Five contenders were shortlisted by a What's With That panel of experts following an international search and then extensive consultation with key stakeholders going forward at the end of the day. Those five were: Arthur Daley, Victor Meldrew, Hilda Ogden, Reggie Perrin and Ena Sharples.
And we felt that Mrs Sharples, despite showing she could face down rogue global leaders by scaring the panel half to death, may not be quite the right person to go head-to-head with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a charm offensive before the next election.
Which leaves two candidates, each with obvious strengths. Mr Meldrew is a hot prospect for the leader's job - he is stubborn, quick-witted and willing to take anyone on, despite having one foot in the grave. Mrs Ogden is a hard worker - a demon with a feather duster, we hear - and is decisive and a superb communicator on Coronation St.
So, the choice is yours. Who will be the Nats' next readers' choice leader - Meldrew or Ogden? Rush your responses to me at the usual address.
Another year older
By the way, it's my birthday. So I've decided I'm going to write about anything I want. Oh, hang on, I do that every day, anyway. But you might want to cast a very critical eye over the column today, and take anything you read with more than just a pinch of salt.
If there was one, really selfish, birthday wish I could make, it would be to be back in England this week. Have you heard they are having probably the coldest, snowiest spell of weather in at least five years and possibly since 1991? The ''Beast from the East'' - a huge pool of Siberian air - has pounced on Western Europe, bringing sub-zero temperatures, even by day.
I couldn't think of anything that would make me happier than being there with all the family, braving the bitter winds, playing in the snow and wrapped up warm with beanie, gloves and scarf.
Seeing/not seeing things
One of my ODT colleagues bemoans the lack of alien spaceship sightings these days.
He puts it down to how obsessed we all are with our personal devices.
Have you seen any alien spaceships lately? Keen to see your photos.
Other close encounters
I'm enjoying these reminiscences of your brushes with fame and look forward to some more.
Ian Smith of Waverley says he is happy to pitch in with his two-penn'orth.
''Picture the 1970s and me, who worked in George St, returning to the coalface after lunch ahead of time.
''I dropped into Photokina in George St to drool over a Leitz lens I could not afford, and would never be able to. The proprietor, the late John Hughes, was busy with a customer. Standing in the shop was a gentleman whose fashionable but understated garb marked him out as 'not from these parts'.
''Seeing what I was looking at, he came over and started up a conversation, revealing that he was very well-spoken, probably British, but not 'plummy'. We got to comparing notes about the Leica model M3, of which I had owned an example since 1959.
''One of his views I thought to be arguable, but I failed to get around to it because John was, by then, ready to go to lunch with the visitor. He was the last to leave the shop, the visitor already waiting patiently on the pavement outside.
'''Sorry Ian,' said John. 'I've got to rush, I'm off to lunch with Patrick. Drop in tomorrow.'
'''Patrick?' I asked vacantly.
'''You know who he is, don't you?' he said.
'''Wouldn't have a clue,' I replied.
'''He's Patrick - Lord Lichfield. The Queen's cousin and the top British society photographer.'
''The penny dropped at last. I wandered back to work, thankful, as I still am, that I had been interrupted before I could enlighten Patrick with my views as to 'where he had it all wrong'.
''There may be those in Dunedin photographic circles who still recall the visit. I cannot fix the year, but I am sure it was the 1970s.''
Well, Ian, I'm sure that, being an aristocratic Brit, Lord Lichfield would have listened with interest to your disputed matter and would at least have pretended to agree with you.