Hawke's Bay politicians slip in tough ratings round
Members of Parliament who represent Hawke's Bay have dropped in ratings, according to end-of-year ratings by an influential political newsletter headed by New Zealand's most experienced parliamentary journalist.
Rating the performances of the country's 121 MPs on a scale from 1 to 10, the Trans Tasman had miserly offerings for the four Hawke's Bay MPs, the best being 5 points for Napier MP Chris Tremain.
Hastings-based MP for Tukituki Craig Foss has also dropped a point, to 4 points.
Wairarapa MP John Hayes, elected to the House for the first time along with Messrs Tremain and Foss as the blue National wave all but wiped out the previous Labour occupation at the elections in 2005, also rates a 4.
The region's parliamentary elder statesman, sole Opposition MP, Ikaroa-Rawhiti Maori electorate representative and former Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia, is given little recognition after 13 years in the House, his 2 points keeping pace with his rating from 2011.
Of other MPs with close Hawke's Bay links, Minister of Police Anne Tolley, a former Deputy Mayor of Napier, held her ground with a rating of 5.5.
How they rated
Craig Foss: Foss has handled the complex commerce portfolio competently, but only because all the heavy lifting was done by his predecessor, Simon Power. The David Ross Investment scandal could be a test of his abilities in this portfolio, as sector reform is under question. Did not seem to get an early grasp of the size of the problems with the Novopay debacle, his only major education responsibility, until it snowballed into a major, long-running issue. It is all very well to blame officials for the initial blunders, but ministers have to take responsibility for sorting problems out.
Public performances have been notably poor. Emerging as a minor Cabinet liability. 2011 rating: 5. This year: 4. Mr Foss' response: "These things come and go all the time, the only rating that I care about is one from the people in the Bay."
Chris Tremain: Tremain has competently handled the internal affairs portfolio and is proud of the new passport system. Some officials fear more work is needed on Civil Defence structure after the the lessons of the Christchurch quakes, but this could still come after the Royal Commission reports back. In summary, not really tested but lingering doubts remain. 2011 rating: 6. This year: 5.
Mr Tremain's response: "The ranking is fair given it is my first year as a new minister. I agree I am untested in the new role due to few (if any) political mishaps but that may also reflect the fact that I have an excellent team doing a great job across my portfolios.
After three years as the senior whip my rating in 2011 increased to a 6. It is unfortunate that this was not reported at the time. I am confident that with hard work I will continue to grow into my new role and that this will be reflected in future rankings.
I love my job and it is a privilege to represent the people of Napier, Wairoa, and Hawke's Bay at the Cabinet table."
John Hayes (MP for Wairarapa): Still tends to make somewhat strange speeches in Parliament; such is his ego he is likely to resist the push to step aside for new blood.
He knows what's popular in his electorate. 2011 rating: 4. This year: 4.
Mr Hayes' response: Declined to comment.
Parekura Horomia (MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti): Sometimes he turns up in the House and makes a good speech, more often they are strange and rambling affairs. A bit of a mystery what he does with his time.
2011 rating: 2. This year: 2.
Source, Trans Tansman
