Having had the opportunity to talk with a couple of senior National politicians it is probably good to remind ourselves that if there is anything that characterises the National Party it is pragmatism. There is no underlying philosophical or rational base here, other than a vague notion against high tax regimes and over large government.

Having tested a couple of poli’s on the hustings the party line is “Yes we believe the world is warming and potentially dangerously and yes we believe that mankind is at least partially to blame and yes we should do our bit in stopping the process”. Asked for evidence they will say “90% of scientists agree”.

What in fact they are saying is “Most New Zealanders think that potentially dangerous global warming is taking place and that this is at least partially due to mankind’s activities”. In private they may even say “and if most NZers are right we have done the right thing and if they are wrong we will have transferred money from those who drive cars to those who want to invest in trees – not much damage there”.

For a rationalists like myself that is a pretty sobering realisation, but perhaps it indicates the way forward. National Poli’s will lag public opinion on this issue.