Click on the video tab to watch footage of Mr Gower’s performance.
By Lloyd Burr
It is not what you would expect to see at the Green Party’s last caucus meeting before the election but today party members were treated to a song by the man who usually asks them the hard questions.
In a rendition that received rousing applause, 3 News’ political reporter Patrick Gower stood poised and composed in front of the Green Party caucus and sang the United States’ national anthem.
Three weeks ago, Mr Gower made a bet with a Green Party press secretary, Scott Compton, that he would sing the United States’ anthem to their MPs if the United States were to beat Russia in their Rugby World Cup match in New Plymouth.
If the Russians were victorious, then the Press Gallery at Parliament would be treated to Mr Compton singing the Russian anthem.
But the Americans took out the match 13-6 and Mr Gower had to follow through with his end of the deal.
“I'm a big fan of the Russian Bears. This was my little way of putting faith in them,” he says.
“I thought I'd got away with it, but his successor called me today for their last caucus…A bet is a bet and I had to follow through with my end of the deal.”
Mr Gower, who had not seen the lyrics until today, dedicated his version of the song to outgoing Green MP Keith Locke who lost a bet with Rodney Hide in 2008 and had to run naked through an Auckland suburb.
“I've got a ton of respect for Keith Locke. He honoured his bet when he went nude up Broadway in Newmarket. I had to honour this one, for Keith alone,” Mr Gower says.
“The Greens are cosying up to National, we all know that. But by the looks on their faces as I sung the 'Star-Spangled Banner', its clear to me they are keen to get closer to the United States as well.
“Russel Norman was so excited, I won't be surprised if he calls for ANZUS to be resurrected,” he says.
Mr Gower, whose only singing experience was the “odd hymn” during his catholic upbringing, says he was inspired by the Warriors rendition of the New Zealand anthem at the NRL grand-final at the weekend.
“I'm just glad I didn't have to sing the Russian national anthem ‘Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii’,” Mr Gower says.
3 News