December 11, 2015
The year in politics
The year in politics
WILLIE JACKSON
Looking back on the political year the MP who really stands out for me has to be the old campaigner Winston Peters.
Not only did the wily old Winston win the Northland by-election – winning any by-election is no mean feat – but he also secured NZ First’s future as a major opposition political party.
As an orator in Parliament, there are few who can compete with the elder statesman of the New Zealand political scene.
And at the age of 70 when most of Winston’s army are putting their feet up and enjoying life – and their gold cards – there’s no sign of Winston slowing down.
Like wine, he’s getting better with age.
For Prime Minister John Key, it’s been a rather forgetful year for him and the National Party.
Despite Key and National still polling well, the Housing, Serco and initially the Judith Collins debacle has marred the past 12 months.
One thing Key has done heading into the summer break is rejig his own MP line-up to counter labour’s new look.
My Maori MP of the year was a tough choice between newbie Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox and Kelvin Davis.
The Te Tai Tokerau MP had more hits than a Taylor Swift album so just takes the award.
But what a year it has been for Fox. The mum of nine has rattled a few cages since entering Parliament after the 2014 election and has been an outstanding co-leader.
It was always going to be hard for the party to bounce back after the retirements of Dame Tariana Turia and Sir Pita Sharples, but the Maori Party can look back at 2015 very fondly.
My up and coming MP is Labour’s Peeni Henare. Peeni certainly has the pedigree to do good things for Maori and I’m looking forward to him establishing good policies and pathways for Urban Maori – a portfolio he now holds for Labour.
The comeback MP has to be Judith Collins. When she lost her cabinet position, Collins could have become a real thorn in the Government’s side.
Up to her dumping, she was one of Key’s best and toughest lieutenants and had the battle scars to prove it.
But Collins, sort of kept her head low – instead writing a weekly column in the middle-class Sunday-Star Times newspaper and waited her time.
Her comeback to the National frontline, mirrors Lazarus and you can expect Key to start front footing the Corrections debacle.
Oddly enough, it was under Collins and Anne Tolley’s tenure that Serco were bought into the mix.
My hard luck MP award has to go to my old mate Sam Lotu-Liga, who in my opinion was given a hospital pass.
Sam is a great guy and unfortunately his humble nature was no match for the dogged-style attacks from Davis over dramas within Mt Eden Prison.
There’s bound to be a New Zealand On Air Funded programme on the goings on at the Serco run prison.
Our own real life version of Prisoner, or more likely Porridge.
Anyway take care over the holiday time Mere kirihimete me nga mihi o te tau hou kia koutou katoa.
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