We like laughing at those more powerful than ourselves. We may have limited power to call them to account for their injustices but we can draw satisfaction from seeing their hypocrisy exposed. It is such a release when someone can finally articulate exactly how butt-naked the emperor is. 

Stepping out in the dashing apparel of a young statesman (slicked back hair, swanky waistcoat), James Nokise slips quickly into a chatty rapport with the audience, introducing the evening’s entertainment as his Voter Information Pack.

It indeed turns out to be a quite usefully informative, hour-long package, identifying the parties, their main players, historic details and some notable policies, complete with succinct and incisive studies of political personalities; caricatures that even at their most savage reflect Nokise’s evident fondness for human foible. Well, except maybe for Kim Dotcom and Judith Collins, whom Nokise delights in casting as the cartoon villains of the night.

Sometimes Nokise just nails that emperor’s ass to the wall. A wickedly apt portrait of Judith Collins in the context of privacy breaches, Oravida and Whale Oil, or a cheeky summation of ‘Drunk Uncle’ Winston Peters’ political philosophy and general approach to life, for instance, may be subject to a degree of exaggeration under the law of comedian’s license, but they distil acute and necessary observations. This is the information every voter should get. 

My dissatisfaction is a desire for more time. The amount of territory covered, from the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party to the National Party, renders plenty of juicy material, but a couple of times I am left hankering for a more detailed look into party history or policy, and I am sure Nokise has the comedic goods to bring it out if only there were a little more time to explore.

There is sincerity with Nokise. His laid-back, self-mocking persona balances the penetrating intelligence of his political commentary. He transitions effortlessly from point to point, rather as if rambling about politics to his mates at a party, teasing and sparking easily off audience input, instinctively pulling the belly laughs. The deliciously nasal John Key impressions get me every time, I can’t help it. It really is a hoot from start to finish.

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