Key traits written all over PM's speech notes

CHRIS SKELTON/ The Dominion Post

SHOWING HIS HAND: As Prime Minister John Key taunted the Opposition over Thursday's Budget announcement, he offered a telling glimpse of his handwritten and highlighted speech notes.

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You can tell a lot about a person from their writing.

Prime Minister John Key's handwritten, highlighted and handheld post-Budget notes tell us not only that he is organised – they also hold some tips for other speech-makers.

As Mr Key gesticulated wildly while taunting the Opposition during his speech in response to Thursday's Budget, there was a brief flourish of his speech notes.

He was speaking in response to Finance Minister Bill English and Labour leader Phil Goff, in his allotted 20-minute time slot after the Budget announcement.

Wellington Toastmasters past-president Tracy Keith said the handwritten notes gave away that Mr Key had clearly prepared well, written the speech himself, and taken care to highlight the main points he wanted to ensure he covered.

"If the notes were typed and in a more orderly state, we might have suggested one of his staff had prepared them for him."

A spokeswoman for Mr Key said he had gone to the House with a pre-prepared, typed speech.

But, while listening to Mr English and Mr Goff, he had inserted pertinent points he wanted to address.

"It's common for the prime minister. He likes to inject his personality."

But Ms Keith recommended a "more ordered, structured approach" for novice speechmakers. "Sometimes notes in this form can become confusing and even overwhelming. Especially if ... your nerves get the better of you."

She also advised the prime minister to make sure his notes were less conspicuous in future. "My recommendation for him would be to place his notes on the lectern while speaking and gesturing, otherwise they detract from what he is saying."

- © Fairfax NZ News