6/50 left
In 1996 we moved from FPP to MMP, and a record 50 new MPs were elected to Parliament (45 brand new and five re-treads).
Of those 50, only six are left in Parliament, they are:
- Gerry Brownlee
- Rodney Hide
- Nanaia Mahuta
- Wayne Mapp
- Georgina te Heuheu
- Tariana Turia
Dr Mapp has retired, and it is quite possible a couple more may retire, so next term they may be down to just three left.
On a related note the current Father of the House is Jim Anderton elected in 1984. It would be Phil Goff, if he had not lost his seat in 1990. Next would be Annette King, but she also lost her seat in 1990. It’s interesting that the two MPs elected longest ago, are the Leader and Deputy Leader of Labour – part of their relevance problem.
Anyway Anderton is retiring, so who will be Father of the House after the 2011 election? Well Peter Dunne if he is re-elected, otherwise Lockwood Smith. After Lockwood is Murray McCully I think – which is a scary thought!