Political courage is rare. In New Zealand it is probably due to such potential being long buried under the battlefields of Europe and beyond.
There were a few, however, who understood that without the moral authority of understanding the duty associated with high office - along with financial probity - you lose the right to speak with any real political conviction and even less relevance.
Arnold Nordmeyer (Labour) had political courage and integrity in spades, as evidenced by his so-called Black Budget in 1958.
Roger Douglas (Labour) also had the courage to grasp the political and financial need to lead the country out of dependency and privilege, as did Ruth Richardson (National) some years later.
Each of these politicians displayed true leadership when the need was real.
All three are still vilified by many for doing what was right.
The authority of office given by the people is not one to simply seek cross-party consensus for a particular problem and to cast it aside if the numbers cannot be found.
True political courage means being prepared to risk personal ambition and power in the interests of society and indeed civilisation.
One of the greatest examples of political courage so relevant today came from the German pastor Martin Niemoller in 1937.
He condemned the cowardice of the German intellectual society for not speaking out against Hitler.
Pastor Niemoller was imprisoned before the building of the Nazi extermination camps.
His famous speech has been paraphrased into this well-known poem.
''First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me - and there was no-one left to speak for me.''
So where is the moral and political authority today on international matters of huge distress?
As a nation, we now sit on the Security Council of the United Nations.
This august body, reeking of privilege, merely expresses degrees of concern as it watches Islamic State, Boko Haram and countless other terrorists inflict inhuman suffering on so many.
Alignment with the UN merely requires the ability to follow.
True leadership requires, within its foundations, integrity and a clear understanding of what is right regardless of popular opinion.
Today, New Zealand merely stands to watch as Islamic State vents its primeval spleen on all who oppose its barbarism.
Many of our elected representatives profess outrage and horror at the IS atrocities yet propose dialogue and peace-keeping with those who understand nothing of such things.
New Zealanders are justifiably proud of our contribution in international conflicts, despite the appalling physical and genetic losses suffered.
There may soon be debate between our political parties as to what action New Zealand should take on the international stage.
Inevitably, the debate in our Parliament will degenerate into one of who is right and who is wrong, instead of being about what is right and what is wrong.
• Gerrard Eckhoff, of Alexandra, is an Otago regional councillor and a former Act MP.
