2016 Politician Of The Year - Amy Adams

We’ve always rated her as one to watch and she has hit her stride since taking over the Justice portfolio in 2014. “Adams has truly found her feet in 2016, getting through a huge amount of work in crucial portfolios she has well and truly made her own. She has handled controversy with aplomb, and kept herself out of the mud-slinging hurly-burly of political life to simply get on with her job.

“Our politician of the year is a quiet achiever who has proven herself to be one of John Key's smartest picks. Amy Adams has had an outstanding year as Justice Minister. She's handled a huge workload with calm confidence, and through it she's been media-friendly, unflappable and accessible. Adams doesn't look for headlines, but she got them for the calls she made on compensation for David Bain and Teina Pora. Both processes were long, hard and controversial.Those are the announcements she'll be best remembered for during 2016, and they were just the tip of an iceberg.

“Adams put more Bills through Parliament than any other Minister, and they demonstrate the extent of her responsibilities and undertakings. She's worked on new ways to keep victims of crime safer, particularly in the aftermath of family violence which she's made one of her priorities. Alongside this, her Evidence Amendment Bill protects young and vulnerable witnesses who find themselves in court through no fault of their own.

“The Coronial system was revamped to make it more efficient through a range of amendments to existing law. The escape and recapture of Phillip John (Traynor) Smith threw up serious deficiencies in offender identity procedures, and Adams had to sort it out with her Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Bill. She's launched a review of the Search and Surveillance Act, and put a Bill through to improve the way the Human Rights Commission works. Justice is Adams' lead portfolio, the others are courts, broadcasting and communications. So she's updated century-old courts legislation and set up a pilot for dedicated sexual violence courts.And the communications portfolio means she's in charge of the Govt's $2bn ultra-fast broadband rollout. You won't hear Adams ranting at opposition parties across the floor of the House. She's too busy getting on with the job.”

The middle year of a third term can be tough for a Govt - the hubris builds and the fatigue starts to set-in among Ministers - at least this is what has happened. However John Key’s Govt seems to go from strength to strength. A huge poll lead and the lack of anything resembling an effective opposition helps. The next aim is a fourth term - this means a shake-up at the top table, and Roll Call shows there are a few who have put their hands up for promotion - but not many. The Govt still finds the cupboard pretty bare in terms of future talent - however while Key is at the helm it is still likely to sweep all before it.

Labour is still battling to find a space in the political firmament after being shut out of the middle - it could head further to the left, taking a leaf from the extremist book of the US or post Brexit UK, but it lacks clear policy direction wherever it is sitting in the spectrum. Andrew Little has succeeded in getting some unity in the party, but not much else. The Greens have pretty much disappeared, the Maori Party still struggles for relevance while ACT and United Future may as well not be considered parties at all. This leaves Winston Peters and his band of followers - will they be the biggest beneficiaries of the Trump factor in 2017?

So after Adams, who were the Govt’s other top dogs?

John Key and Bill English shadowed Adams with scores of 8.5 - For Key, another globe-trotting year helping NZ make its mark on the world. “Key’s extraordinary media schedule at home could be why he’s seemed a bit subdued at times. But the ship is steady and no one questions his vital importance to winning a fourth term. But he’ll need a stellar 2017 to do it.” And English remains the “ultimate steady pair of hands.“ His “vast experience is behind a quiet competence that gives him the ability to take the heat out of issues that threaten to run out of control.” Paula Bennett seems to have fallen off the pace this year, apparently no longer being seen as leadership material and while being given a shot at some projects has often had to be rescued by English. “Needs to build on her Westie charm.”

Chris Finlayson jumps from 6 to 7.5 for his work on Treaty negotiations “a totally committed Minister.”Murray McCully had a huge year on the foreign affairs front, but the Saudi Sheep deal just won’t seem to go away. Hekia Parata also boosted her score significantly, but her surprise decision to step down may see her reshuffled out of cabinet early next year. Heading in the wrong direction was Peseta Sam Lotu-liga - his score fell from 5.5 to 4.5. His portfolio responsibilities were downgraded last year but he “needs to be faster on his feet.” Also on the downward slope Louise Upston, who loses half a point. “Poor performer in the media and needs some serious training, Makes her look incompetent when she isn’t.”

Among National’s backbenchers David Carter took his score from 4 to 5.5 - he insists he wants his job as Speaker and was tougher on Ministers this year. Mark Mitchell leaps from 2.5 to 5, reversing his plunge last year. “Widely admired by his superiors.” Among those going the wrong way were Nuk Korako - “what was he thinking with his ridiculous airport lost property Bill.” Jono Naylor, who has inexplicably thrown in the towel after one term, and Scott Simpson who “lacks interest.”

Among support Party Ministers, David Seymour falls off the pace he set in 2015 when he was politician of the year but “isn’t shy about laying into the Government.” Peter Dunne gets a boost from 5 to 6, while Te Ururoa Flavell also boosts his score by a point. “Some heavy legislation this year which he is steering through safely.”

On the opposition side Labour has struggled again, with the scores reflecting this. Former golden girl Jacinda Ardern is at risk of losing her lustre altogether - “Pleasant MP who smiles a lot - needs to do more because she’s had an unremarkable year despite holding the justice portfolio.” Obviously she didn’t dent Amy Adams too much. Another Labour MP on the way down is Ian Lees-Galloway, from 5 to 3. “One of the boys who makes the noise, not all of it worth much.” Nanaia Mahuta also cops some flak, falling from 4 to 2. “There because of who she is, not what she does, which isn’t much. When she does react it’s usually too little and much too late.” Carmel Sepuloni also gets some stick dropping from 4 to 3. “Complaining about the Government isn’t enough, she needs to give Andrew Little some reasons to keep her on.”

Louisa Walls’ great 2015 wasn’t repeated. “Not a standout year and she isn’t living up to her billing. Committed to her causes, needs more than heartfelt speeches.“ Positives for Labour included David Parker who is much missed in finance. He goes from 4 to 6 after finding a second wind this year. Damien O’Connor gets half a point more - “Plenty to say on primary industries, led the attacks on Nathan Guy during the fishing by-catch uproar and had a good year.” Andrew Little also gains half a point - “The leadership is solid, and this alone gives Little a good year. Still needs to sound more like an alternative PM and less like a union leader.”

Among the other opposition parties, the Greens saw co-leader James Shaw boost his score - “The smart half of the co-leadership. Shaw has the rare talent of thinking before he opens his mouth.” While Metiria Turei couldn’t add to hers - “She’d be hard to handle in a coalition Govt and the prospect of having her as deputy PM is just plain scary.“ Denise Roche gained half a point - “An upgrade for trying hard.” Julie Ann Genter also added to her score. “Made a good fist of the finance portfolio before it shifted to Shaw, didn’t say anything silly or get out of her depth. Still strong on transport.”

As for NZ First, it’s still a one horse show, with Winston Peters head and shoulders above the rest on 7.5 - “Parliament’s action man held more public meetings this year than the other leaders put together. Fired up, feisty and abrasive, Peters is gearing up for a strong campaign as the polls indicate he’s going to be king-maker again. He’ll pile on the pressure next year.” Ron Mark boosts his score by half a point - “Aggressive and sometimes badly behaved. Got stuck in on local Government and defence issues.” Denis O’Rourke on the other hand loses a point. And NZ First has the dubious honour of having the lowest ranked MP - Mahesh Bindra rates just 1 out of 10 - “Ex Dept of Corrections employee tried to get into the Serco scandal but didn’t seem to know how.”

For the record:

32 National MPs increased their score this year, 7 registered a fall in their score, while 18 saw their score remain the same (Two failed to register a score last year). 28 MPs registered a score of 5 or above, while 31 were under 5.

14 Labour MPs boosted their score, 11 saw their scores fall and 6 remained the same. There were 10 MPs with scores of 5 or better, while 21 registered scores lower than 5.

For the Greens 4 MPs raised their score, 4 went down and 5 remained the same (two failed to register a score last year) 3 MPs registered scores of 5 or more while 12 failed to better the 5 point mark.

For NZ First 3 MPs went up this year, 6 went down while 3 retained the status quo. There was just 1 MP ranked over 5, while the other 11 failed to get above 5.

For the others, United Future’s MP raised his score and was over 5 as well. ACT’s MP managed to get a lower score but was over 5, while the Maori Party’s two MPs both raised their scores with 1 over 5 and the other below.

To download The Trans Tasman Political Alert 2016 Roll Call click here

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