After all the brawling over our leaders’ debate at the election last
year, have a look across the Tasman where the Kiwi campaign is due to feature a
showdown between the parties on commercial station TV3 tonight.

TV3 planned to omit the heads of the political parties that have
provided the Government with coalition and support arrangements – Jim Anderton from
the Progressive Party and Peter Dunne from United Future – from tonight’s
extravaganza, so they went to court.

They’ve won. The New Zealand High Court has ruled this morning that
TV3 has a “public responsibility” to include the two alongside the leaders of
the major parties. More here.

Bet some minor party leaders closer to home will be reading the
judgement closely.