Audrey’s Ministerial Report Card
November 12th, 2012 at 11:00 am by David FarrarNZ Herald Political Editor Audrey Young scores the Ministers out of 10. Her ratings are:
- Chris Finlayson 9
- Judith Collins 8.5
- Tony Ryall 8.5
- Bill English 8
- David Carter 8
- Jonathan Coleman 8
- Tim Groser 8
- Gerry Brownlee 7.5
- John Key 7
- Steven Joyce 7
- Paula Bennett 7
- Murray McCully 7
- Anne Tolley 7
- Amy Adams 7
- Maurice Williamson 7
- Simon Bridges 7
- Nathan Guy 6
- Craig Foss 6
- Chris Tremain 6
- Jo Goodhew 6
- Chester Borrows 6
- Phil Heatley 5
- Kate Wilkinson 4
- Hekia Parata 3
Only the National Ministers were ranked. The average or mean score was 6.8 out of 10 and the median was 7. 22 out of 24 Ministers got a 5/10 or higher.
If you take the 10 frontbench Ministers, the average score increases from 6.8 to 7.4 out of 10.
I am pleased to see Finlayson rated so highly. He has done a very good job, and I’d be inclined to look at keeping him in the Labour portfolio.
Audrey notes:
Chris Finlayson has emerged as one of John Key’s most valuable ministers in National’s second term. He has scored the highest rating of all ministers in my report card on the Executive prepared with colleagues in the Herald press gallery team. …
Mr Finlayson is Attorney-General and Treaty Negotiations Minister. He is also Labour Minister since Kate Wilkinson resigned after the royal commission’s damning report into the Pike River disaster.
On the face of it, that may not seem a natural fit – and it may be just a temporary appointment until the next reshuffle. But Mr Finlayson’s skill set may be the right one to keep the job for the rest of the term. He gets results. He has a big intellect and has a good head for detail. But he is also emotionally intelligent, and was a good choice to send to the West Coast to discuss the report with the Pike River families.
His achievements in Treaty Negotiations are the most notable. Who would have imagined two years ago the Government concluding a deal with Tuhoe?
The report card is done in consultation with the full Herald gallery team. Obviously Hekia Parata has the largest challenge in terms of restoring confidence. Eyes will be on how the Christchurch schools issue is resolved. There must be some change – you can’t ignore the earthquake’s impact on school rolls and damaged buildings. So there will be some people unhappy with the outcome no matter what. However if the communities down there feel they have been listened to, and that their views and arguments have had an impact on the final decisions, then that will help restore the reputation.
UPDATE: On reflection I think the Herald team have been a bit generous to a couple of Ministers. No, I won’t say which ones – but I’d say 21 out of 24 Ministers being 6/10 or higher is a bit generous.
Related posts:
- Audrey’s Report Card
- Cabinet Report Card
- Ministerial blog poll results November 2010
- Ministerial stats H1 2012
November 12th, 2012 at 11:05 am
This usually relates to the amount of publicity a minister gets and whether they are engaged in opposition from sector groups or not (which is not necessarily a reflection of their competence).
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 11:23 am
I think Joyce is rated a little highly. He’s been solid, but not outstanding since the election. Certainly not enough to score much more than a simple pass mark.
As the rankings say, he’s perhaps put out more vison statements than he’s done actual work.
I think Wilkinson and Parata need to be either put out to pasture, or give lower stress /less chance of a stuff up portfolios of something like Internal Affairs, or Veterans or Womans Affairs, or Local govt. Plus some small time associate roles, to give them a chance to regain their confidence, and prove they have what it takes.
Put Tolley back in Education, and give Chester Burrows Police & Corrections.
I wouldn’t keep Finlayson as minister of Labour, I think he’s got enough on his plate as it is. Give to to someone like Bridges, or Amy Adams, and give them a chance to show they have what they think they have.
Vote:Plus Goodhew would be a good bet for MPI when Carter becomes speaker.
November 12th, 2012 at 11:46 am
Mr Finlayson is the fox guarding the henhouse.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 11:48 am
That Paul Bennett is something else isn’t he?
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Chris Finlayson (and his trusty chequebook) is a major reason this lifelong National Voter will be unlikely to ever vote for them again…
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I would like a rating for David Shearer please…..
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
manufacturing down
unemployment up
mass exodus continues
Fuck em all.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Given the blatant left wing bias on show each day courtesy of the Hoorald, I’m surprised that anyone would consider their ‘Report Card’ worthy of discussion / debate.
The Hoorald should be linked to journalism in the same manner that Crim Dotcom is linked to personal integrity.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Brownlee, Parata and Tolley rated too highly by Young.
Rolla_Fixgt why on earth would you put Tolley back on Education when she was such a disaster first time around.
Surely it is time to bring Nick Smith back into Cabinet and remove the poor performers
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I was surprised Parata was rated as highly as she was! Hopeless.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I regard anything that Young say as bullshit.
When she presents well, dressed and looking as a professional in a world wherer dress, deportmerent,ad all the other things gthat mjatter,m then I will ci9nsider her commntg worthy of evALUATION.
So aUdrey;
Vote:1.
November 12th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Younghg (Audrery):
Vote:1. Deportmernt
November 12th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
No surprise to see Finlayson so well regarded – I have found him to be bloody good. Once Treaty negotiations wind down, I hope he is given a seriously heavyweight portfolio. Don’t know why McCully was rated so highly, with all the stuff ups at MFAT – senior MFAT staff are openly contemptuous of Allen, and McCully is not in control of his department. No idea how Kate Wilkinson got rated so highly – she was a tool of her public sector advisers.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
A bit generous? Bennett gets 7 after the repeated fiascos at her ministry? Brownlee gets 7.5 even though most of Christchurch hates him?
Vote:Finlayson has been good though, so fair enough there.
November 12th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Finlayson…the list mp giving away vast tracks of the country to the brown mafia. The man makes my skin crawl…arrogant little (demerits)
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
It’s a shame National doesn’t have more ministers with Finlayson’s intellect.
Don’t forget he’s also Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@Mark
She was actually pretty good last time around. She sure got the unions under control anyway, which for any National education minister is a feat in itself.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
But I rate Judith Collins…PM in waiting for sure.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
I quite enjoyed John Key’s rating. 7 out of 10. Then goes on to say what a terrible year he’s had. I’d give him a 2. At best. Verbal gaffe after verbal gaffe. The unemployment rate is sky high. Nothing’s working.
That’s a big fat fail.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
They rate Maurice come lately Williamson at 7 . What a joke.
Ask any of the leaky home people what he has acheived. Waste of space.
Looking at the list generally it should be down graded by at least 3 points for most.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
liarbors a joke (217) Says:
November 12th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
But I rate Judith Collins…PM in waiting for sure.
Female Muldoon you wait and see.
Vote:November 12th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
I like her style V2..takes no shit calls a spade a spade..if she lost a few kg’s Id even be keen..
Vote:November 15th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
All of them got three points for turning up.
Vote:November 15th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Maybe the ratings aren’t on their performance per se, but their performance when compared to each other. That’s why so many of them get a rating of over 6, because they’re twice as good as Parata. Which isn’t saying much.
Vote:As for how Parata got 3, I can only assume Young doesn’t do negatives or was being overly generous. Or perhaps views a 2 or lower as being the domain of a baby-eating alcoholic.