It is that time of year again when the political pundits roll out their nominees for best and worst political performances of 2025. Former Three News reporter, and now TV1 Breakfast co-host (in the new year) Tova O’Brien has just commissioned her take on New Zealand politics for the year.
The L.O.M. (Loudmouth Obnoxious Minister) Award goes to Shane Jones, though it could be claimed by several Ministers across the Government. His attacks on environmentalists, supposedly woke interests and those who urge caution on fast tracking applications for mining, infrastructure construction and so forth, have reminded many commentators of drunk and/or obnoxious relatives who become boorish at gatherings, causing unnecessary upset and angst.
The I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest Award goes to Mark Mitchell for his bumbling incompetence in handling the Jevon McSkimming scandal. So much bungling has gone on in this scandal, that I am not sure where to start, except to say the best thing Mr Mitchell could do is raise the bar slightly for this Government and resign from Parliament.
I would also give Mr Mitchell the I Hate Transparency Award too, if it hadn’t been for the quality of the competition put on by others, including Minister of Housing Chris Bishop, Minister of Mining Shane Jones, and others.
The Drunk on Power Award goes to A.C.T., and in particular its Leader David Seymour and Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden. For a supposedly small government principled libertarian party, A.C.T. have been surprisingly statist in the last two years – Mr Seymour with his absurdly BIG GOVERNMENT Regulatory Standards Act, which had 88% of submissions profoundly reject its proposals; Ms van Velden with her workplace reforms which have sent a chill through the unions, not felt since the 1991 Mother of All Budgets.
The Bi/Multi-partisanship Award almost was not going to be awarded in 2025, except that I was made aware a couple of weeks ago of legislation being pushed by Cameron Brewer to require everyone under age 15 to wear a lifejacket when boating. So, all the parties in Parliament get this award Except A.C.T., who think it is wrong in regards to individual freedoms to have to compulsorily wear a lifejacket whilst out boating. Hat tip Cameron Brewer.
The Watch This Space Award. There is no competition for this. After 2 years in the background as they rebuild the party internally, The Opportunity Party have come out as close to “firing” as one probably can for a non-Parliamentary party. The warm reception granted to their new leader Qiulae Wong as she goes about her debut tour as Leader, has been warm as people express their concerns about what is happening and hopes for alternatives at the election.
It is not just the Government that have been bad. The Opposition, who one thought would be actively working with each other to crash the Government, have had a dreadful year. Very few Members of the Opposition can claim to have no battle scars from 2025.
I can’t top the Shut Up Award by Tova O’Brien, which went to former M.P. Stuart Nash for a rash of misogynistic comments on a blog that his wife saw, and who – bless her – appears to have read him the riot act.
The Fight of the Year Award has no competition at all. An all in brawl in Te Pati Maori that is probably going to cost them – no matter how good the repair job is – in 2026. I can see them losing at least a couple of seats. They clearly have some serious problems internally, and the party constitution sounds a bit dictatorial around social engagements with people from the other parties.
The Under Performing M.P.’s Award can just about be awarded to the entire Labour front bench, including Leader Christopher Hipkins and Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni. As a commentator said the other day, aside from Mr Hipkins and his Finance Spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds, except for these two the front bench is an empty shelf when it comes to talent. Ouch!
And last but not least, the Greens. Whilst Chloe Swarbrick is comparatively young, she has been in Parliament long now to have no excuse for not knowing that New Zealanders have standards, and that her party needs to grow up to meet them if it is to seriously compete for votes in 2026. All this is quite something to say given that Ms Swarbrick herself at the start of the year admitted that the Greens need to grow up.
What a year it has been for politics in New Zealand. A colourful one. Definitely dirty. Definitely turbulent. Definitely raising some valid questions about who a disgruntled electorate are going to contemplate in 2026.
And on that note, Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas)!
Leftist Kiwi Writes 