Pretty much every Kiwi and many Australians – and the odd dual citizen, like me and my cuzzy bro Barnaby – were pretty much transfixed to the telly on Thursday as we awaited Winston Peters' announcement about who he'd back to occupy the top floors of the Beehive, and didn't Winston just love the limelight.

Considering how long he'd taken to deliberate and then to deliver the verdict, his choice of Labour became increasingly likely, so NZ now has a young, attractive leader to rival the Trudeaus and Macrons of this world. It will be a couple of days yet before we know who will take over the health portfolio but most people's money would be on Labour nabbing the ministry, health policy being one of its traditional strengths.