NZPA rates the parties

NZPA’s parliamentary team has given year end ratings to the parliamentary parties. A summary:

Labour 5/10. Spent most of 2006 in damage control

National 6/10. Tried hard but didn’t seriously erode Labour’s support rating. Emerged in good shape after John Key took over.

New Zealand First 4/10. Has to raise its game and get used to life without Winston.

Greens 7/10. Ended the year with its support level between 7 percent and 8 percent. International focus on climate change helped, its MPs put in the work.

Maori Party 7/10. Avoided grievance rhetoric for the most part, its MPs made sensible contributions to many debates. Pita Sharples emerged as an outstanding co-leader.

United Future 6/10. Leader Peter Dunne managed to maintain a profile in Parliament although he holds the revenue portfolio,

ACT Party 4/10. It’s hard going with only two MPs and leader Rodney Hide was inclined to find other things to do. ACT’s impact in Parliament was minimal.

Progressive Party 6/10 (B+). Judged on the performance of its only MP, hard-working cabinet minister Jim Anderton.

While I might change the scores somewhat, it’s a fair summary in terms of relative rankings. I think United Future is being treated somewhat generously. Not that Dunne hasn’t been fairly effective but their poll ratings are no better than ACT’s generally.