Lockwood Smith tops in Parliament

Politicians rated by Trans-Tasman

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MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post Zoom

LOCKWOOD SMITH: A real commitment to Parliament.

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Lockwood rules the roost Politicians rated by Trans-Tasman

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Smith pipped Prime Minister John Key to take top honours in the political newsletter's rankings with 9.25 out of a possible 10 points. Key came second on 9.

Trans Tasman says Smith has found his niche as Speaker and rates him as the best in nearly 60 years. "An overdue infusion of good sense and a real commitment to Parliament."

The newsletter calls Key "a political phenomenon" and "a truly remarkable PM" who works on advice and instinct - "probably more of the latter".

Other high-fliers included Justice Minister Simon Power, who scored 8.5. Trans Tasman said if something happened to Key Power would be the most likely candidate for the leadership.

Labour leader Phil Goff scored 5.5, down from 7 last year. Trans Tasman said Goff had not under-performed, but "everyone likes Key".

Goff was out-rated by his deputy, Annette King, who scored 6.5. "Experienced and capable, King also has an important attribute - she doesn't want to be leader," Trans Tasman wrote.

At the other end of the scale, embattled Maori Party MP Hone Harawira scored a rare 0, along with the comment: "Has no respect for Parliament and shouldn't be there."

Other poor performers were National backbenchers Colin King and Paul Quinn, who both scored 2, and Labour's Ashraf Choudhary, on 1.

ACT leader Rodney Hide also did poorly, scoring 4 below that of most of the party's other MPs. Trans Tasman said Hide had "crashed from his pedestal after a bad bout of perk troughing".

Maori Party co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia both got 7 out of 10, while the Green Party co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei both fared poorly on 4. Trans Tasman said Norman "isn't making the hits the Greens need to recover from poor poll ratings" while the jury was out on whether Turei was the right choice to replace Jeanette Fitzsimons.

United Future leader and sole MP Peter Dunne scored 4 and Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton 3.

Trans Tasman says its rankings are decided by a group of six "Parliamentary insiders" who review each politician's performance in caucus, Cabinet, select committees, the House, and their electorate.