This dictionary investigates the rhetorical history of New Zealand politics by cataloging the most memorable and characterful expressions uttered by the nation's public figures. Desmond Hurley compiles a comprehensive record of political discourse, utilizing primary source documentation to capture the wit, aggression, and nuance of parliamentary debate and public address. The work serves as a linguistic archive, framing these quotations within the specific historical contexts that necessitated their utterance.

Experts and political historians frequently cite this work as a primary resource for understanding the evolution of New Zealand's political rhetoric. Readers note that the text provides a balanced look at both the humor and the gravity inherent in the nation's legislative history.