The 2010 Transtasman Ratings
November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 am by David FarrarTranstasman has published its annual ratings for our 122 MPs. As usual, I do some analysis. The overall average rating is 4.5
Average Ratings per Party
- Maori 5.7 ((+0.5 from 2009)
- United Future 5.5 (+1.5)
- National 5.2 (+0.1)
- ACT 4.4 (-0.2)
- Labour 4.3 (+0.4)
- Green 4.1 (+0.6)
- Progressive 2.0 (-1.0)
The overall average rating increased from 4.5 to 4.7.
Top MPs
- Simon Power 9.0 (+0.5)
- John Key 9.0 (nc)
- Tony Ryall 8.5 (+0.5)
- Bill English 8.5 (+0.5)
Bottom MPs
- Chris Carter 1.0 (-2.5)
- Paul Quinn 1.0 (-1.0)
- Ashraf Choudary 1.5 (+0.5)
Top Labour MPs
- Annette King 6.5 (nc)
- David Parker 6.5 (+0.5)
- Darren Hughes 6.5 (+0.5)
Top Third Party MPs
- Tariana Turia – 7.5 (+0.5)
- Peter Dunne – 5.5 (+1.5)
- Sue Kedgley – 5.5 (+1.5)
- John Boscawen – 5.0 (+0.5)
- Jim Anderton – 2.0 (-1.0)
Top 2008 intake MPs
- Steven Joyce 7.5 (nc)
- Rahui Katene 6.0 (nc)
- Simon Bridges 6.0 (+2.0)
Biggest Increases
- Lindsay Tisch, Simon Bridges, Sue Moroney and Hone Harawira all +2 from 2009
Biggest Decreases
- Pansy Wong -3.0
- Chris Carter -2.5
Group Ratings
- Ministers 6.6 (+0.4)
- Cabinet 7.1 (+0.4)
- National frontbench 7.9 (+0.2)
- Labour frontbench 5.0 (+0.5)
- National 2008 intake 4.2 (nc)
- Labour 2008 intake 4.1 (+0.4)
Related posts:
- The 2009 Transtasman Ratings
- The 2012 Trans-Tasman Ratings
- The Transtasman 2008 MP Scorecard
- Trans-Tasman MP Ratings
November 30th, 2010 at 9:59 am
How does ACT rate higher than Labour & the Greens? How is that possible?
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Lol @ Simon Power the top MP…. wow
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 10:19 am
How does Power rank so highly? Apart from the knee jerk reactions to pretty much everything he got absolutely rolled on Electoral Reform. It is not consensus when you just give up and agree with the other guys because they yell at you.
[DPF: At the risk of the wrath of Whale, I'll explain - noting that in doing so I have been highly critical of the EFA outcome and the framing of the new media review.
First, Power has set an amazing workrate in his portfolios. In under two years he has made dramatic changes to the justice sector and financial regulation sector. He has passed a huge number of laws. And I do think the changes to the justice sector will result in much better outcomes for victims in terms of speedier trials etc.
Secondly he has done pretty well in some areas, in terms of getting a good outcome - the copyright law, the patents act and even the alcohol reforms in that he did not go overboard.
Thirdly he is very good at working with the Opposition. Now as I said, I thought he compromised too much on electoral finance and am very unhappy with the outcome. But to people not so interested in the outcome, they like the fact politicians stop squabbling and agree.
This is what TT itself said:
Vote:He’s like a lock to Key’s role on the wing. He is generating important legislation which will change the country. Power is a towering figure on the front bench, and has carried a huge workload this year accomplishing it with skill and efficiency. Justice and Commerce are portfolios which involve complex law
and he has taken more of it through Parliament than any other minister - one third of the Government’s legislation during 2010. Power is in charge of reforming the justice system, financial market regulation and liquor laws - separate areas of major responsibility - and he has shown a comprehensive grasp of all they entail. Also deeply involved with the trans-Tasman relationship and the alignment of commerce law with Australia’s. Respected across the House for the way he works with other parties, Power gets the nod for outstanding performance carried out with quiet good grace..]
November 30th, 2010 at 10:34 am
I agree that Paul Quinn is an absolute embarrassment to the government with his constant interrupting and attention seeking behaviour. Many people saw him as the best thing since sliced bread before the 08 election but I see him as being worthy of dropping from the list.How can cr….. like that get to the top in political parties !! Big mouth small brain !
Vote:Great to see Eric Roy’s mention as a worthy controller of the house as deputy speaker. National is presiding well over the house.
Choudary is certainly Labour’s weakest with that benign look and his constant sitting on his shiney a***. There’s a Chinese guy from Auckland who also does nothing in the house. Lyn Pillay is another who buzzes around like a light weight house fly. Darrien Fenton another of the union layabouts in the Labour party.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:36 am
How does Finlayson rate so high? I would have thought more people would have been concerned with his proposed legislation that will allow for backroom deals with the Maori Party in return for their support to keep National in power.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Ashraf has increased his appeal by 50%. It seems Blohard Jim is still a bit over-rated.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 11:11 am
An impressive critique of Simon Power’s very high rating can be found on Scott Yorke’s very good Imperator Fish blog – see:
http://www.imperatorfish.com/2010/11/just-dont-ask-me.html
Yorke argues that the Trans Tasman examination of Power falls down due to it’s focus on his quantity of political output instead of the quality of Power’s reforms and legislation.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 11:36 am
I think TT is unfairly harsh on the backbenchers. They tend to get poor ratings because they do not dazzle everyone with their achievements, but as backbenchers don’t have the opportunity to do so. Though there are (and always will be) some poor performers, overall I think we have a pretty strong bunch of MPs just now, worthy of a higher average rating than TT gives.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 11:58 am
I agree with s.russell. about backbenchers.
Putting the boot in isn’t unique to NZ though. Have a look at this from the uk:
http://www.acadvertiser.co.uk/lanarkshire-news/local-news/monklands-news/2010/11/04/pamela-nash-slammed-for-failing-her-constituents-65864-27601072/
She has only been there since May!
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
A fair argument I guess DPF but putting through lots of work is not the same as getting it right – something that the Minister and others are keen to impress on legal aid lawyers. I can put through 60 hours a week in accordance with the legal aid steps and say “look at me, I work so hard” but the reality would be that I would be 1. making unnecessary applications 2. doing the clients a disservice and 3. being generally shit at my job.
The changes will have little impact on trial length or time when trials are getting increasingly complicated and the police are increasingly better resourced.
A “victim” focus on the criminal system sounds great but it is presumptively unfair and prejorative to the defendant. There is no victim until conviction (a fine but important line) and as has been noted on this blog before trials are about defendants (the person who’s liberty is at stake) not the complainant(s) or their families. The system should be as sensitive to the needs of all users as possible but not at the expense of the right to a fair trial.
On the wider note there is a fine line between getting on well with opposition and being rolled.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
What a success the Maori Party has become. Just like Maori tv, which the pollies dismissed.
Much the same as Kiwi Bank.
A lesson not to listen to the Michael Cullens of this country.
Iconic Kiwiland is unstoppable.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Is the standard of Trans Tasman’s analysis not summed up by the fact that a non existent party (United Future, or whatever it’s called today) and NZ’s most venal, indolent and incompetent MP*, Peter Dunne, received the highest gains and that the latter outrates John Boscawen?
* Okay it’s a highly contested title, but I think Dunne wins based on his longevity at the teat and his sheer chutzpah in dropping to his knees and opening wide every time there’s a change of government, suddenly, magically able to work with those he claimed to oppose… over and over again.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I just read the full article on Trans Tasman’s web site. This is clearly a very media centric rating system, and I do not believe has totally looked at the issues behind members’ or ministers’ actions. For example, Wayne Mapp is only rated on his ability to deal with the media, and scant mention is given to his White Paper (only the fact that it came out). Nothing in the ratings about his fanciful dreams of saving hundreds of millions of dollers.
Simon Power is also rated all about how he relates to the media and to Labour MPs. When did that become a benchmark for effective governance? Anne Tolley has been much more effective in her portfolio, despite poor relationships with Labour, the media and the unions. But that it exactly why in my opinion she has been the outstanding performer
Fora like these are a much better gauge of how NZ really thinks its politicians are performing, not a bunch of self important journalists. Long live Blogs as the only effective voice of the masses.
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Maori TV a success???
If that is the case then they do not need the millions of tax payer dollars in funding.
Take away the tax dollars and how long would they last?
Vote:November 30th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Power may be a politician’s politician, but I’m afraid for me and I fear for many of the public, he rates about as well as Silent-T does.
While their styles are different they’re birds of a feather. By that I mean they’re both very ambitious, ruthless, arbitrary, petty, disloyal themselves whilst demanding it from others and full of deceitful cunning. Unfortunately they’re both also hard workers and intelligent. IMO NZ doesn’t need this sort of person in any leadership role let alone at National level.
My prediction is when the people get to see these two and start to get to know them, they won’t last very long, but that’s where the guile comes in so they may prove me wrong on that, I hope not.
I was quite surprised TransTasman didn’t come to much the same conclusion but perhaps the editor didn’t let them.
Vote:December 1st, 2010 at 10:18 am
@ Big Bruv
I hear ya but the viewing audience is huge.
Enough to definitely justify advertising dollars.
Obviously, the business community is not researching.
Vote: