• In French, the name could be rendered 'Qui Oui?', or 'Who will vote for them?'


• Save the Kiwi says: "Unlike bird species that can entice their mate with colourful plumage or a beautiful song, the male kiwi has drab brown feathers to work with."


• Perhaps they mean the boot polish. Somehow, I'm sure they all have exceptionally shiny shoes.


• Or the currency: so far, Gordon Copeland's movements have been almost as reliable as those of the Kiwi dollar.


• If a kiwi had a website, I imagine its apostrophes would also be pretty random.


• If I laid the largest egg in proportion to my body weight of any bird then I, too, would probably want the right to hit my kids.


• The kiwi is a retiring bird. Gordon Copeland is more into resigning, but that's close enough.


• Come to think of it, Larry Baldock always looks a bit dazed when he comes out in the daylight.


• No members of the genus Apteryx will enter parliament in the 2008 elections either.


• Anything's got to be more accurate than "Future New Zealand".


• Neither the proposed party, nor national symbol, will fly.