What an extraordinary week.  Stories that have gripped and horrified the nation.  Events that have caused history.  And issues that require us to look deep into ourselves as to who we are and what we believe it.

Leading the way was David Seymour’s incredible success with the End of Life Choice Bill passing it’s third reading.  And yet it may all come to nought. The Parliamentarians have passed the bill but now it comes to us in a referendum.  You wonder what would have happened if the third reading was the final hurdle and whether the parliamentarians would have had the courage to go forward, but we’ll never know.

But as Andrew Little warned this next year could get ugly, emotional and full of misinformation.  Certainly my inbox filled up immediately with anti-euthanasia press releases immediately after the vote. Andrew Little says an education campaign will be needed because he knows that your average voter is not going to plough through the legislation before casting their vote but that will also be branded propaganda.  As I said during the week it’s up to every one of us to take this seriously and school ourselves up.

The country has been transfixed by Grace Millane. (Photo / Supplied)

We were also transfixed with the Grace Millane case.  Every day the horrors of her passing were broadcast to a slavering audience keen for details.  I had a number of emails asking why we gave such comprehensive coverage.  It’s because the audience wanted it.  Grace Millane articles are setting records. We’re not here to censor due to sensitivity, we’re here to tell the story for those who want to hear it.

At ZB, we took this all very seriously.  While some thought we were dining out on it I can tell you that we dedicated only five minutes a day of programme time to the case.  Breakfast didn’t talk about it.  There was no talkback.  Our news bulletins covered it and then in the drive show our reporter recapped the day. There is no way we want to endanger this case.  But it is fair that I’ve heard other stations being reckless.  On your head be it if you go too far.

Shane Jones also burst into life like the spasmodic volcano he is. He is an enigma. He wrote a very good piece about forestry.  He said that the billion tree programme will increase our forest area by over two per cent but he points out that because harvesting of forests it will take the proportion of forestry land back to the same level as 2006.  I don’t remember it being a problem then.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, centre left, next to National's agricultural spokesman Todd Muller, centre right. Photo / Jason Walls

But then he goes and ruins it all but singing Tutira Mai Ngaiwi over farmers speeches and calling them rednecks.  To be fair the farmers were booing and jeering first but still, Shane, keep it under your Akubra hat.  But then remember that New Zealand First are out to spend the next year proving they’re nobodies puppets so perhaps it was a calculated snub.

Finally we have a story that could blow up spectacularly.  Berhouz Boochani arrived in town.  The Manus Island refugee had his first taste of freedom.  He here to speak at a festival on a strictly limited one month visitor visa granted by Immigration after an application sponsored by Amnesty International.

But when I talked to him on Friday I asked if he was going to go back to Papua New Guinea or travel on to the States where he has been granted status.  He wouldn’t answer.  He may very well just decide to do a Zaoui and plead for asylum here. What a bed of thorns.  If he does and we accept him then Australia will be livid. If we don’t and throw him out we’ll be the bad guy.  Watch this one carefully.